Hi and welcome to the forums. < Just talking to myself, ignore.

So I see all these machines large and small, Pro and/or DIY contraptions, and everybody talking about them and about what's under their hoods. Sure, I' like them too and all they can do, but I stop at the 3D model on my computer screen. My question is, if I have a need for such a machine but I can't afford the cost and time (or space) of having one, who do I turn to when I have something I need to mill or, like I have now, small weekly runs of the same product? Someone who doesn't have a large industrial facility filled with six-figure valued equipment but rather a small desktop router and who would still like to make an extra few hundreds every week or so?

Prototyping firms are prohibitively expensive and machine shops are hard to deal with because of the small order sizes. They tend to just not bother, even after I make it clear that I'm not looking for free or cheap services. Out of the few shops who would take on the job, lead times are around 2-weeks or more.

What can I do?

Thanks a bunch!