CA6 Case

[Maurice]

I've attached a rendering of the current case.  You can see the text and logo are concave.  The injection molder said I should change that to convex to make the mold easier so I plan to do that.  However we also got into discussions about possibly making the case smooth and doing a black print directly onto the case.  That would add about $2 to the cost of the CA6.  What do people prefer?

Also if people have ideas on how to do a better layout of the information let me know.  I'm happy to share the 2d files for that text/logo, or even the 3d files.  Eventually all that will be open sourced anyways.

[dml...@gmail.com]

When I looked at at the videos, but not the rendering above, The logo and numbering/lettering were kind of hard to see.  My mental picture was that I'd have to ink them in with a  fine point Sharpie.  I'm not sure if making them raised instead of indented would help, maybe a little.  So I think that I might prefer black ink/paint on the light color plastic (white or whatever color you choose).  The concern about black paint would be if it was easily susceptible to coming off.  Or are you talking about black plastic embedded in the case?  But either black or raised would be acceptable to me.
Dan

[Maurice]

The videos aren't a good reference.  The case there has the letters filled in with supports form my 3d printer that I didn't bother removing.

The raised letters would be easier to read than the videos.  But the black printing would be easier to read than that.  It would be a pretty durable black ink that is specifically designed to print onto abs cases.  If you had a CA5 case you'll remember that the print on those was pretty durable.  I'd expect this to be similar.

[ric...@hornbaker.com]

Hi, Maurice.

Questions from the peanut gallery here, but I was curious in the Kickstarter to see that you're planning to do a custom injection-molded enclosure.  Or are you really just customizing a stock enclosure, like the service that Serpac offers?

I'm sure you've weighed the economics here since this isn't your first rodeo, but a custom enclosure seems like an elegant touch that might not be practical at small volumes.  As your consumer, I'd be OK with a simple, robust, adhesive label.  (I don't know the proper name for it, but I'm thinking of a die-cut or laser-cut, heavy, plastic sheet; probably clear with back-printing.)  What's inside matters a whole lot more.

[Maurice]

I'm currently evaluating this.  In the Kickstarter, I'm using a 3d printed case for the CA6 and some modules (using a common module case).  Then some of the modules used laser cut acrylic (these will stay this way since I know doing custom enclosures for these larger modules would be too expensive).  I could use laser cut acrylic for everything and save a lot on tooling, but I did price out the custom injection molded tooling so I will probably go with that.  I have some contacts in China from past projects that can give me a good deal on the injection molding tooling, and once the tooling is done the cost per case is super cheap.

I looked at using an existing case and just couldn't make that work for this project.  The CA6 has so many different ports on the edges that any stock case just wouldn't work unless I went with something really huge and that would increase the total cost of the CA6 significantly.

-Maurice

[Yudah Amit]

Hi,
Did you look at Silkscreening
http://www.envplastics.com/services/silk-screening

[Maurice]

Yes, I did look at this and get it priced for my test enclosure.  Unfortunately, it adds significantly to the cost of an injection molded case for lower volumes like mine because it a totally separate step and requires tooling setup so I'm leaning towards just using raised images and text in the case.

[Yudah Amit]

I am wondering if you tried going on the link that I attached or it’s from past experience. They also make low cost small run plastic cases and they add the silkscreen.

[vav...@gmail.com]

My opinion regarding the logo on the case is that it really doesn't matter. Impressive hardware will get people to ask, and satisfied customers will happily talk it up and tell others what it is and where to get one. The logo should probably be there, but I wouldn't worry too much about making it recognizable from a distance or adding cost just for the logo.

Jay

[Maurice]

Sorry Yudah.  I should have been more clear.  When I said "this" I meant silk screening and other printing processes on cases.

I have not check out that particular service, but I did look at several options.  There is lower volume 3d printing, milling (this seems to be what your link uses), and injection molding.  While I could get by with 3d printing for the volume I need in Kickstarter, 

That said I have a good relationship with an injection molding company I have used for past projects.  It's a company that specializes in all the tricks to get the cost of the molds down.  There are lots of things these small run companies can do to reduce the cost of the molds.  Things like putting multiple designs in a single mold and splitting the molds into a base portion which can be reused.  It's all complicated, but the end results is I can get steel molds for the CA6 case and the module case for just under $4K.  Then the per unit cost is much lower than any other process I mentioned above.  If I tried to get these molds made in the US at a companies that doesn't use all the tricks they molds alone would likely cost over $40K, which is fine for really high volumes, but not for me.

I guess my point here is I have thought through and looked at several options.  I'm happy to hear about the other options, but it's unlikely I'll change unless I hear about something I haven't considered.  From what I've seen with other Kickstarter campaigns, I tend to prioritize schedule more than most others.  So I will tend to go with a process and companies I've worked with before since that will reduce my schedule risk.

[Maurice]

Thanks for that Jay.  Personally I tend to agree, but I know there are photographers that do care about ascetics of the product.  The thing is I can never make a product that will make everyone happy.  If I find the CA6 is really successful then maybe it's worth spending time and money on a product designer to make a prettier design.  However, I have decided to not do that for this version.  I think the CA6 will have a simple and functional design.  I don't think it's ugly, but it also isn't going to win any design contests either.