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My own private idaho (self employ)
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George Herold
Jan 25, 2020, 4:22:22 PM1/25/20
to
So I've been in this kinda dark place... partly due to BS from my PPoE.
(need not be discussed)
But that looks to finally be behind me!
I went down to visit with Phil H. for a day, (wonderful people!),
and when I came back there was all this good news in the mail.
One says that I can use my unemployment insurance benefits
to apply for the Self-employment Assistance Program.
And I'd like to explore that idea here. (starting own company)
First off it seems like a big lift. Spit balling numbers, if
I'm going to take ~$100k in profit (to pay myself and health insurance
and taxes and..) I'm going to need ~$300k in sales.
(most of my ideas involve fun physics teaching stuff, where
price is paramount.) And I don't see any selling enough.
Maybe I need to think about selling to industry too?
I think my number one, this could sell enough, idea
is a LN flow cryostat*. With a bare-bones cryostat for
~$1-2k, (Dewar, minimal probe and pump.) Then people
could make their own probes, and I can sell different probes
(and electronics).
probes could sell for much more money....
The other bad thing about selling stuff is you've got to
spend ~1/2 your time on marketing... maybe more early on.
I don't mind, and even enjoy some, a little bit of marketing.
but it is what I look at as part of the grunt work.
Thoughts and ideas welcome.
George H.
*typically the variable flow impedance is done with a needle
valve. The needle valve is the expensive, costly to replace bit,
that thumb fingered brutish students can break**.
Part of me thinks.. well let your students learn on this one
(and make it easy to repair) Or some fixed impedance with
variable pressure to change flow.. or something else?
(magneto striction, pwm a solenoid, peizo electric valve?)
** actually I think the latest designs are motor controlled,
with torque sensors or something.
(need not be discussed)
But that looks to finally be behind me!
I went down to visit with Phil H. for a day, (wonderful people!),
and when I came back there was all this good news in the mail.
One says that I can use my unemployment insurance benefits
to apply for the Self-employment Assistance Program.
And I'd like to explore that idea here. (starting own company)
First off it seems like a big lift. Spit balling numbers, if
I'm going to take ~$100k in profit (to pay myself and health insurance
and taxes and..) I'm going to need ~$300k in sales.
(most of my ideas involve fun physics teaching stuff, where
price is paramount.) And I don't see any selling enough.
Maybe I need to think about selling to industry too?
I think my number one, this could sell enough, idea
is a LN flow cryostat*. With a bare-bones cryostat for
~$1-2k, (Dewar, minimal probe and pump.) Then people
could make their own probes, and I can sell different probes
(and electronics).
probes could sell for much more money....
The other bad thing about selling stuff is you've got to
spend ~1/2 your time on marketing... maybe more early on.
I don't mind, and even enjoy some, a little bit of marketing.
but it is what I look at as part of the grunt work.
Thoughts and ideas welcome.
George H.
*typically the variable flow impedance is done with a needle
valve. The needle valve is the expensive, costly to replace bit,
that thumb fingered brutish students can break**.
Part of me thinks.. well let your students learn on this one
(and make it easy to repair) Or some fixed impedance with
variable pressure to change flow.. or something else?
(magneto striction, pwm a solenoid, peizo electric valve?)
** actually I think the latest designs are motor controlled,
with torque sensors or something.
jla...@highlandsniptechnology.com
Jan 25, 2020, 5:40:29 PM1/25/20
to
consulting or design reviews or something.
I can send you a gigantic list of the parts we have in stock. We have
a bunch of oscilloscopes too.
Seems like a stepper motor would be good to spin a needle valve.
I wonder if you could push a flexible metal diaphragm across a hole in
a plate.
--
John Larkin Highland Technology, Inc
The cork popped merrily, and Lord Peter rose to his feet.
"Bunter", he said, "I give you a toast. The triumph of Instinct over Reason"
Phil Hobbs
Jan 25, 2020, 7:08:02 PM1/25/20
to
On 2020-01-25 16:22, George Herold wrote:
> So I've been in this kinda dark place... partly due to BS from my PPoE.
> (need not be discussed)
> But that looks to finally be behind me!
>
> I went down to visit with Phil H. for a day, (wonderful people!),
It was great having you--we've been net-friends for 15 years or so, and
> So I've been in this kinda dark place... partly due to BS from my PPoE.
> (need not be discussed)
> But that looks to finally be behind me!
>
> I went down to visit with Phil H. for a day, (wonderful people!),
it's good to be able to put a face to a name. :)
> and when I came back there was all this good news in the mail.
> One says that I can use my unemployment insurance benefits
> to apply for the Self-employment Assistance Program.
> And I'd like to explore that idea here. (starting own company)
>
> First off it seems like a big lift. Spit balling numbers, if
> I'm going to take ~$100k in profit (to pay myself and health insurance
> and taxes and..) I'm going to need ~$300k in sales.
