Web exchanges, also known as electronic or on-line marketplaces, have been established for buyers of rapid prototyping and manufacturing services. There are a lot of choices available for RP & M ranging from automatic electronic quotes from a single service bureau to extensive networks of suppliers contacted by a single web-based RFQ. You can learn more about what's available in this area from our Online Marketplace Directory.
Service bureaus are not all alike: The companies listed here range from very small operations with just a few employees, to divisions of Fortune 500 companies that provide RP services to support their operations or specific technology areas. These large company divisions sometimes solicit outside business to make efficient use of their substantial investment in equipment and facilities.
A handful of service bureaus are fairly large companies with numerous employees and locations. Many provide related services and technologies, such as tooling, industrial design, molding and production. However, service bureaus are typically small companies, and while they may be small, many of them are vertically integrated and can provide services from concept models to finished functional parts.
Many service bureaus have more than one RP technology available, and many also have CNC and reverse engineering or scanning capabilities. Each rapid prototyping method has its strong and weak points, and while there is overlap in application areas, the overlap isn't complete. See the comparison table for a qualitative overview of the strengths and weaknesses of each method.
Service bureaus tend to specialize in one or more areas such injection molding, casting, etc. View a company's portfolio or case histories on their web pages, or discuss previous projects with the company to try to better understand areas of particular expertise.
Capabilities among SB's using the same technology can differ widely. RP system manufacturers have produced numerous versions and models of their respective technologies over the years. These machines may differ from one another in resolution, working envelope size, materials capabilities and in many other ways. This translates into a wide variation of capabilities among service bureaus which depend on the fundamental properties of the technology, as well as the vendor's ability to apply art to the problem. Nevertheless, the basic technology available from a service bureau is a good starting point to consider how a company may satisfy a particular end-user need. Each listing in the directory indicates the technologies available from a particular service bureau. Click on the key below for brief descriptions and links to deeper information.
Service Bureaus that offer on-line quotes are indicated by this icon: 
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On-line capabilities vary widely. Most of the companies in the geographic pages of the directory only offer RP technologies, but you can find companies that offer a wider range of goods and services on-line and learn more about this form of commerce in the online directory pages.
Service bureaus that either have a separate web-site for on-line quotations, or a separate section are indicated by this icon: 
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Service bureaus that provide reverse engineering or scanning services are indicated by this icon: 
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The Directory includes companies that provide RE services, but which may not provide rapid prototyping. 3D Scanning Equipment Manufacturer Directory and reverse engineering tutorial sections are also available.
To get an idea of where to begin, you may also find the applications sections of the RP FAQ's helpful.
Go to the GEOGRAPHIC Service Bureau Listings... 
