jfnofen

This company is fast to quote and has a very knowledgeable staff. Their prices can be quoted just slightly high compared to some other testing services, but overall it's a great company.

Strengths: Quick to quote, reliable service

Needs to improve: Price is slightly above average for some testing services.

Extremely knowledgeable and thorough. Has delivered on-time and has a staff that is willing to walk you through the process and regulations for your product.

Strengths: Extremely knowledgeable, accurate quotes and on-time completion.

Needs to improve: Costly, but that is expected in this industry.

This company has a large selection of adhesives to go along with their UV curing equipment. The staff is willing to work with you to find a solution to fit your needs. Those factors combined offer the solutions that fit most problems in this sector.

Strengths: Knowledgeable staff, large selection of adhesives

Needs to improve: None really

The resultant parts are high quality and they have a lot of different methods that they can offer to achieve the dimensions that you require. Parts are also very accurate.

Strengths: High quality, accurate quotes, many services offered

Needs to improve: Could quote faster (sometimes can take a few days)

This company does a great job when it comes to dimensional inspection. They are extremely thorough and are willing to update you continually on the progress and any issues that arise during inspection. Also, quick turnaround.

Strengths: Quick turnaround, detail oriented

Needs to improve: None really

From their digital gauges which are all fantastic as well as their calibration and repair services, this company offers everything necessary from a metrology point of view. Great company.

Strengths: Great products, large selection. Any number of gauges that you could imagine.

Needs to improve: Can't really think of any.

This company does a great job in meeting customer requirements, whether it is cleaning, packaging, testing, or passivation specification that you require. The best part is that they have the facilities and equipment to process something as small as a grain of rice to something as large as a refrigerator.

Strengths: Knowledgeable technical staff, clean facilities, organized, and the willingness to meet customer requirements

Needs to improve: Oftentimes unable to expedite, primarily due to how busy they are

Overall I've had a good experience. They have a great selection, oftentimes where other sites falter. They offer CoCs when asked, and can expedite an order.

Strengths: Great selection, fast service, knowledgeable staff.

Needs to improve: Website could be improved. Going through local offices can sometimes be inconvenient.

I've used this vendor primarily for automation components and accessories. Their web interface is great, as is their catalog, which makes ordering and speccing out parts a breeze. They also have CAD models for seemingly everything, which is very helpful. Their customer service is also great. The only caveat is that their components tend to be pricey, but given the amount of customization (including modifications that they will do for you) it seems reasonable.

Strengths: Huge selection of components, intuitive online ordering system, great catalog, great customer service

Needs to improve: Can be pricey, but all are high quality

This is a great local place to order 8020 parts. They will also expedite as well, including on custom cut lengths and machining, so when you really need to build a fixture quickly, this is a great source. Sometimes they do take some time to quote, occasionally, but overall they are a very efficient vendor to work with.

Strengths: Fast turnaround, will expedite, good service

Needs to improve: Sometimes takes some time to quote

I order 8020 components from this vendor frequently. They quote quickly, which is great. They have made mistakes on occasion on the quotes, which I've caught, but it isn't something that happens all the time. I think a better order form would be helpful. They expedite and turnaround parts quickly, which is very helpful.

Strengths: Fast to quote, expedites, fast turnaround, good communication

Needs to improve: No problems really, but have occasionally missed details on the quote so I always double check. Not so much of a problem anymore.

I've used 8020 components for years, and each year, they seem to add more capabilities and parts to their catalog, which makes things easier and easier. The one caveat is that I do think there is a learning process to be able to adapt to their building system - new engineers typically have to build a few to get the hang out of optimal construction. More instructions or examples might be helpful for new people.

Overall I can't recommend their goods highly enough. However, it would be a lot nicer if ordering were easier.

Strengths: Great products. If you want to build enclosures, fixtures, or anything that requires some kind of frame, 8020 is a fast and affordable way to go. The components are high quality and if made properly, your construction will last for ages. Much more affordable than building a frame yourself.