> (most of my ideas involve fun physics teaching stuff, where
> price is paramount.) And I don't see any selling enough.
champions as customers--folks who have a need and money to spend, and
who believe in you enough to generate POs.
> Maybe I need to think about selling to industry too?
> I think my number one, this could sell enough, idea
> is a LN flow cryostat*. With a bare-bones cryostat for
> ~$1-2k, (Dewar, minimal probe and pump.) Then people
> could make their own probes, and I can sell different probes
> (and electronics).
> probes could sell for much more money....
>
> The other bad thing about selling stuff is you've got to
> spend ~1/2 your time on marketing... maybe more early on.
references.
>
> I don't mind, and even enjoy some, a little bit of marketing.
> but it is what I look at as part of the grunt work.
Yup. Figuring out what you want to be when you grow up is still a thing
> I don't mind, and even enjoy some, a little bit of marketing.
> but it is what I look at as part of the grunt work.
when you're 60. ;)
Cheers
Phil Hobbs
--
Dr Philip C D Hobbs
Principal Consultant
ElectroOptical Innovations LLC / Hobbs ElectroOptics
Optics, Electro-optics, Photonics, Analog Electronics
Briarcliff Manor NY 10510
http://electrooptical.net
http://hobbs-eo.com
George Herold
Jan 25, 2020, 7:15:52 PM1/25/20
to
You remind me that the number zero problem of your own company,
is that you are all alone... no one to bounce ideas off of.
Ideally I might get a job as a lab guy at some uni/ college.
with some interested profs, and students as beta testers.
(Except uni's seem out of control, PC-wise these days.)
>
> Seems like a stepper motor would be good to spin a needle valve.
>
> I wonder if you could push a flexible metal diaphragm across a hole in
> a plate.
Sure with pressure as the pusher. The one thing I hate about any
> I wonder if you could push a flexible metal diaphragm across a hole in
> a plate.
magnetic valve ideas.. is that it will f with any magnetic measurements.
George H.
Rick C
Jan 25, 2020, 7:42:29 PM1/25/20
to
--
Rick C.
- Get 1,000 miles of free Supercharging
- Tesla referral code - https://ts.la/richard11209
jla...@highlandsniptechnology.com
Jan 25, 2020, 7:43:11 PM1/25/20
to
On Sat, 25 Jan 2020 16:15:48 -0800 (PST), George Herold
No, I have a few smart electronics and mechanical people to brainstorm
with (and be abused by) and a few good customers who have ideas.
>Ideally I might get a job as a lab guy at some uni/ college.
>with some interested profs, and students as beta testers.
>(Except uni's seem out of control, PC-wise these days.)
The electronics shop of a good physics school is usually fun. I worked
in one, a couple of summers, and learned a lot. It could spin out a
business, too, part-time until it takes off.
>
>>
>> Seems like a stepper motor would be good to spin a needle valve.
>Yeah... maybe a motorized option, but I like turning things by hand.
>>
>> I wonder if you could push a flexible metal diaphragm across a hole in
>> a plate.
>Sure with pressure as the pusher.
The harder you push, the more viscous flow damping. Or something.
The one thing I hate about any
>magnetic valve ideas.. is that it will f with any magnetic measurements.
Push with a gas? Or even a liquid, with some thermal hand-waving.
with (and be abused by) and a few good customers who have ideas.
>Ideally I might get a job as a lab guy at some uni/ college.
>with some interested profs, and students as beta testers.
>(Except uni's seem out of control, PC-wise these days.)
in one, a couple of summers, and learned a lot. It could spin out a
business, too, part-time until it takes off.
>
>>
>> Seems like a stepper motor would be good to spin a needle valve.
>Yeah... maybe a motorized option, but I like turning things by hand.
>>
>> I wonder if you could push a flexible metal diaphragm across a hole in
>> a plate.
>Sure with pressure as the pusher.
The one thing I hate about any
>magnetic valve ideas.. is that it will f with any magnetic measurements.
Rick C
Jan 25, 2020, 7:48:35 PM1/25/20
to
--
Rick C.
+ Get 1,000 miles of free Supercharging
+ Tesla referral code - https://ts.la/richard11209
George Herold
Jan 25, 2020, 8:20:07 PM1/25/20
to
blades to follow, but orthogonal price wise. cheap cryostat, a few
spendy probes to follow.
But in my mind the cryostat has to stand on it's own.
There's a LN2 dewar, a SS tube (1.25" OD... the biggest thin
walled stainless tube you can buy from McMaster.. or elsewhere.)
valve, heater, T sensor at bottom. Laddish clamp to inside
of probe on top.
I've got pieces for most of this but haven't tried it...
I need an OK vacuum pump,
>
> >
> > The other bad thing about selling stuff is you've got to
> > spend ~1/2 your time on marketing... maybe more early on.
>
> That's another place where the champions come in--you can use them as
> references.
