5 ms·

While I don't want to be too presumptuous and say this is going to fail, it is definitely not going to defeat Fastenal or McMaster-Carr. Really, it comes down w

While I don't want to be too presumptuous and say this is going to fail, it is definitely not going to defeat Fastenal or McMaster-Carr. Really, it comes down whether it's a generic part, or specifically engineered for a larger assembly. If it's the former, it's going to be significantly easier to use a website like McMaster-Carr where every item is completely organized into a hierarchy. You can quickly drill down and find the exact part you need. Amazon's Industrial & Scientific is a joke in comparison. A iPhone picture is going to have a lot of error in regards to material, coating, grade, threadpitch, etc. And if it's a bespoke part, you are much better getting the part number from an exploded diagram. Again, this is super fast and accurate (assuming you actually have the diagrams, and that parts are still available). Engineers put a huge amount of work into designing fasteners, and modern vehicles will have thousands of different kinds. For example, Toyota transfer case has two different bolts holding the housing together, one is 27 mm long, the other is 29 mm. A single picture is definitely not going to tell the length. Maybe someday every single part will have an rfid tag on it. Don't bother putting a barcode on each part, years of grease, corrosion, and wear (the very things that cause you do need a new part) will obliterate it.

joe_the_user 8y ago
There are two questions: one whether taking a picture and getting a part to buy would be a desirable workflow for customers - and jeesh, it should be obvious that it would be. The other question is whether the process would work. That's a matter of tech, resolution of cameras and the design of the interface. It's easy to imagine the system displaying multiple options for things like the two nearly identical bolts. As this evolves, the system could even offer the means to distinguish the various options ("count the threads", "take a close-up" etc). And point is something like this could keep improving, both in accuracy and the range of items involved where a hierarchical organization is inherently static.
- craftyguy 8y ago
  I'm less worried about the accuracy of the prediction of their algorithm, than I am about their recommendations that involve vendors that make the thing as inaccurately as possible to skimp on cost. Maybe I've just been burned too many times ordering electrical components on amazon.
- DanBC 8y ago
  > one whether taking a picture and getting a part to buy would be a desirable workflow for customers - and jeesh, it should be obvious that it would be. It's useful for people buying one or two parts. Why chase that market when most of these parts are sold by the thousand?
  - joe_the_user 8y ago
    Indeed, that's what a typical part supplier thinks. But typical individual naturally thinks the opposite. There are probably a billion or so owners of at least one mechanism that require replacement parts at some point. Neither the manufacturer nor the suppliers wish to help them but they have to be a pretty big market altogether so it seems likely someone could profit from this if it was done in an automated fashion.
inferiorhuman 8y ago
In theory if you've got distance information and can keep the phone at a known angle in relation to the item differentiating between 27 and 29 mm shouldn't be an issue. What the photo bits will not be able to do without significant user interaction is determine other key properties of the fastener including material strength and likely finish. It's a cute gimmick though.
- craftyguy 8y ago
  > determine other key properties of the fastener including material strength Given a random screw, can anyone determine material strength using household items? If so, I would definitely like to apply this to some personal projects I am working on!
  - inferiorhuman 8y ago
    > Given a random screw, can anyone determine material strength using household items? If so, I would definitely like to apply this to some personal projects I am working on! Yes. Fasteners are typically marked on the head/face.

joe_the_user 8y ago

There are two questions: one whether taking a picture and getting a part to buy would be a desirable workflow for customers - and jeesh, it should be obvious that it would be. The other question is whether the process would work. That's a matter of tech, resolution of cameras and the design of the interface. It's easy to imagine the system displaying multiple options for things like the two nearly identical bolts. As this evolves, the system could even offer the means to distinguish the various options ("count the threads", "take a close-up" etc). And point is something like this could keep improving, both in accuracy and the range of items involved where a hierarchical organization is inherently static.

craftyguy 8y ago
I'm less worried about the accuracy of the prediction of their algorithm, than I am about their recommendations that involve vendors that make the thing as inaccurately as possible to skimp on cost. Maybe I've just been burned too many times ordering electrical components on amazon.
DanBC 8y ago
> one whether taking a picture and getting a part to buy would be a desirable workflow for customers - and jeesh, it should be obvious that it would be. It's useful for people buying one or two parts. Why chase that market when most of these parts are sold by the thousand?
- joe_the_user 8y ago
  Indeed, that's what a typical part supplier thinks. But typical individual naturally thinks the opposite. There are probably a billion or so owners of at least one mechanism that require replacement parts at some point. Neither the manufacturer nor the suppliers wish to help them but they have to be a pretty big market altogether so it seems likely someone could profit from this if it was done in an automated fashion.

inferiorhuman 8y ago

In theory if you've got distance information and can keep the phone at a known angle in relation to the item differentiating between 27 and 29 mm shouldn't be an issue. What the photo bits will not be able to do without significant user interaction is determine other key properties of the fastener including material strength and likely finish. It's a cute gimmick though.

craftyguy 8y ago
> determine other key properties of the fastener including material strength Given a random screw, can anyone determine material strength using household items? If so, I would definitely like to apply this to some personal projects I am working on!
- inferiorhuman 8y ago
  > Given a random screw, can anyone determine material strength using household items? If so, I would definitely like to apply this to some personal projects I am working on! Yes. Fasteners are typically marked on the head/face.