Subject: Re: [stella] Homebrew cart distributors From: Joe Grand <joe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Date: Sun, 05 Jan 2003 15:39:04 -0500 |
We work some with rapid prototyping. For some objects, it is feasible to rp it and use it as the final product. Since the 2600 cart case is a small plastic shell, I would think that for the type of use these cases will get that this may be a viable option. Have you looked into that possibility?
Joe Grand wrote:
I have a design for a 2600 cartridge casing that I debuted at CGE 2002 in Vegas last summer. I had a model of the design made so people could check out the design, feel it, etc. Some pictures and description of the prototype can be found at http://www.pixelspast.com/homebrew
Specifically, pictures are http://www.pixelspast.com/homebrew/images/2600_housing_01.jpg and http://www.pixelspast.com/homebrew/images/2600_housing_02.jpg
I had more pictures on the website of the internal structure, along with a real mechanical drawing, but I took those down. It was brought to my attention that some people had "borrowed" my design, with my specific features I designed into the housing, and made their own design based on it. However, I haven't heard much about that recently.
The cost of the tool is quite expensive and too much for one person (I feel) to put up to make the tool and a quantity of cartridge shells (around $10k). Since we would want to offer cartridge housings to the community for relatively cheap, there would be minimal mark-up to the actual manufacturing cost (basically the cost of the plastic) of the cartridge housing (say around $2 in quantity). The most costly part of the project is the tool/mold, which is an extremely accurate milled block of steel or aluminum that is used in an injection molding machine to make the parts. It would take at least a few years to make back the cost of the tool, so the whole thing is pretty risky.
With the help of a few people each putting in some money for the tool, it would make the project more likely. I have a great mechanical engineering firm I've been working with and have contacts to low-priced, short-run injection molding houses to make the housings. As a matter of fact, I already have quotes.
The design is essentially ready to go, but then I opened my piggy bank and looked inside.
Joe
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