> >
> > I don't mind, and even enjoy some, a little bit of marketing.
> > but it is what I look at as part of the grunt work.
>
> Yup. Figuring out what you want to be when you grow up is still a thing
> when you're 60. ;)
George H.
Robert Baer
Jan 25, 2020, 8:54:02 PM1/25/20
to
George Herold wrote:
> So I've been in this kinda dark place... partly due to BS from my PPoE.
> (need not be discussed)
> But that looks to finally be behind me!
>
> I went down to visit with Phil H. for a day, (wonderful people!),
> and when I came back there was all this good news in the mail.
> One says that I can use my unemployment insurance benefits
> to apply for the Self-employment Assistance Program.
> And I'd like to explore that idea here. (starting own company)
* Look carefully at ALL of the gotchas, (may i swear) FEEs, interest
> So I've been in this kinda dark place... partly due to BS from my PPoE.
> (need not be discussed)
> But that looks to finally be behind me!
>
> I went down to visit with Phil H. for a day, (wonderful people!),
> and when I came back there was all this good news in the mail.
> One says that I can use my unemployment insurance benefits
> to apply for the Self-employment Assistance Program.
> And I'd like to explore that idea here. (starting own company)
rates,etc.
>
> First off it seems like a big lift. Spit balling numbers, if
> I'm going to take ~$100k in profit (to pay myself and health insurance
> and taxes and..) I'm going to need ~$300k in sales.
> (most of my ideas involve fun physics teaching stuff, where
> price is paramount.) And I don't see any selling enough.
>
> Maybe I need to think about selling to industry too?
> I think my number one, this could sell enough, idea
> is a LN flow cryostat*. With a bare-bones cryostat for
> ~$1-2k, (Dewar, minimal probe and pump.) Then people
> could make their own probes, and I can sell different probes
> (and electronics).
> probes could sell for much more money....
>
> The other bad thing about selling stuff is you've got to
> spend ~1/2 your time on marketing... maybe more early on.
The website is your sales tool.
No matter how good that website may be, expect hundreds of SEO types
that will diss it, saying what they can do to improve it. The scam part
is placement of your site name in hundreds of (what i call referral) ad
sites; damn near all of them are completely unknown (and unused).
Have a good developer, maybe one paid Manta and Google ad, use GA for
tracking.
Use PayPal for selling; any other merchandiser will charge a rather
large MONTHLY _fee_ just to exist.
Formally copyright the site name; that is cheap insurance.
See circular 4:
Registrations online
$35 Single Application (single author, same claimant, one work, not for
hire)
$55 Standard Application (all other filings)
The copyright law, regulations, and the Compendium are available on
the Copyright Office website at www.copyright.gov.
Bill Sloman
Jan 25, 2020, 9:13:18 PM1/25/20
to
> >> >*typically the variable flow impedance is done with a needle
> >> >valve. The needle valve is the expensive, costly to replace bit,
> >> >that thumb fingered brutish students can break**.
> >> >Part of me thinks.. well let your students learn on this one
> >> >(and make it easy to repair) Or some fixed impedance with
> >> >variable pressure to change flow.. or something else?
> >> >(magneto striction, pwm a solenoid, peizo electric valve?)
> >> >** actually I think the latest designs are motor controlled,
> >> >with torque sensors or something.
> >>
> >> Let me know if we can help. Like if you need parts or equipment or
> >> consulting or design reviews or something.
> >>
> >> I can send you a gigantic list of the parts we have in stock. We have
> >> a bunch of oscilloscopes too.
> >Grin, You are such a sweet heart, thanks.
> >You remind me that the number zero problem of your own company,
> >is that you are all alone... no one to bounce ideas off of.
>
> No, I have a few smart electronics and mechanical people to brainstorm
> with (and be abused by) and a few good customers who have ideas.
>
> >Ideally I might get a job as a lab guy at some uni/ college.
> >with some interested profs, and students as beta testers.
> >(Except uni's seem out of control, PC-wise these days.)
>
> The electronics shop of a good physics school is usually fun. I worked
> in one, a couple of summers, and learned a lot. It could spin out a
> business, too, part-time until it takes off.
Horace Darwin did it first. He was Charles Darwin's youngest son, and an engineer.
> >> >valve. The needle valve is the expensive, costly to replace bit,
> >> >that thumb fingered brutish students can break**.
> >> >Part of me thinks.. well let your students learn on this one
> >> >(and make it easy to repair) Or some fixed impedance with
> >> >variable pressure to change flow.. or something else?
> >> >(magneto striction, pwm a solenoid, peizo electric valve?)
> >> >** actually I think the latest designs are motor controlled,
> >> >with torque sensors or something.
> >>
> >> Let me know if we can help. Like if you need parts or equipment or
> >> consulting or design reviews or something.
> >>
> >> I can send you a gigantic list of the parts we have in stock. We have
> >> a bunch of oscilloscopes too.
