Launch HN: Jiga (YC W21) – Faster custom parts for hardware products

[Assafgeuz]

Hi HN! It's Assaf and I'm the co-founder of Jiga (https://app.jiga3d.com). We make it fast and easy to produce parts for hardware products.

You can upload a 3D model (such as STL or SLDPRT) file and get a production quote within seconds. We have a vetted network of manufacturers around the world who can produce your part with 3D printing (plastic and metal), CNC machining (plastic and metal), or sheet metal. It's literally 3 clicks: 1. upload your file on https://app.jiga3d.com. 2. select manufacturing process 3. select quote and order.

We built this because we are hardware makers ourselves. I was running a 3D printing manufacturing service before starting Jiga, and we were shocked by how bad an experience it was to get quotes and order parts online, or from machine shops. I spent a significant amount of my time and money on inefficient communication, paperwork, sourcing and quoting.

Ok, so now you're probably asking how we're different from other online manufacturing companies? Well, besides being not as fast, they act as an unnecessary middleman. They cut a huge fee, block hardware builders from talking directly to manufacturers and getting professional feedback (such as making sure they can produce that 0.15mm tolerance exactly on that little hole).

For examples, take some of our customers: an enterprise that builds jets for the US army, a company that builds a device that enables tractors to be autonomous, a hospital that builds 3D printed ventilation machines to tackle Covid-19 (first parts ordered with Jiga!) or a company that builds robotic arms.

These companies start by looking for the right supplier to make their part. They email quote requests with the designs, some suppliers reply after a week, some don’t. They log this data into spreadsheets and folders while making comparisons. Finally after two weeks the supplier is ready to take your order but oh no! They mixed up the email threads and made a mistake - and the wrong part was produced.

Worse, when getting into producing more than just prototypes, they have to manage the supply of many different components and timelines, making sure that that they won’t find themselves delaying over some little component and avoiding any miscommunication about parts or revisions. All this inefficiency is not only frustrating but also costly - makers and companies lose millions every year because of miscommunication and delays. We built Jiga to make this process efficient and painless.

We handle all logistics (always first class/priority shipping) and make sure that customers are 100% happy with every order that they get. Additionally, we let you read supplier reviews, check their certifications and communicate directly with them. Want to make sure that the supplier is aware of that 0.15mm hole? No problem, reach to them over our platform and they will answer promptly.

We make money from commissions on orders based on agreements with suppliers.

I’m looking forward to talking to anyone who builds hardware, and to hearing your feedback and ideas and experiences in this space. If you've ever needed parts for things you were making, I hope you'll give us a spin. Have at it, HN!

[syedkarim]

Over the years, I've built up a list of a dozen factories in China. My process is much slower than what you are describing, as I still need to email designs and go back and forth for clarification. I have found the price and lead time through my list to be very good, even when compared to one-man CNC shops in the US. Am I likely not a target customer for Jiga?

[adarhay1]

I think that you definitely are. First, keep in mind that you can manage these existing suppliers and send quote requests from within Jiga to external suppliers as well (obviously no fees involved). Second, when you need to quote fast and get parts easily, it could be very useful. Companies who have relationships with hundreds of suppliers are buying parts from Jiga suppliers because of service, speed and comparison capabilities, which could definitely beat their existing suppliers.

[TaylorAlexander]

Yep I recently started ordering CNC machined parts from SunPE in China: http://sunpe.com/

They’re great! They’re quick to respond via email, prices are great, and their turn times are low. Parts look great too.

Any chance you feel like sharing your list? Or some top names you like? I bet I’d get a lot out of it. Thanks!

[smattiso]

It's unfortunate that it is so much cheaper to order something on another continent and fly it over. Is there really no way to source custom parts made in the USA without it costing an arm and a leg?

[itronitron]

If you don't own the manufacturing then I think you are going to have a hard time. I have been very happy with an online 3D printing service in Europe, great software, fast service, and high quality prints. They do everything in house, and 3D printing plastic is the low end of their services.

[adarhay1]

There are pros and cons to being a network rather than 1 supplier. It include the ability to always look for the best options regardless of location or specific machines, filter to your exact needs, source for competitive quotes etcetera. We work hard to only work with top suppliers and vet them.

[p2hari]

really sorry since this is off topic, but could not find info in your profile to send a message. could you tell me the service.

[ctas]

I'm currently designing an ergonomic keyboard with capacitive switches. I was considering to manufacture the prototype myself, but this looks like an exciting alternative. Curious to see how affordable the prices are even for low units.

[adarhay1]

Great! Good luck. You can email me when you need to get started with this. I'd love to help you out however I can! [e-mail]

[tyingq]

Sounds like a great idea, but it might help to have more options for plastic than just 3d printing and CNC. There may be some applications where laser cut acrylic, for example, is a good option. Or injection, extrusion, blow molding, etc.

