Do you guys think this is spam? It’s just a single link to a product (which could be an advertisement). Also, there are no words explaining what this is, a typical characteristic of many spam-posts.
I’d not classify that post as spam.
Spam…
Noun
- irrelevant or inappropriate messages sent on the Internet to a large number of recipients.
- trademark: canned meat product made mainly from ham.
Ok, so it is not the meat product…but nor is it “irrelevant or inappropriate” as this is a forum primarily concerned with robotics. As the video is a 10 minute technical demonstration on how to use a new product which many of us in the community have expressed an interest in, I’d not classify it as spam.
It’s a very informative video about a neat new product that was designed to be used on FRC robots. Although the person making the video seems to expect more precision from the part than should be expected.
You forgot S.P.A.M. One of the coolest FRC teams in the great state of Florida who won a world championship in Rebound Rumble and who’s poorman scouting system has helped numerous teams(including my own) scout in FRC. Thanks team 180.
The day Andy Baker starts hiring people to spam Chief Delphi is the day I leave FIRST.
This is not SPAM, it is an evaluation of the new string potentiometer that AndyMark is carrying. FRC 2468 provided our CAD files for this product to AndyMark. Mark mentioned me that they had made some modifications to help with the printing of the model (removal of support material when printing).
We used a model of this spring pot our robot shooter this past year. It was very effective for us as a team. We used it to give feedback/control on our shooter deck angle. It does have limitations as mentioned in the video but we knew that up front. Our use only required about 5-6 inches of pull on the string of the pot.
The original files for our string pot can be found on the AndyMark website here: http://www.andymark.com/product-p/am-2618.htm
Our original design addressed some of the issues mentioned in the video (no hole for the string pot, hole for the brass fitting the string runs through, the set screw hole). We are in the process of working up a white paper on our use, programming and design of the string pot on our Ultimate Ascent robot.
Thanks to our mentors Joe Hershberger and Scott McMahon for leading our team on this project.
All the words required to explain what it is are in the title of the post. I am not a fan of the practice of leaving the body blank in such cases, but I understand that some people might feel repeating the information to be redundant.
Interesting video. Can’t say I’m a fan of the product. It looks rather cheaply made and looks unreliable. They literally used a slightly modified extend-o-badge for the string. While I get the concept, it seems rather unpolished to actually sell.
…which is great. Low development cost, teams can try it and see how it works, and suggest improvements. You can buy a “real” string pot for a lot more money, if you think the added polish will make your robot work better.
For lower cost, 3D print the part, get an extend-o-badge thing and use this potentiometer: http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/3590S-2-502L/3590S-2-502L-ND/1088592
All the STL files are available in the Files & Documents here: http://www.andymark.com/product-p/am-2618.htm
Exact same one as the one used here, just about half the price. The markup on AndyMark stuff is crazy!
Sounds like you need to get into the robot parts business? Think of the money you could make.
::ouch::
I can’t let this sort of a post slip by without replying. I disagree with Michael’s post in many ways:
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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.
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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.
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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
Digikey is also a HUGE supplier that is selling a great quantity of items.
AndyMark almost certainly is purchasing the potentiometers at a higher price than digikey is, and therefore must charge more.
Often I buy products even with the “AndyMark” markup as I eliminate an order by doing so. We’re always buying AndyMark products during season, but we may not order from digikey or someone else that often. So if I need 1-2 of something, it can be cheaper to pay more per item, but save on overall shipping and hassle (eliminates going to another site, filling information out, etc…).
I willingly pay the AM markup to support a company who’s business practices I support. Ever tried getting support from Digikey? Unless you do massive business they don’t care. AM? I can call them and get help immediately during most normal business hours. To me that’s worth the markup.
So, Andy, even if there is a markup your service is great and you stand by your products and that means a lot more to me than any small cost difference. Thanks 
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.
Fair enough. We are seeking cheaper suppliers for this potentiometer.
Andy
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.
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
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.