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Starting a Hardware Company with $60K

cobattery.com

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Re: Starting a Hardware Company with $60K

#71

Post by sillysaurus3 »

vpontis wrote: post #69
htima wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can you write more about how you provide a warranty? Is it simply guessing x% of the products will fail within the warranty period and set aside some money to cover those failures. Or is it more complicated?

Hmmm, it's actually much more simple than that. We want to provide a good product that makes people's lives better. The warranty is a forcing function. In my opinion, if we can't make money while ensuring people's CoBattery cases works, we shouldn't be in business.

Hey, I just wanted to say it's cool to see ideology in business. It's relatively rare. Best of luck to you!

Re: Starting a Hardware Company with $60K

#72

Post by tonylemesmer »

vpontis wrote: post #30
jwr wrote: post #28

As a hardware developer, I'm surprised you actually bought a 3d printer. I found that Shapeways and Materialise work really well, and the quality of their SLS prints is basically impossible to match using a desktop FDM printer. Plus, there is no fuss: upload a model, click "order" and get your print in a couple of days. I'm really interested in the next chapters, especially about dealing with manufacturers, working o…

Hey jwr! We found that buying a 3D printer was essential . They only cost a few hundred dollars and instead of getting a piece for $50 in a couple days, we can print something for a couple dollars in a few hours. For testing the final design, we still use 3D print services to get really nice prints. But for the initial iteration it's nice to do it as quickly and as cheaply as possible. Sidenote: We also rigged up a s…

FDM printers can be extremely limiting. Due to the fact they need scaffolding/support to print anything with overhanging features. SLS prototypes allow for complete freedom in part shape.

I find I design within the constraints of the printer which is not ideal when the final component production method might be an injection moulding.

But having a 3d printer on the desk next to you _is_ invaluable and can help solve issues in a matter of hours rather than days or weeks.

Re: Starting a Hardware Company with $60K

#73

Post by tonylemesmer »

vpontis wrote: post #68
syntaxing wrote: post #65

Hmm, the post shows that the case was designed in OnShape but the screenshot shows that's its an imported STEP file from Solidworks(?). Admittedly though, I haven't used OnShape since they removed the private project options so I might be wrong. Understandably, OnShape and Fusion360 (the HSMWorks/CAM integration in it is awesome.) is great for startups and hobbyist. But if you're trying to design some large assemblie…

Wow, you paid attention to the details! Yea, the screenshot was just for the purpose of the post. We did some of the original design in OnShape and some of it in SolidWorks. I didn't want to recommend SolidWorks for cheap work because at the time we only got it free because we were students. We've found that it isn't that hard to start off a design in OnShape and then move it into SolidWorks as things get more compli…

Financially cheaper yes. I've tried Onshape for 6 months and I didn't find it as immediate or as fast as Solidworks. Particularly when modelling multi-component assemblies.

Onshape monthly price for a pro licence is about 1/3 the price of Solidworks monthly (on finance), for me Solidworks is a clear winner here even though it costs more.

But, Onshape is a revolution in the free CAD space. Perfect for simple products like this ;)

Edit: added last sentence

Re: Starting a Hardware Company with $60K

#74

Post by mch82 »

outworlder wrote: post #53
ShirsenduK wrote: post #15

The 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 you can afford one, the Ultimaker 3 is fantastic and extremely easy to use! I've been using one for two weeks. It was pre-built and after unboxing I began a complex print with water-soluble PVA support material in about 20 minutes.

Ultimaker is a supporter of open source hardware: https://ultimaker.com/en/blog/17799-releasing-our-source-fil...

Re: Starting a Hardware Company with $60K

#75

Post by louprado »

gonzo wrote: post #51

We actually started smallworks.com (LEGO compatible iPhone cases) for less, but went through a similar process.

We would all appreciate if you had anything to share about the following:

> 3. Find manufacturers using Alibaba (coming soon)

> 4. Picking the right partner factory (coming soon)

> 5. Scale up production at a Chinese factory (coming soon)

How much time did you spend in China to get through steps 4 and 5 ? Thanks in advance.

Re: Starting a Hardware Company with $60K

#76

Post by grogenaut »

jwr wrote: post #34
vpontis wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hey jwr! We found that buying a 3D printer was essential . They only cost a few hundred dollars and instead of getting a piece for $50 in a couple days, we can print something for a couple dollars in a few hours. For testing the final design, we still use 3D print services to get really nice prints. But for the initial iteration it's nice to do it as quickly and as cheaply as possible. Sidenote: We also rigged up a s…

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…

Are you designing things or just printing other people's designs. For me that's the major difference. I almost never print others designs except when testing the machine.

And when I'm done with the iteration I'm likely to machine it.

Re: Starting a Hardware Company with $60K

#77

Post by vpontis »

JoblessWonder wrote: post #52

Is 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.

It's not!

We have some info on the connector here: https://cobattery.com/connector

Apple doesn't actually let you buy a chip that will allow for the right angle connector that we have. So we decided to design our own. It was a pretty time intensive process and we had to search for a while for a good factory. But we are happy with the way it turned out.

Re: Starting a Hardware Company with $60K

#79

Post by ShirsenduK »

outworlder wrote: post #53
ShirsenduK wrote: post #15

The 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?

Let me first apologise for the late response. I am sorry I had forgotten about this thread.

The best 3D printer IMO is the Original Prusa sold by Josef Prusa himself. shop.prusa3d.com

3D Hubs also has a great section on 3D Printer reviews and ratings.

Re: Starting a Hardware Company with $60K

#80

Post by ShirsenduK »

vpontis wrote: post #20
ShirsenduK wrote: post #15

The 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! :)

Ha you are clearly more knowledgeable about 3D printers than I am :). Reprap for anyone reading this is totally awesome. I didn't include it in my post but Reprap is an open source 3D-printer that can make itself... It's basically the hardware version of the singularity: http://reprap.org/

Ha Ha! I have spent way too much time staring at 3D printers to get a good print! :)
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