> >Grin, You are such a sweet heart, thanks.
> >You remind me that the number zero problem of your own company,
> >is that you are all alone... no one to bounce ideas off of.
>
> No, I have a few smart electronics and mechanical people to brainstorm
> with (and be abused by) and a few good customers who have ideas.
>
> >Ideally I might get a job as a lab guy at some uni/ college.
> >with some interested profs, and students as beta testers.
> >(Except uni's seem out of control, PC-wise these days.)
>
> The electronics shop of a good physics school is usually fun. I worked
> in one, a couple of summers, and learned a lot. It could spin out a
> business, too, part-time until it takes off.
He essentially took over the Cavendish Laboratory workshop (in Cambridge UK) and grew it into Cambridge Instruments
https://www.amazon.com/Darwins-Cambridge-Scientific-Instrument-1878-1968/dp/0852745699
The book covers the period from 1878 to 1968 (when the company was taken over by Kent Instruments, who made a hash of it. I was working for Kent Instruments in 1974 when they were taken over by Brown Boveri, and the money-losing rump of Cambridge Instruments was floated off. When I joined it in 1982, it had been through a merger with Metals Research of Cambridge - which hadn't worked well, and the residue had been taken over by Terence Gooding, who eventually fused it with Leica.
> >> Seems like a stepper motor would be good to spin a needle valve.
> >Yeah... maybe a motorized option, but I like turning things by hand.
> >>
> >> I wonder if you could push a flexible metal diaphragm across a hole in
> >> a plate.
> >Sure with pressure as the pusher.
>
> The harder you push, the more viscous flow damping. Or something.
>
> The one thing I hate about any
> >magnetic valve ideas.. is that it will f with any magnetic measurements.
>
> Push with a gas? Or even a liquid, with some thermal hand-waving.
You can't actually throttle the gas flow - if you did the cryostat would burst - and it's easy to increase gas volume by boiling off more gas.
--
Bill Sloman, Sydney
Tom Gardner
Jan 26, 2020, 4:22:03 AM1/26/20
to
On 25/01/20 21:22, George Herold wrote:
> The other bad thing about selling stuff is you've got to
> spend ~1/2 your time on marketing... maybe more early on.
And all the other administrivia :( Even if someone
> The other bad thing about selling stuff is you've got to
> spend ~1/2 your time on marketing... maybe more early on.
else is doing all that guff, and engineer operates
at full throttle for about 30%-40% of their time.
The rest is "unproductive" meetings etc. Hence in
the absence of better information, multiply your
first estimate by 2.5-3.5 :)
I've seen a couple of startups make one mistake;
I suspect you are too smart, but here it is anyway...
The founder(s) are trapped by the glitz of being
"self-employed CEOs", and spend money on unnecessary
/visible/ trappings, e.g. cars, boardroom furniture,
and the like.
They feel great and "energised", but none of that
gets money in the door.
More successfully...
I've also seen successful R&D consultancies that
only buy the minimum of equipment, i.e. equipment
that is guaranteed to be useful on every project.
Any equipment that doesn't fall into that category
is bought on a project-by-project basis and after
the project it is part of the deliverable to the
client.
Good luck; all startups need that.
Piglet
Jan 26, 2020, 6:06:44 AM1/26/20
to
On 26/01/2020 00:15, George Herold wrote:
> Sure with pressure as the pusher. The one thing I hate about any
> magnetic valve ideas.. is that it will f with any magnetic measurements.
>
> George H.
Good luck George.
> Sure with pressure as the pusher. The one thing I hate about any
> magnetic valve ideas.. is that it will f with any magnetic measurements.
>
> George H.
Getting movement without magnetic fields makes me wonder again about
Nitinol* "muscle wire" - always seemed a great solution looking for a
problem to solve. But possibly not right for your app, as far as I know
it is bang-bang only with no proportional control, slow in the hundreds
of milliseconds, and being thermally driven probably a complete mismatch
for cryo N2 valves!
piglet
*For those unfamiliar a shape memory alloy wire that switches between
two states and corresponding lengths with temperature. Passing a current
to self heat makes a sort of electrical-mechanical transducer.
jla...@highlandsniptechnology.com
Jan 26, 2020, 11:16:31 AM1/26/20
to
On Sun, 26 Jan 2020 09:21:58 +0000, Tom Gardner
<spam...@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:
>On 25/01/20 21:22, George Herold wrote:
>> The other bad thing about selling stuff is you've got to
>> spend ~1/2 your time on marketing... maybe more early on.
>
>And all the other administrivia :( Even if someone
>else is doing all that guff, and engineer operates
>at full throttle for about 30%-40% of their time.
>The rest is "unproductive" meetings etc. Hence in
>the absence of better information, multiply your
>first estimate by 2.5-3.5 :)
>
>I've seen a couple of startups make one mistake;
>I suspect you are too smart, but here it is anyway...
