A few of the sites you need to get things done.
Parts and Materials
McMaster-Carr: If you need to build something, chances are you will require parts beyond what the local hardware store can provide. McMaster-Carr has an extremely extensive online parts and materials catalog. The site itself is impressive with its visual ease of use.
Misumi: Like McMaster-Carr for parts and materials procurement but with a crazy amount of customization capabilities. The selection in the inch series is not as broad as the metric series, but still very respectable.
Additive Manufacturing
I have used each of the three companies below. Each has had their strengths and weaknesses, which seem to vary over time, oddly. The primary factor to consider is whether the company has the systems available to produce the level of detail you need in the part. The choice then becomes the ubiquitous trade-offs between quality, cost, and speed of delivery.
Quickparts: In general, I have had the most experience using them.
American Precision Prototyping: Became a good alternative if Quickparts lead times became too long.
Harvest Technologies: I was impressed with their level of knowledge when I spoke with them at a trade show. They have high quality standards, with some of their parts having end use in fighter jets.
Services
Computer Aided Technology Inc. (CATI): Value added re-seller (VAR) for SolidWorks 3D design software. They actually do have good technical expertise and aren’t just there to sell (though they will do their best to do that as well).
Modern Muse Web Design: Nope, I do not have the skills to get a website like this off the ground. However KC at MMWD does. She has been a great business partner. She has a very talented blend of creativity and web-tech knowledge that helped me a ton. As a WordPress site, the content can be easily modified by YOU once the site is up. Very cool.
CreatiVenture Law: I have been very pleased with the patent process knowledge I have gained and the level of service I have received working with Linda and Dennis at CVL. As nice as it would be to buy some books and “patent-it-yourself”, I wouldn’t recommend it, especially on your first go around. There are a lot of pitfalls to avoid, things to do right, and patent writing is like a different language.
Perspectives Writing and Editing: If you need a proposal, report, presentation, or whatever edited and quality checked, Maggie is your gal. I have leveraged her skills for many years.