prototype a product

On Fri, 05 Mar 2010 09:12:51 -0800, Joerg <invalid_at_invalid.invalid
wrote:

Tim Wescott wrote:
Joerg wrote:
Tim Wescott wrote:
Spehro Pefhany wrote:
On Thu, 4 Mar 2010 08:18:49 -0800 (PST), xc6800 <6800_at_hushmail.com
wrote:

I have a design of an electronics devices. What company can I contact
to produce a few prototype for this design.

Thanks
xc
Often it's prudent to get the company who designed it to build the
prototypes.
If you really want a third party, it depends a bit on what you really
want. Just buying parts on your BOM, ordering a PCB from your Gerbers
and populating it, and you'll perform all testing?

Or perhaps your design is just a rough schematic and it's necessary to
gather further requirements, specify parts, complete mechanical
design, do layout, manufacturer or purchase mechanical part prototypes
and assemble a complete product.

What do you need the prototype for? Sales? Regulatory agency testing?
Just to prove the design out?

Cost will obviously vary over quite a range depending on the exact
requirements. We sometimes do this sort of thing if there is some
interesting engineering involved.
I'd also add that your anticipated production level determines the
degree of care in your prototyping -- if you want to build 1000 a
month, then you probably want to have a prototype build in the 100's
before you step up to that level. If you're only ever going to sell
100 of the thing, then 'a few' really means 'three or four' and
you're fine.

If you're just having three or four done, getting it done as locally
as possible is a big plus. And by "locally" I mean just that -- all
else being equal -- if it costs you an extra 10% per unit to have it
done by a business within walking distance vs. one that's a 1/2 hour
drive away, give the job to your neighbor.


Depends on how well it is engineered out. My designs usually go
straight to a turnkey place. Since there seem to be no local ones left
they are all over the map, Southern California, Colorado, and so on.
Essentially you just send them the files and get fully stuffed boards
back. In the case of the Colorado assembler they even include a
package of trail mix when they ship. Yummy.

Many can also do the enclosure, final assy, tests and so on if you
want to. But it'll cost.
OTOH, you don't have to get on the newsgroups to ask vague questions
about where to get designs prototyped.

The more experienced you are, the less my advice applies, certainly. I
would be confident sending one of my board designs out of state, but not
a mechanical design.

We had to, in part because the environmental regs in CA have become so
onerous that certain galvanizing operations couldn't be done in-state
any longer. Sometimes things are even done overseas. Essentially you
send a CD with the AutoCad files and back comes a crate with your stuff.

CD? Autocad? Crate?

All three are becoming extinct. ;-)

Crates because of creepy-crawleys. If you don't want to pay $thousands
per container for fumigation, plastic pallets and hard cartons are
better. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISPM_15

OTOH, you don't have to get on the newsgroups to ask vague questions
about where to get designs prototyped.

Tim Wescott wrote:
Joerg wrote:
Tim Wescott wrote:
Spehro Pefhany wrote:
On Thu, 4 Mar 2010 08:18:49 -0800 (PST), xc6800 <6800_at_hushmail.com
wrote:

I have a design of an electronics devices. What company can I contact
to produce a few prototype for this design.

Thanks
xc

Often it's prudent to get the company who designed it to build the
prototypes.
If you really want a third party, it depends a bit on what you really
want. Just buying parts on your BOM, ordering a PCB from your Gerbers
and populating it, and you'll perform all testing?

Or perhaps your design is just a rough schematic and it's necessary to
gather further requirements, specify parts, complete mechanical
design, do layout, manufacturer or purchase mechanical part prototypes
and assemble a complete product.

What do you need the prototype for? Sales? Regulatory agency testing?
Just to prove the design out?

Cost will obviously vary over quite a range depending on the exact
requirements. We sometimes do this sort of thing if there is some
interesting engineering involved.

I'd also add that your anticipated production level determines the
degree of care in your prototyping -- if you want to build 1000 a
month, then you probably want to have a prototype build in the 100's
before you step up to that level. If you're only ever going to sell
100 of the thing, then 'a few' really means 'three or four' and
you're fine.

If you're just having three or four done, getting it done as locally
as possible is a big plus. And by "locally" I mean just that -- all
else being equal -- if it costs you an extra 10% per unit to have it
done by a business within walking distance vs. one that's a 1/2 hour
drive away, give the job to your neighbor.