>
>The founder(s) are trapped by the glitz of being
>"self-employed CEOs", and spend money on unnecessary
>/visible/ trappings, e.g. cars, boardroom furniture,
>and the like.
Some people think that the appearance of success (hence buying all
<spam...@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:
>On 25/01/20 21:22, George Herold wrote:
>> The other bad thing about selling stuff is you've got to
>> spend ~1/2 your time on marketing... maybe more early on.
>
>And all the other administrivia :( Even if someone
>else is doing all that guff, and engineer operates
>at full throttle for about 30%-40% of their time.
>The rest is "unproductive" meetings etc. Hence in
>the absence of better information, multiply your
>first estimate by 2.5-3.5 :)
>
>I've seen a couple of startups make one mistake;
>I suspect you are too smart, but here it is anyway...
>
>The founder(s) are trapped by the glitz of being
>"self-employed CEOs", and spend money on unnecessary
>/visible/ trappings, e.g. cars, boardroom furniture,
>and the like.
that glitzy expensive stuff) is success. It's the opposite.
One guy that I know of got some investors to join up, and first thing
bought a private jet. Next thing, they fired him.
(One common mistake is to give up too much equity early on, often to
less than savory/competent partners.)
>
>They feel great and "energised", but none of that
>gets money in the door.
>
>More successfully...
>
>I've also seen successful R&D consultancies that
>only buy the minimum of equipment, i.e. equipment
>that is guaranteed to be useful on every project.
of good test equipment isn't very expensive.
>
>Any equipment that doesn't fall into that category
>is bought on a project-by-project basis and after
>the project it is part of the deliverable to the
>client.
additional cost. Price them separately; they may find that they want
several.
>
>Good luck; all startups need that.
equipment on a one-time basis. That gets a company started, and some
people can do that forever. But that requires constant selling, and is
often feast-famine stressful. Selling products is a better long-term
force multiplier.
Tom Gardner
Jan 26, 2020, 12:34:08 PM1/26/20
to
>> Any equipment that doesn't fall into that category
>> is bought on a project-by-project basis and after
>> the project it is part of the deliverable to the
>> client.
>
> NO! Keep all the toys! Well, you can provide custom test sets at large
> additional cost. Price them separately; they may find that they want
> several.
project deliverables, presuming the clients want to
continue with the work after the R&D is handed over.
Pricing duplicates separately is optional, of course.
The consultancies I know had clients that wanted to
own any "project specific" equipment that had been
bought for the project and they had paid for as part
of the project cost. Quite reasonable, really.
In addition, space for storage of rarely used equipment
can be a problem.
>> Good luck; all startups need that.
>
> One can certainly be a consultant, and sell the IP and designs and
> equipment on a one-time basis. That gets a company started, and some
> people can do that forever. But that requires constant selling, and is
> often feast-famine stressful. Selling products is a better long-term
> force multiplier.
"job shop scheduling" problems. Those problems are reduced
with larger organisations, more projects, and smaller projects.
George Herold
Jan 26, 2020, 2:09:40 PM1/26/20
to
making my own website.. so that's another thing.
At my PPoE I always wanted to make a 'repair/problem' online forum...
which I pictured as mostly my email correspondence with customers
made public.
George H.
George Herold
Jan 26, 2020, 2:25:05 PM1/26/20
to
If I was to do this LN2 thing, the first thing I'd need is
a leak detector. (Or an RGA and pumping station.)
I think I'm mostly trying to talk myself out of this idea.
If I could work 1/2 time for someone else and 1/2+ for myself
that might work.
George h.
George Herold
Jan 26, 2020, 3:10:00 PM1/26/20
to
On Sunday, January 26, 2020 at 6:06:44 AM UTC-5, piglet wrote:
> On 26/01/2020 00:15, George Herold wrote:
> > Sure with pressure as the pusher. The one thing I hate about any
> > magnetic valve ideas.. is that it will f with any magnetic measurements.
> >
> > George H.
>
> Good luck George.
>
> Getting movement without magnetic fields makes me wonder again about
> Nitinol* "muscle wire" - always seemed a great solution looking for a
> problem to solve. But possibly not right for your app, as far as I know
> it is bang-bang only with no proportional control, slow in the hundreds
> of milliseconds, and being thermally driven probably a complete mismatch
> for cryo N2 valves!
Grin... yeah, there would have to be some thermally insulating connection
> On 26/01/2020 00:15, George Herold wrote:
> > Sure with pressure as the pusher. The one thing I hate about any
> > magnetic valve ideas.. is that it will f with any magnetic measurements.
> >
> > George H.
>
> Good luck George.
>
> Getting movement without magnetic fields makes me wonder again about
> Nitinol* "muscle wire" - always seemed a great solution looking for a
> problem to solve. But possibly not right for your app, as far as I know
> it is bang-bang only with no proportional control, slow in the hundreds
> of milliseconds, and being thermally driven probably a complete mismatch
> for cryo N2 valves!
between the nitinol and the valve.
