In the first post Jeffery explained the difference between 3d printing and cnc routing.

In this post I’d like to explore why there are so many online 3d printing and lasercutting services, where you can upload a file, and receive the object within a matter of days by mail, and why this kind of service is not being used for cnc routing.

Ponoko has pioneered online lasercutting since 2007. Their service is transparent in an exemplary way; you upload a file, choose the material you want cut, and ponoko will show you the price in realtime. No need to send a request, and then wait for a quote. Shapeways offers 3d printing in very much the same way.But, apart from emachineshop.com there is no cnc routering company out there with that kind of service, which is strange, because cnc routering has been around much longer than either lasercutting or 3d printing. [Read more…]