[jman4747]

Originally Posted by EricH

Translation: We can work with a more flexible schedule. That I can buy. Basically, you don't pay the expedited shipping, and you can have someone make more stuff. (I will note that one of my team's sponsors came on very late in build--we had the parts from them in a very short turnaround. We may be the exception, though...)

Oh you are the exception... before I explained the build schedule to our sheet metal fabricator he quoted 3 weeks for our parts...

I've found most dedicated machine shops have over 4 week turnarounds for milling & turning. Die makers are more. Everyone isn't the same and 2D (water, laser, plasma) is faster but limited. It also depends on time of year or if a tool is down or anything else you don't want to hear in week 4. Iv'e found that business that have these tools but don't just make parts for people (ie. manufacture their own products with them) can be a bit better but A. they have to be able to brake production B. the machinists need to be able to handle more than what the machine normally sees C. these businesses are a bit harder to identify. They don't advertise as job shops so it can be hard to know who would have that kind of tooling.