Depends on how well it is engineered out. My designs usually go
straight to a turnkey place. Since there seem to be no local ones left
they are all over the map, Southern California, Colorado, and so on.
Essentially you just send them the files and get fully stuffed boards
back. In the case of the Colorado assembler they even include a
package of trail mix when they ship. Yummy.

Many can also do the enclosure, final assy, tests and so on if you
want to. But it'll cost.

OTOH, you don't have to get on the newsgroups to ask vague questions
about where to get designs prototyped.

The more experienced you are, the less my advice applies, certainly. I
would be confident sending one of my board designs out of state, but not
a mechanical design.


We had to, in part because the environmental regs in CA have become so
onerous that certain galvanizing operations couldn't be done in-state
any longer. Sometimes things are even done overseas. Essentially you
send a CD with the AutoCad files and back comes a crate with your stuff.

On Fri, 05 Mar 2010 09:12:51 -0800, Joerg <invalid_at_invalid.invalid
wrote:

Tim Wescott wrote:
Joerg wrote:
Tim Wescott wrote:
Spehro Pefhany wrote:
On Thu, 4 Mar 2010 08:18:49 -0800 (PST), xc6800 <6800_at_hushmail.com
wrote:

I have a design of an electronics devices. What company can I contact
to produce a few prototype for this design.

Thanks
xc

Often it's prudent to get the company who designed it to build the
prototypes.
If you really want a third party, it depends a bit on what you really
want. Just buying parts on your BOM, ordering a PCB from your Gerbers
and populating it, and you'll perform all testing?

Or perhaps your design is just a rough schematic and it's necessary to
gather further requirements, specify parts, complete mechanical
design, do layout, manufacturer or purchase mechanical part prototypes
and assemble a complete product.

What do you need the prototype for? Sales? Regulatory agency testing?
Just to prove the design out?

Cost will obviously vary over quite a range depending on the exact
requirements. We sometimes do this sort of thing if there is some
interesting engineering involved.

I'd also add that your anticipated production level determines the
degree of care in your prototyping -- if you want to build 1000 a
month, then you probably want to have a prototype build in the 100's
before you step up to that level. If you're only ever going to sell
100 of the thing, then 'a few' really means 'three or four' and
you're fine.

If you're just having three or four done, getting it done as locally
as possible is a big plus. And by "locally" I mean just that -- all
else being equal -- if it costs you an extra 10% per unit to have it
done by a business within walking distance vs. one that's a 1/2 hour
drive away, give the job to your neighbor.



Depends on how well it is engineered out. My designs usually go
straight to a turnkey place. Since there seem to be no local ones left
they are all over the map, Southern California, Colorado, and so on.
Essentially you just send them the files and get fully stuffed boards
back. In the case of the Colorado assembler they even include a
package of trail mix when they ship. Yummy.

Many can also do the enclosure, final assy, tests and so on if you
want to. But it'll cost.

OTOH, you don't have to get on the newsgroups to ask vague questions
about where to get designs prototyped.

The more experienced you are, the less my advice applies, certainly. I
would be confident sending one of my board designs out of state, but not
a mechanical design.


We had to, in part because the environmental regs in CA have become so
onerous that certain galvanizing operations couldn't be done in-state
any longer. Sometimes things are even done overseas. Essentially you
send a CD with the AutoCad files and back comes a crate with your stuff.

California is "a fine-tuned job killing machine."

John

On Fri, 05 Mar 2010 19:31:44 -0800, the renowned John Larkin
jjlarkin_at_highNOTlandTHIStechnologyPART.com> wrote:

On Fri, 05 Mar 2010 09:12:51 -0800, Joerg <invalid_at_invalid.invalid
wrote:

Tim Wescott wrote:
Joerg wrote:
Tim Wescott wrote:
Spehro Pefhany wrote:
On Thu, 4 Mar 2010 08:18:49 -0800 (PST), xc6800 <6800_at_hushmail.com
wrote:

I have a design of an electronics devices. What company can I contact
to produce a few prototype for this design.

Thanks
xc

Often it's prudent to get the company who designed it to build the
prototypes.
If you really want a third party, it depends a bit on what you really
want. Just buying parts on your BOM, ordering a PCB from your Gerbers
and populating it, and you'll perform all testing?

Or perhaps your design is just a rough schematic and it's necessary to
gather further requirements, specify parts, complete mechanical
design, do layout, manufacturer or purchase mechanical part prototypes
and assemble a complete product.

What do you need the prototype for? Sales? Regulatory agency testing?
Just to prove the design out?

Cost will obviously vary over quite a range depending on the exact
requirements. We sometimes do this sort of thing if there is some
interesting engineering involved.

