5 ms·
I think you and I have different definitions of "very cheaply." Small scale products like these are brutal on people who try to do small manufacturing runs (say
by thrtythreeforty 5y ago
I think you and I have different definitions of "very cheaply." Small scale products like these are brutal on people who try to do small manufacturing runs (say, 1000) because that measly $50k becomes +$50 on each unit.
Keyboardio liked to talk about this when they were building their first models.
- systemvoltage 5y agoThey should do fundraising. There is a critical energy needed to go over the hump - stay on the left side and forever keep making low volume goods. Get funds, seriously invest and it can become a solid competitor to high end mice from Logitech - difficult but worthy of pursuit. I've worked on both sides of the asymptote, not trivializing but products like this are in uncanny valley. Folks at WASD keyboards took 3 years to scale their Code-keyboards - it is hard to do but their keyboards are rock solid now.
- elcritch 5y agoTo be fair, you could probably get a basic injection mold for these kind of parts for $3-$6k [1]. Likely you'd still have parts that'd be 3D printed. 1: https://icomold.com/much-injection-molding-cost/ https://icomold.com/much-injection-molding-cost/
- Karliss 5y agoFor very low runs maybe casting appropriate resin or polyurethane in a silicon mold might be suitable. That's doable in DIY setup with biggest investment being time and few hundred dollars worth material at most.
- imtringued 5y agoI agree, polyurethane casting is the least you can do for a commercial product. It does take time but each mold is a 3D printer in its own right.