We actually started smallworks.com (LEGO compatible iPhone cases) for less, but went through a similar process.
Starting a Hardware Company with $60K
51–60 of 80 posts
Re: Starting a Hardware Company with $60K
#52Is that a certified lightning connector? I'd be curious about that process or, if it isn't, the decision to forgo it and whether or not you did any user testing around it.
Re: Starting a Hardware Company with $60K
#53The Da Vinci is _not_ a Makerbot knockoff. Its a printer based on open source designs of Reprap. Makerbot should never get credit for it after they chose to leave the community. Markerbot is actually a Reprap ripoff! That said, I will be waiting for the next set of articles. This is good! :)
If I don't have the time to build a reprap myself, what would be a good version to buy?
Re: Starting a Hardware Company with $60K
#54The Da Vinci is _not_ a Makerbot knockoff. Its a printer based on open source designs of Reprap. Makerbot should never get credit for it after they chose to leave the community. Markerbot is actually a Reprap ripoff! That said, I will be waiting for the next set of articles. This is good! :)
If I don't have the time to build a reprap myself, what would be a good version to buy?
If I were replacing my Prusa with something off-the-shelf, I'd buy Ultimaker. My previous maker space had four of them, and they ran those things constantly with minimal fuss.
They are a bit pricey, but there's the option of buying used - lots of people buy 3d printers, and then realize they don't use 'em and so sell them second hand.
Re: Starting a Hardware Company with $60K
#55Earlier quoted context omitted.
Interesting — I found that given the amount of stuff that I actually needed printed, I am still below the cost of a decent-quality 3D printer. Also, I would not be able to print what I needed with a desktop FDM anyway, and I figured I will save time by not having to fiddle with 3D printers myself (usually the cheaper the printer, the more fiddling is required). So, that's interesting that you found otherwise! Please…
Another perspective here. At work we use a mixture of desktop (Form 1) and SLA printing (outsourcced). They have pros and cons. The resin printer is probably better resolution, but the SLA printers can do things like support-free printing which is really really useful for clean designs. One problem with using printing companies is that they charge by volume, whereas most makers are concerned with the amount of filame…
Edit: meant to say we outsource SLS (selective laser sintering) rather than SLA (stereolithography - i.e. the Form) :)
Re: Starting a Hardware Company with $60K
#56The problem with relying on "security through obscurity" for developing your initial CAD models is that you won't be able to patent these designs. You're making a public disclosure about your concept before you file, so if you intend to protect your hardware concepts through patent protection you'd be better off using something like Autodesk Inventor Fusion 360 (which is free for hobbyists, students, and even startups making less than $100k/year, if I remember correctly). I think OnShape made a big mistake by removing the ability to keep any of your designs private without paying.
That being said, if you're working in the open source hardware space or just don't plan on patenting your work, OnShape could be a good option.
Re: Starting a Hardware Company with $60K
#57Thanks for writing this up, and I look forward to more! My first company did hardware, and it was kind of an awful experience, and I swore to never do another hardware company. I got burned out from sourcing things, dealing with revisions, and working with manufacturers through the language barrier. But, things look so much nicer ~12 years later, and there are several products I wish existed that I think would have a…
Thanks! Yea, as I said in the post, I think it's drastically easier to start a hardware company now vs 10 years ago. And it's still pretty hard, ha! So I can just imagine what you went through. Yep, the battery is "exposed" in that we don't have a cover over the battery. But each battery does have protection. And you aren't the target market, yet! Making cases for just iPhone made things easier, but we are hoping to…
You really need to add an email signup for people interested in CoBattery for Android. At least by the time you write the next part of your blog post.
Re: Starting a Hardware Company with $60K
#58The problem with relying on "security through obscurity" for developing your initial CAD models is that you won't be able to patent these designs. You're making a public disclosure about your concept before you file, so if you intend to protect your hardware concepts through patent protection you'd be better off using something like Autodesk Inventor Fusion 360 (which is free for hobbyists, students, and even startup…
Wow, that is an important point that I did not know about. Luckily we do have the resources to pay for OnShape, so all of our files are private and have been private.
Re: Starting a Hardware Company with $60K
#59The Da Vinci is _not_ a Makerbot knockoff. Its a printer based on open source designs of Reprap. Makerbot should never get credit for it after they chose to leave the community. Markerbot is actually a Reprap ripoff! That said, I will be waiting for the next set of articles. This is good! :)
If I don't have the time to build a reprap myself, what would be a good version to buy?
Flashforge, about 700 to 800 on Amazon. qidi clone is 400. Monoprice.com has a basic one for 349. Parts cost about 200 if you diy, I am told.
Re: Starting a Hardware Company with $60K
#60This is great. It's been a long term goal if mine to do a successful kick-starter robot. This give me confidence that a hardware noob has some chance of making this work.