>
> piglet
>
> *For those unfamiliar a shape memory alloy wire that switches between
> two states and corresponding lengths with temperature. Passing a current
> to self heat makes a sort of electrical-mechanical transducer.
Oh, I didn't know it would self heat... that's fun. (well and needs some
> piglet
>
> *For those unfamiliar a shape memory alloy wire that switches between
> two states and corresponding lengths with temperature. Passing a current
> to self heat makes a sort of electrical-mechanical transducer.
electrical insulation on the ends.)
Re: selling something. I don't think I can put all my eggs into
the "I'm going to sell something basket." Too many of my plans/ ideas
are half baked and untested. Besides getting the flow cryostat going
there's gotta be at least one 'killer' probe/ experiment.
And I'm not sure what the first one might be.
Hall bar on semi-conductor... Ge would be the best, because
the interesting physics matches the temp. range of the probe.
but also Si.
Phase transition in magnetite... google that (the wiki article sucks.)
I know much less about this.. but it is cool!
I-V vs T for various commercial semi's.. diodes and transistors.
George h.
Phil Hobbs
Jan 26, 2020, 3:31:45 PM1/26/20
to
can get audio rates out of it. I have a couple of Blue Sky 'Collimeter'
units, which are shear-plate collimation testers dithered by a bit of
Nitinol wire driving a flexure pivot.
It'll give you nice smooth bidirectional motion if you have some sort of
feedback. There's a resistance change associated with the phase
transition, but I don't know how repeatable that is.
George Herold
Jan 26, 2020, 3:42:40 PM1/26/20
to
(I've got some power supplies, rigol scope and rigol sig. gen.
and as you say parts are pretty cheap these days.)
George H.
>
> >
> >Good luck; all startups need that.
>
> One can certainly be a consultant, and sell the IP and designs and
> equipment on a one-time basis. That gets a company started, and some
> people can do that forever. But that requires constant selling, and is
> often feast-famine stressful. Selling products is a better long-term
> force multiplier.
low volume level I'm contemplating.) to be semi-stable.
The other thing I think about is fun little pcb's and a part's bag/ list.
There's lot's of rather mundane circuits you can think about,
(gain, filtering)
fun ones are rev. biased led spads, and fast edge TDR's
Some standard box for little circuits would be nice.
Phil, what do you pay for your 'stomp' boxes.
(two piece dicast )
George H.
Rick C
Jan 26, 2020, 3:49:27 PM1/26/20
to
I wouldn't bother too much with the web site to start. I believe the best web site is not one you will think up. Engineers tend to be rather geeky about it. I think it's better to have something with generic images that convey a stable company and not worry too much about geeky details. Maybe some shots of your work not on the main page. Try not to make them too geeky.
That's just my opinion.
What would you want to see on a web site if you were looking to hire someone? I've never identified anything that would impress me. So better left to the first contact.
--
Rick C.
-- Get 1,000 miles of free Supercharging
-- Tesla referral code - https://ts.la/richard11209
Phil Hobbs
Jan 26, 2020, 3:50:04 PM1/26/20
to
web site up, you can do pretty good SEO by adding your contact info and
a few keywords to your Usenet posts--SED is widely mirrored. (See below.)
Phil Hobbs
Jan 26, 2020, 4:39:26 PM1/26/20
to
Winfield Hill
Jan 27, 2020, 8:30:48 AM1/27/20
to
Rick C wrote...
--
Thanks,
- Win
>
> What is PPoE??? I can't find any reference to it that
> doesn't say it isn't a misspelling of PPPoE.
PPPoE: Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet?
> What is PPoE??? I can't find any reference to it that
> doesn't say it isn't a misspelling of PPPoE.
--
Thanks,
- Win
DecadentLinux...@decadence.org
Jan 27, 2020, 10:00:35 AM1/27/20
to
Winfield Hill <winfie...@yahoo.com> wrote in news:r0molq02t29
@drn.newsguy.com:
> Rick C wrote...
>>
>> What is PPoE??? I can't find any reference to it that
>> doesn't say it isn't a misspelling of PPPoE.
>
> PPPoE: Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet?
>
>
The "point" being that the ports are now 'fully addressable', which
adds security to a system. Someone cannot simply plug in to an open
port on the router if you have them all shut off and hard assigned so
that only a certain MAC addy can plug in to a given port.
And they added power capacity over Ethernet too with PPoE
@drn.newsguy.com:
> Rick C wrote...
>>
>> What is PPoE??? I can't find any reference to it that
>> doesn't say it isn't a misspelling of PPPoE.
>
> PPPoE: Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet?
>
>
adds security to a system. Someone cannot simply plug in to an open
port on the router if you have them all shut off and hard assigned so
that only a certain MAC addy can plug in to a given port.
