Chief Delphi - Andymark Linear Potentiometer video

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- - Andymark Linear Potentiometer video (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=121329)

Re: Andymark Linear Potentiometer video

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy Baker (Post 1301762)

I can't let this sort of a post slip by without replying. I disagree with Michael's post in many ways:

1. He hasn't tried the product. Based on Michael's post above and looking at our sales of this item so far, I don't think that he has personally seen this product.

2. An FRC team (2468) created and designed this product, so his suggestion for using their design without providing them with some appreciation is similar to pirating music or movies without paying the artist.

3. I take offense at the comment "The markup on AndyMark stuff is crazy!", and it hurts a bit more coming from a young engineer who I mentored when he was a student and we were on the same FRC team and who I have supported in various ways so that he can have his current engineering position. If there are specific AndyMark products which seem to have "crazy" markups, please let me know which ones they are and I will explain some reasons why the prices are as such.

So, I will reply with this:

The price of this AndyMark product includes the cost of the parts involved, a royalty commission that will be paid to FRC team 2468, and some overhead for AndyMark for stocking and selling this part. Considering these things, I feel that our price is fair and also gives some deserved appreciation to FRC team 2468.

Andy

I apologize for any offense taken. And full disclosure, no, I haven't tried the product. I've only seen the video. I do know, however, there are quite a bit of problems with selling a 3D printed part. It works in the short time, but how long does it actually take to print a part and how many 3D printers do you have access to? Also, I noticed you specifically say that we can download and print the parts ourselves (and even provided the STL files), assumptively, this is for teams who already have a 3D printer that can print parts even cheaper. I fully support you guys paying royalty to Team 2468, because this sort of product takes a lot of work to design, especially cheaply. However, the only part that I've complained about the price hike is the potentiometer. Doing some simple math (i know product pricing is anything but simple), We see that the parts of the total product is $40 (for am-2674). For everything except the housing (which includes the hardware, potentiometer and badge thingy (what is that called?)), the cost is $17 (for am-2618). For just the potentiometer, it is $16 (am-2619). That means the hardware and badge thingy is $1, which is fine in my book, the 3D printed parts are ~$23, which I can see considering you are paying royalties to Team 2468 and 3D printed parts take a long time to set up and depending on the printer, can have a lot of failures. The only thing I complain about is the potentiometer being $16.

Re: Andymark Linear Potentiometer video

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Hill (Post 1301775)

I apologize for any offense taken. The only thing I complain about is the potentiometer being $16.

Fair enough. We are seeking cheaper suppliers for this potentiometer.

Andy

Re: Andymark Linear Potentiometer video

If the cord winding is the problem with position changes. Try switching to a thin flat ribbon. Modify the drum so it is just wide enough for the ribbon to lay flat . If the ribbon is fastened so it will not twist it should wind the same all the time.

Re: Andymark Linear Potentiometer video

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy Baker (Post 1301762)

...snip... Considering these things, I feel that our price is fair and also gives some deserved appreciation to FRC team 2468.

Andy

I like what you did there (in more ways than one).

When I was in undergrad at Purdue, my sophomore year, I remember taking ME 263 which is a product design class. Towards the end of the class, we learned that MSRP was often 4X the material content. I found this absolutely appalling... until I learned a lot more about business about 6 years later.

Clothing is often much much much higher than that.

IKE

Re: Andymark Linear Potentiometer video

If you're not at least doubling your money, you're probably wasting your time. I learned that working at the auto salvage yard when I was in engineering school.

Re: Andymark Linear Potentiometer video

Fwiw, our team just bought the "bare kit". Why?

1. We got a 3D printer in the KOP Lottery.
2. We have it together, but have not had time to learn to use it.
3. We could really use a string pot to measure arm position and can't afford a commercial one.
4. My ID badge holder at work just broke the clip off, so I have an extra yoyo.
5. We love supporting other FIRST teams.
6. We want to encourage teams to innovate and share.
7. We want to support businesses that support FIRST and FIRST teams.
8. We thought it would be fun for the kids to print their own parts for the String Pot.
9. AndyMark has great people, great service, and entertaining how-to videos.

Management summary: It is more about the education than the price. (and that aside, price seems perfectly reasonable compared with the hundreds or thousands you can pay for commercial units).

Final - We are having trouble getting the .stl files to print on our MakerGear. It seems to only print the bottom slice. If anyone has success slicing the .stl file, we could use some hints.

Thanks!

Re: Andymark Linear Potentiometer video

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Fort (Post 1336254)

I ran into the same problem. I should've looked at the STL files earlier. It's pretty much impossible to get the linked original STL files to print on a stock MakerGear printer, because of all the overhangs. To print overhangs like that, you really need support material. AM is printing and selling modified files that don't require support material, but they haven't released those files. Not that I blame them, since there was clearly some amount of engineering that had to go into the modified files.