Credibility, Backing, Protection, and Assurance

One of the reasons for initially standardizing 100KGarages on ShopBots is that we know the tools and know the community. We can be pretty certain that the tools will do what is expected of them and we know who really owns ShopBots. Thus you can be confident that any particular fabricator is a credible ShopBotter. In addition, there are over 6000 ShopBots out in the world and we at ShopBot have a lot of experience with CNC and helping people get comfortable using CNC.

Ponoko now has several years experience in fulfilling CNC laser-cutting work through their processing system. They understand the logistical challenges and they have done an impressive job of integrating a wide range of designers into digital fabrication production.

Participating fabricators in the 100Kgarage network make a commitment as a condition of membership to respect the principles of the community, including: [**DRAFT PRINCIPLES CURRENTLY EVOLVING**]

• providing high standard of service to customers
• providing openness and straightforwardness in all dealings
• providing timely delivery and adherence to all production commitments
• offering complete respect for intellectual property rights of all materials (designs belong to designers and will not be used in any fashion other than to fulfill orders)
• committing to making the community work, including participation in governance and customer service
• (with regard to reproduction, Maker and fabricator participants may at any point be requested to provide certification of creation of their own IP, or documentation of ownership or rights or permission to reproduce)
  

Any community member violating the principles of the community will be barred from participation in 100Kgarages in addition to our pursuing any appropriate legal action. Because community members may expand on production relationships developed in the community, the expectation of adherence to these principles applies whether specific projects arise via the community resources or not.

These factors provide you with assurance that your project will be completed, just the way you would like it. It is very important to us, and everyone in the fabricator community, that all the transactions are productive and fair for the designer/customer and also profitable for the fabricator. ShopBot and the 100Kgarage community are committed to resolving any problems or disputes that may occur in transactions or interactions in the system. However, all users of this site and the 100Kgarages methods should remember that an aspect of this very exciting system for getting things made is that it is made up of individuals with many different ideas and perspectives. There will occasionally be issues and misunderstandings. We can also offer no ultimate guarantee, nor does ShopBot make claims as to the ability of people listed here, or their suitability for the type of work you need to have done. That said, appreciate that this community is dedicated to the success of 100Kgarages and will try to insure that it works for everyone.