Needs to improve: Putting your creation together can sometimes be a project, but overall it's the fastest way to scratch something together without going entirely custom.

This place is great if you need something done quickly, and their expedite rates are very reasonable. If you need something done quickly, this place is very reasonable and they do good work.

Strengths: Quick turnaround, expediting, local

Needs to improve: None really, you are getting exactly what you pay for. The quoting process could maybe be easier but overall no complaints.

This is a great place to get storage containers. The prices are extremely affordable and the quality is great. The only time I've ever been dissapointed is when I can't find the exact sized container that I want, but that isn't to say that their selection is small (it isn't) it's just that I almost expect to find the perfect sized container for my application.

I highly recommend their products.

Strengths: Great products, low cost, large quantities.

Needs to improve: None really, maybe an even larger selection of sizes but that is being nitpicky.

This company makes fluidic and air fittings, and their products are really good. High quality, and work really well. However, their website and catalog are terrible - more often than not, I find myself calling them directly to make sure that the connection I want to make will work with the parts I'm ordering. Their customer service and technical support team is very good, so I would recommend that approach. It's daunting to use them the first time around, but once you have a certain level of comfort when contacting them and have some experience with their system, it works out.

Strengths: Good products, and some which I haven't been able to find a comparable product.

Needs to improve: The website and catalogs are terrible.

I've used many different consumer and business grade 3d printers, and without question the makerbot is the easiest to use and likely the best bang-for-your-buck. This truly is the machine that is like setting up an inkjet or laser printer. Just drop models in and you're good to go.

I had an issue with my machine and it took a lot of troubleshooting and back-and-forth with MakerBot to finally address the issue. Given the cost of the machine, I wasn't entirely surprised. But it is a minus nonetheless.

Strengths: Very affordable, easy to use software, fast setup.

Needs to improve: Support isn't the best, and you get what you pay for in terms of print quality.

I've used their software for countless years now, as well as instructed others on how to use it. The software is becoming easier and easier to use, and I like how many of the new features that are added each year are aimed to make the experience faster, which is great for power users.

The web based support system and forums provide ample information, and often I go through that instead of contacting my sales representative for support.

Strengths: Intuitive software, great web support, software works as intended

Needs to improve: Frequent software updates, initial release of software is usually buggy and unreliable.

I've purchased many Mark-10 force and torque gauges which have been useful in many situations. These can be easily integrated in many different custom fixtures very easily, and they have a host of force sensors in different size configurations as well. Their handheld force gauges are great for integrating or for R&D.

Strengths: Affordable and easy-to-use mechanical testers. Handheld testers can be easily integrated or used for R&D purposes. Good customer service.

Needs to improve: Not the most robust mechanical testers in the market, but I don't think that their intention is to make products that compete directly with large mechanical testers like Instron. Mark-10 makes smaller mechanical testers that are very useful and adaptable in their own right.

This is a facility that allows you to pay a membership fee to use their equipment. So this isn't a machining service, but rather a machine shop that allows you to do-it-yourself. The equipment selection is great and the shop is not overcrowded. You can reserve equipment ahead of time as well, which is very convenient. The equipment is well-maintained given the amount of users.

Strengths: Great equipment variety - laser markers, sheet metal benders/cutters, lathes, mills, full woodshop, welders. Clean, well organized, and helpful staff and members.

Needs to improve: Even more equipment would be awesome, but that is being nitpicky. The equipment available given the monthly cost is more than adequate.

The customer service and product selection is good. Their branded products are also good.

Strengths: Their equipment catalog has everything you need for lab work, and their website makes it easy to determine and order what you want.

Needs to improve: None really. I suppose the Cole Parmer branded products have far more information than the non-Cole Parmer products (in terms of manuals available when shopping online), which is understandable. That said, I've never really had an issue with their branded products.