[grmmph]

All of these on our roadmap. Do you use laser cutting for work?

[michaelt]

It's not clear to me whether the quoted prices include shipping. Presumably not, as they don't ask for my location.

I was ordering 3D printed parts just a few days ago and finding shipping costs was a major frustration: every site would quote $5 for 5 copies, send me to make an account, and only then tell me the price was $5 for printing and $50 for shipping.

Obviously I could have ordered more copies of my part to make the order more efficient - but we all know the first print of a snap-fit part isn't going to fit properly, so these prototypes are going to end up in the trash anyway.

So that's my feature request for you: Shipping prices upfront, not gated behind creating an account.

[grmmph]

Added to the backlog.

We had free shipping worldwide and then got feedback that people want a price breakdown. It make sense to have it on the first page rather later on checkout page. Noted and thanks fot the feedback.

[kvdmolen]

I'll definitely bookmark this. Though how is it different from 3DHubs (cnc, print, injection) or Shapeways (print)?

[grmmph]

We're more of a directory (with instant quotes and first class shipping) than a middleman.

We let you pick the supplier, read reviews and talk to them directly.

Also we're cheaper and faster, but don't take my word for it - check it for yourself.

[rkagerer]

Can you talk a little bit about the other side of this, i.e. the experience if you want to become a manufacturing partner?

API's, how pricing is calculated, scheduling (how your system knows if my shop is booked up or could use more jobs), how you curate suppliers, any non-obvious advantages to partnering, etc.

[grmmph]

Pricing is calculated depending on various of geomerical parameters - the obvious of these would be volume, weight, bounding box - but it gets more complex depending on the process and material, as well as the local salary of employees in supplier's location.

As a manufacturer, you have your own app that is used as a back office. For example, you can play around with pricing depending on how busy your shop is in a given time.

We vett supplier by working them before and taking them on a test run. Most of our suppliers are used by enterprice companies like IAI, so you can trust us that if you'll get accepted you're in a good comapny :)

In my personal opinion, the biggest advantages to partnering with us as a supplier is that we save significant amount of time on overhead (quoting, payments, communications).

[evil-olive]

It's nice that you have the "use a sample model" option.

But, don't make me enter my email address if I all I want to do is poke at the interface using the sample model.

https://i.imgur.com/UgzKuH5.png

[Assafgeuz]

Hi, Thanks for the useful feedback!

[tasn]

Very cool! Can you also show which machine each supplier use? I'd love to see HP vs. stratasys etc...

[grmmph]

This is definitely on our roadmap and will be shipped soon

[kumarvvr]

Do you cater to Indian startups?

[adarhay1]

Yes. Worldwide shipping

[FourHand451]

Do you plan to develop more detailed manufacturability feedback for quoting? For example, too-thin walls or areas that may not be cleanly machined on a CNC part.

Also, any plans to add injection molding services in the future?

[adarhay1]

Yes! Both are on our roadmap. Right now it's possible to chat directly with the supplier to get professional human feedback as well, which will probably always be necessary. All suppliers there are highly professional. Do you find yourself looking to get automated manufacturability feedback often?

[coolandsmartrr]

I am playing with the sample part. Can you explain the difference between best price and best value?

The best value quote seems to provide a more expensive and slower estimate, compared to the best price quote.

[grmmph]

Happy to have a closer look if you send me your order link to [e-mail]

Best value is also a product of suppliers reviews and certifiactes. We'll add more detailed filters for these soon so it won't be so abstract

[vlovich123]

What kind of investments are you currently looking for (if any)?

[Assafgeuz]

Hi, Please e-mail me at [e-mail]

[HardEric]

the first part I ordered was an aluminum part, it was delivered on time and made properly (completely finished, e.g. no burs and such). Very convenient. -Cheers

[adarhay1]

So happy to hear that we could be helpful Eric!

[sporkologist]

How does your service compare to Protolabs?

[grmmph]

Protolabs is a supplier with instant quoting website, we are a directory suppliers you can compare, talk to directly read reviews and rates.

Sort of like the difference between Hilton and AirBnb

[petra]

You didn't mention other 3d parts manufacturing marketplaces(xometry, mfg.com etc). How do you compare to them?

[adarhay1]

We allow direct communication with suppliers about jobs, re-order from ones that you're satisfied with, compare them using reviews / certifications and we also charge much lower fees (mentioned it in the 3rd paragraph)

[clafferty]

Congratulations Jiga for making it onto HN! So excited to see where you take this. Best of luck, Conor

[adarhay1]

Thank you Conor! We are definitely excited as well :) did you sign up for updates? Also, I'd love to grant you access to our invite-only slack community for hardware builders. Ping me [e-mail] .

[Badfood]

Posssie to upload multiple parts and treat as a single quote?

[grmmph]

Yes. If you are running to any issues ping me: [e-mail]