I'd also add that your anticipated production level determines the
degree of care in your prototyping -- if you want to build 1000 a
month, then you probably want to have a prototype build in the 100's
before you step up to that level. If you're only ever going to sell
100 of the thing, then 'a few' really means 'three or four' and
you're fine.

If you're just having three or four done, getting it done as locally
as possible is a big plus. And by "locally" I mean just that -- all
else being equal -- if it costs you an extra 10% per unit to have it
done by a business within walking distance vs. one that's a 1/2 hour
drive away, give the job to your neighbor.



Depends on how well it is engineered out. My designs usually go
straight to a turnkey place. Since there seem to be no local ones left
they are all over the map, Southern California, Colorado, and so on.
Essentially you just send them the files and get fully stuffed boards
back. In the case of the Colorado assembler they even include a
package of trail mix when they ship. Yummy.

Many can also do the enclosure, final assy, tests and so on if you
want to. But it'll cost.

OTOH, you don't have to get on the newsgroups to ask vague questions
about where to get designs prototyped.

The more experienced you are, the less my advice applies, certainly. I
would be confident sending one of my board designs out of state, but not
a mechanical design.


We had to, in part because the environmental regs in CA have become so
onerous that certain galvanizing operations couldn't be done in-state
any longer. Sometimes things are even done overseas. Essentially you
send a CD with the AutoCad files and back comes a crate with your stuff.

California is "a fine-tuned job killing machine."

John

It can't be bargained with. It can't be reasoned with. It doesn't feel
pity, remorse or fear. And it absolutely will not stop, ever, until
you are dead.

On Fri, 05 Mar 2010 22:51:46 -0500, Spehro Pefhany
speffSNIP_at_interlogDOTyou.knowwhat> wrote:

On Fri, 05 Mar 2010 19:31:44 -0800, the renowned John Larkin
jjlarkin_at_highNOTlandTHIStechnologyPART.com> wrote:

On Fri, 05 Mar 2010 09:12:51 -0800, Joerg <invalid_at_invalid.invalid
wrote:

Tim Wescott wrote:
Joerg wrote:
Tim Wescott wrote:
Spehro Pefhany wrote:
On Thu, 4 Mar 2010 08:18:49 -0800 (PST), xc6800 <6800_at_hushmail.com
wrote:

I have a design of an electronics devices. What company can I contact
to produce a few prototype for this design.

Thanks
xc

Often it's prudent to get the company who designed it to build the
prototypes.
If you really want a third party, it depends a bit on what you really
want. Just buying parts on your BOM, ordering a PCB from your Gerbers
and populating it, and you'll perform all testing?

Or perhaps your design is just a rough schematic and it's necessary to
gather further requirements, specify parts, complete mechanical
design, do layout, manufacturer or purchase mechanical part prototypes
and assemble a complete product.

What do you need the prototype for? Sales? Regulatory agency testing?
Just to prove the design out?

Cost will obviously vary over quite a range depending on the exact
requirements. We sometimes do this sort of thing if there is some
interesting engineering involved.

I'd also add that your anticipated production level determines the
degree of care in your prototyping -- if you want to build 1000 a
month, then you probably want to have a prototype build in the 100's
before you step up to that level. If you're only ever going to sell
100 of the thing, then 'a few' really means 'three or four' and
you're fine.

If you're just having three or four done, getting it done as locally
as possible is a big plus. And by "locally" I mean just that -- all
else being equal -- if it costs you an extra 10% per unit to have it
done by a business within walking distance vs. one that's a 1/2 hour
drive away, give the job to your neighbor.



Depends on how well it is engineered out. My designs usually go
straight to a turnkey place. Since there seem to be no local ones left
they are all over the map, Southern California, Colorado, and so on.
Essentially you just send them the files and get fully stuffed boards
back. In the case of the Colorado assembler they even include a
package of trail mix when they ship. Yummy.

Many can also do the enclosure, final assy, tests and so on if you
want to. But it'll cost.

OTOH, you don't have to get on the newsgroups to ask vague questions
about where to get designs prototyped.

The more experienced you are, the less my advice applies, certainly. I
would be confident sending one of my board designs out of state, but not
a mechanical design.


We had to, in part because the environmental regs in CA have become so
onerous that certain galvanizing operations couldn't be done in-state
any longer. Sometimes things are even done overseas. Essentially you
send a CD with the AutoCad files and back comes a crate with your stuff.