And they added power capacity over Ethernet too with PPoE
George Herold
Jan 27, 2020, 11:37:58 AM1/27/20
to
George H.
George Herold
Jan 27, 2020, 11:47:16 AM1/27/20
to
Re: SED mirroring. I do find it weird how many times I'm searching some
electronics thing and I get sent to a few years old SED discussion.
Sometimes that's good, cause it's a discussion I missed or skipped.
George S. Herold
unemployed instrument builder
jla...@highlandsniptechnology.com
Jan 27, 2020, 12:02:52 PM1/27/20
to
Want to do some occasional research for us? Email me.
Robert Baer
Jan 27, 2020, 1:33:34 PM1/27/20
to
such a low temperture.
Rick C
Jan 27, 2020, 1:47:46 PM1/27/20
to
--
Rick C.
-+ Get 1,000 miles of free Supercharging
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George Herold
Jan 27, 2020, 2:53:46 PM1/27/20
to
On Monday, January 27, 2020 at 1:33:34 PM UTC-5, Robert Baer wrote:
Still compared to a human male at room temperature,
the piece of metal has only so much force.. (which I get to design)
1% of the time the human male will go get the vice grips and break
the valve. 1% x Y-times/year x 10 years... I wonder how much a
torque ratchet thingie costs?
George H.
(Who is as guilty as the next guy of 'grabbing the big wrench'
and breaking something, rather than fixing it.)
George Herold
Jan 27, 2020, 3:16:18 PM1/27/20
to
I seem to have lost your email address. (your card was stuck to
a tunnel diode on my parts shelf... but it might have been left behind,
or in a banker box in the study.)
You can email me at ggherold@gmail.... com
Hey here is sorta a crazy idea I had emailing with Clifford H.
How about designing/ building (as kits?) analog front and back
ends for the labjack?
https://labjack.com/
There's a bunch of stuff to do... from simple to sublime :^)
On the simple front I imagine a thermal loops lab,
different detectors, different plants, and different delays
between the two.
Sublime? (well first I need to find the fastest clock input...
but perhaps photon counting.)
And a million things in between.
George H.
Clifford Heath
Jan 27, 2020, 5:41:44 PM1/27/20
to
On 28/1/20 7:16 am, George Herold wrote:
> Hey here is sorta a crazy idea I had emailing with Clifford H.
> How about designing/ building (as kits?) analog front and back
> ends for the labjack?
> https://labjack.com/
It's a bad idea(*) for a startup to be completely dependent on the
> Hey here is sorta a crazy idea I had emailing with Clifford H.
> How about designing/ building (as kits?) analog front and back
> ends for the labjack?
> https://labjack.com/
existence of any other single product or company. The Labjack looks like
a packaged version of the plentiful AD8706 modules, with some software.
Why wouldn't you just make those too, so you aren't dependent?
Search AliExpress for AD8706 and you'll see modules with parallel
interface for around $40, with USB for $60-ish. That gets you 8 channels
of 16-bit data at reasonable speed, which should be enough for many of
the lab projects you have in mind.
(*) The problem is that as soon as you become successful at some add-on
product, the company can easily duplicate your work and undercut you.
That's almost instant death when you're relying on their installed base.
Clifford Heath
Bill Sloman
Jan 27, 2020, 5:43:56 PM1/27/20
to
James Arthur might serve.
--
Bill Sloman, Sydney
Rick C
Jan 27, 2020, 5:56:29 PM1/27/20
to
On Monday, January 27, 2020 at 5:41:44 PM UTC-5, Clifford Heath wrote:
> On 28/1/20 7:16 am, George Herold wrote:
> > Hey here is sorta a crazy idea I had emailing with Clifford H.
> > How about designing/ building (as kits?) analog front and back
> > ends for the labjack?
> > https://labjack.com/
>
> It's a bad idea(*) for a startup to be completely dependent on the
> existence of any other single product or company.
That is a generalization and like most isn't worth a damn. It can be a great way to start out or even as a total base. When you do that you need to be in touch with thee product and company and it is great if you can have their blessing.
> On 28/1/20 7:16 am, George Herold wrote:
> > Hey here is sorta a crazy idea I had emailing with Clifford H.
> > How about designing/ building (as kits?) analog front and back
> > ends for the labjack?
> > https://labjack.com/
>
> It's a bad idea(*) for a startup to be completely dependent on the
> existence of any other single product or company.
> The Labjack looks like
> a packaged version of the plentiful AD8706 modules, with some software.
> Why wouldn't you just make those too, so you aren't dependent?
Complementing can be a great way to start out. Use the established customer base and provide them with something they don't have. Just don't become overly dependent on a single item.
> Search AliExpress for AD8706 and you'll see modules with parallel
> interface for around $40, with USB for $60-ish. That gets you 8 channels
> of 16-bit data at reasonable speed, which should be enough for many of
> the lab projects you have in mind.
