eMachineShop.com is an online service that lets people design 3-D objects like guitar plates or door knobs in metal or plastic then order them online, after that eMachine has checked whether the design can be made, and how much it will cost. If the customer wants the item the design goes to a “real world” machine shop for manufacturing.

The free design software provided by eMachineShop aims to be simple enough for hobbyists and other non-engineers.

But as it builds the knowledge of a machinist into the design software, it could also help solve a problem faced by American design and manufacturing: designers who, knowing very little about manufacturing, draw parts that are hard to make and require several rounds of modification before they can be put in production.

From Technology Review.