California is "a fine-tuned job killing machine."

John

It can't be bargained with. It can't be reasoned with. It doesn't feel
pity, remorse or fear. And it absolutely will not stop, ever, until
you are dead.



Or move to Nevada.

John

On Fri, 05 Mar 2010 09:12:51 -0800, Joerg <invalid_at_invalid.invalid
wrote:

Tim Wescott wrote:
Joerg wrote:
Tim Wescott wrote:
Spehro Pefhany wrote:
On Thu, 4 Mar 2010 08:18:49 -0800 (PST), xc6800 <6800_at_hushmail.com
wrote:

I have a design of an electronics devices. What company can I contact
to produce a few prototype for this design.

Thanks
xc
Often it's prudent to get the company who designed it to build the
prototypes.
If you really want a third party, it depends a bit on what you really
want. Just buying parts on your BOM, ordering a PCB from your Gerbers
and populating it, and you'll perform all testing?

Or perhaps your design is just a rough schematic and it's necessary to
gather further requirements, specify parts, complete mechanical
design, do layout, manufacturer or purchase mechanical part prototypes
and assemble a complete product.

What do you need the prototype for? Sales? Regulatory agency testing?
Just to prove the design out?

Cost will obviously vary over quite a range depending on the exact
requirements. We sometimes do this sort of thing if there is some
interesting engineering involved.
I'd also add that your anticipated production level determines the
degree of care in your prototyping -- if you want to build 1000 a
month, then you probably want to have a prototype build in the 100's
before you step up to that level. If you're only ever going to sell
100 of the thing, then 'a few' really means 'three or four' and
you're fine.

If you're just having three or four done, getting it done as locally
as possible is a big plus. And by "locally" I mean just that -- all
else being equal -- if it costs you an extra 10% per unit to have it
done by a business within walking distance vs. one that's a 1/2 hour
drive away, give the job to your neighbor.


Depends on how well it is engineered out. My designs usually go
straight to a turnkey place. Since there seem to be no local ones left
they are all over the map, Southern California, Colorado, and so on.
Essentially you just send them the files and get fully stuffed boards
back. In the case of the Colorado assembler they even include a
package of trail mix when they ship. Yummy.

Many can also do the enclosure, final assy, tests and so on if you
want to. But it'll cost.
OTOH, you don't have to get on the newsgroups to ask vague questions
about where to get designs prototyped.

The more experienced you are, the less my advice applies, certainly. I
would be confident sending one of my board designs out of state, but not
a mechanical design.

We had to, in part because the environmental regs in CA have become so
onerous that certain galvanizing operations couldn't be done in-state
any longer. Sometimes things are even done overseas. Essentially you
send a CD with the AutoCad files and back comes a crate with your stuff.

California is "a fine-tuned job killing machine."

Spehro Pefhany wrote:
On Fri, 05 Mar 2010 09:12:51 -0800, Joerg <invalid_at_invalid.invalid
wrote:

Tim Wescott wrote:
Joerg wrote:
Tim Wescott wrote:
Spehro Pefhany wrote:
On Thu, 4 Mar 2010 08:18:49 -0800 (PST), xc6800 <6800_at_hushmail.com
wrote:

I have a design of an electronics devices. What company can I
contact
to produce a few prototype for this design.

Thanks
xc
Often it's prudent to get the company who designed it to build the
prototypes.
If you really want a third party, it depends a bit on what you
really
want. Just buying parts on your BOM, ordering a PCB from your
Gerbers
and populating it, and you'll perform all testing?

Or perhaps your design is just a rough schematic and it's
necessary to
gather further requirements, specify parts, complete mechanical
design, do layout, manufacturer or purchase mechanical part
prototypes
and assemble a complete product.

What do you need the prototype for? Sales? Regulatory agency
testing?
Just to prove the design out?

Cost will obviously vary over quite a range depending on the exact
requirements. We sometimes do this sort of thing if there is some
interesting engineering involved.
I'd also add that your anticipated production level determines the
degree of care in your prototyping -- if you want to build 1000 a
month, then you probably want to have a prototype build in the
100's before you step up to that level. If you're only ever going
to sell 100 of the thing, then 'a few' really means 'three or
four' and you're fine.

If you're just having three or four done, getting it done as
locally as possible is a big plus. And by "locally" I mean just
that -- all else being equal -- if it costs you an extra 10% per
unit to have it done by a business within walking distance vs. one
that's a 1/2 hour drive away, give the job to your neighbor.


Depends on how well it is engineered out. My designs usually go
straight to a turnkey place. Since there seem to be no local ones
left they are all over the map, Southern California, Colorado, and
so on. Essentially you just send them the files and get fully
stuffed boards back. In the case of the Colorado assembler they
even include a package of trail mix when they ship. Yummy.

Many can also do the enclosure, final assy, tests and so on if you
want to. But it'll cost.
OTOH, you don't have to get on the newsgroups to ask vague questions
about where to get designs prototyped.

The more experienced you are, the less my advice applies, certainly.
I would be confident sending one of my board designs out of state,
but not a mechanical design.

We had to, in part because the environmental regs in CA have become
so onerous that certain galvanizing operations couldn't be done
in-state any longer. Sometimes things are even done overseas.
Essentially you send a CD with the AutoCad files and back comes a
crate with your stuff.

CD? Autocad? Crate?
All three are becoming extinct. ;-)


AutoCad is still used a lot. Two clients even have the schematics in
DXF. That goes a bit far IMHO but who am I to complain? This week I did
a couple of mechanical drawings with Eagle. I do have 3D CAD software
but somehow the learning curve on this stuff is a bit steep for the few
times I need it. So it's mostly a file reader for me.

On 06-Mar-10 9:27, Joerg wrote:
Spehro Pefhany wrote:
On Fri, 05 Mar 2010 09:12:51 -0800, Joerg <invalid_at_invalid.invalid
wrote:

Tim Wescott wrote:
Joerg wrote:
Tim Wescott wrote:
Spehro Pefhany wrote:
On Thu, 4 Mar 2010 08:18:49 -0800 (PST), xc6800 <6800_at_hushmail.com
wrote:

I have a design of an electronics devices. What company can I
contact
to produce a few prototype for this design.

Thanks
xc
Often it's prudent to get the company who designed it to build the
prototypes.
If you really want a third party, it depends a bit on what you
really
want. Just buying parts on your BOM, ordering a PCB from your
Gerbers
and populating it, and you'll perform all testing?

Or perhaps your design is just a rough schematic and it's
necessary to
gather further requirements, specify parts, complete mechanical
design, do layout, manufacturer or purchase mechanical part
prototypes
and assemble a complete product.

What do you need the prototype for? Sales? Regulatory agency
testing?
Just to prove the design out?

Cost will obviously vary over quite a range depending on the exact
requirements. We sometimes do this sort of thing if there is some
interesting engineering involved.
I'd also add that your anticipated production level determines the
degree of care in your prototyping -- if you want to build 1000 a
month, then you probably want to have a prototype build in the
100's before you step up to that level. If you're only ever going
to sell 100 of the thing, then 'a few' really means 'three or
four' and you're fine.

If you're just having three or four done, getting it done as
locally as possible is a big plus. And by "locally" I mean just
that -- all else being equal -- if it costs you an extra 10% per
unit to have it done by a business within walking distance vs. one
that's a 1/2 hour drive away, give the job to your neighbor.


Depends on how well it is engineered out. My designs usually go
straight to a turnkey place. Since there seem to be no local ones
left they are all over the map, Southern California, Colorado, and
so on. Essentially you just send them the files and get fully
stuffed boards back. In the case of the Colorado assembler they
even include a package of trail mix when they ship. Yummy.

Many can also do the enclosure, final assy, tests and so on if you
want to. But it'll cost.
OTOH, you don't have to get on the newsgroups to ask vague questions
about where to get designs prototyped.

The more experienced you are, the less my advice applies, certainly.
I would be confident sending one of my board designs out of state,
but not a mechanical design.

We had to, in part because the environmental regs in CA have become
so onerous that certain galvanizing operations couldn't be done
in-state any longer. Sometimes things are even done overseas.
Essentially you send a CD with the AutoCad files and back comes a
crate with your stuff.

CD? Autocad? Crate?
All three are becoming extinct. ;-)


AutoCad is still used a lot. Two clients even have the schematics in
DXF. That goes a bit far IMHO but who am I to complain? This week I did
a couple of mechanical drawings with Eagle. I do have 3D CAD software
but somehow the learning curve on this stuff is a bit steep for the few
times I need it. So it's mostly a file reader for me.

[snip]

For 3D drawings, Google Sketchup is a tool with a quite shallow learning
curve. It's possible to design with precision and there are lots of
online tutorials (that can be loaded directly into the app & run) or
online videos etc.

That are also a large collection of online models that are searchable &
install direcly into your current drawing.

FWIW.