>
> (*) The problem is that as soon as you become successful at some add-on
> product, the company can easily duplicate your work and undercut you.
> That's almost instant death when you're relying on their installed base.
It's best to identify a product that is too small a market for the bigger company to exploit but a small company can do well. Then they have no profit motive to try to compete with you.
--
Rick C.
+- Get 1,000 miles of free Supercharging
+- Tesla referral code - https://ts.la/richard11209
Clifford Heath
Jan 27, 2020, 6:13:50 PM1/27/20
to
On 28/1/20 9:56 am, Rick C wrote:
> On Monday, January 27, 2020 at 5:41:44 PM UTC-5, Clifford Heath wrote:
>> The Labjack looks like
>> a packaged version of the plentiful AD8706 modules, with some software.
>> Why wouldn't you just make those too, so you aren't dependent?
>
> Competing can be very difficult. I tried to compete in the DSP board level product area, but who was going to buy from a startup when there were a number of stable companies selling good product, with all the backing of a good company (support, documentation, enhancements and a customer base).
A market only has room for 2 or 3 companies at the top. People will only
> On Monday, January 27, 2020 at 5:41:44 PM UTC-5, Clifford Heath wrote:
>> The Labjack looks like
>> a packaged version of the plentiful AD8706 modules, with some software.
>> Why wouldn't you just make those too, so you aren't dependent?
>
> Competing can be very difficult. I tried to compete in the DSP board level product area, but who was going to buy from a startup when there were a number of stable companies selling good product, with all the backing of a good company (support, documentation, enhancements and a customer base).
review that many before making a buying decision, so if you're not
dominant in your segment, you don't get seen - you need a smaller segment.
> Often it's the other way around, you can undercut them! If they were going to sell cheaper than you, why would you want to go head to head with them?
something they don't have - systems with a variety of useful front-ends.
> It's best to identify a product that is too small a market for the bigger company to exploit but a small company can do well. Then they have no profit motive to try to compete with you.
niche too much, you'll have trouble maintaining dominance.
I think we're mostly in agreement on these things.
CH
Rick C
Jan 27, 2020, 6:53:22 PM1/27/20
to
On Monday, January 27, 2020 at 6:13:50 PM UTC-5, Clifford Heath wrote:
> On 28/1/20 9:56 am, Rick C wrote:
> > On Monday, January 27, 2020 at 5:41:44 PM UTC-5, Clifford Heath wrote:
> >> The Labjack looks like
> >> a packaged version of the plentiful AD8706 modules, with some software.
> >> Why wouldn't you just make those too, so you aren't dependent?
> >
> > Competing can be very difficult. I tried to compete in the DSP board level product area, but who was going to buy from a startup when there were a number of stable companies selling good product, with all the backing of a good company (support, documentation, enhancements and a customer base).
>
>
> A market only has room for 2 or 3 companies at the top. People will only
> review that many before making a buying decision, so if you're not
> dominant in your segment, you don't get seen - you need a smaller segment.
Or cater to a niche. Find a variation that has a need and fill it. As long as it isn't a large enough share of the market for the other guys to bother with they won't use the resources to follow you.
> On 28/1/20 9:56 am, Rick C wrote:
> > On Monday, January 27, 2020 at 5:41:44 PM UTC-5, Clifford Heath wrote:
> >> The Labjack looks like
> >> a packaged version of the plentiful AD8706 modules, with some software.
> >> Why wouldn't you just make those too, so you aren't dependent?
> >
> > Competing can be very difficult. I tried to compete in the DSP board level product area, but who was going to buy from a startup when there were a number of stable companies selling good product, with all the backing of a good company (support, documentation, enhancements and a customer base).
>
>
> A market only has room for 2 or 3 companies at the top. People will only
> review that many before making a buying decision, so if you're not
> dominant in your segment, you don't get seen - you need a smaller segment.
> > Often it's the other way around, you can undercut them! If they were going to sell cheaper than you, why would you want to go head to head with them?
>
>
> George isn't proposing going head-to-head. He's proposing building
> something they don't have - systems with a variety of useful front-ends.
> >> The Labjack looks like
> >> a packaged version of the plentiful AD8706 modules, with some software.
> >> Why wouldn't you just make those too, so you aren't dependent?
Maybe I don't understand, but it sounds like he is saying it's a bad idea to make an addon, but to make a duplicate device is a good idea.
> >> a packaged version of the plentiful AD8706 modules, with some software.
> >> Why wouldn't you just make those too, so you aren't dependent?
Think of PCs. Lots of people made them in the early days. Only a few are still making them. There are many, many add on makers of cards for desktops and USB devices of all manner for other devices.
> > It's best to identify a product that is too small a market for the bigger company to exploit but a small company can do well. Then they have no profit motive to try to compete with you.
>
> Yes, correct - find a niche you can dominate. But if you widen that
> niche too much, you'll have trouble maintaining dominance.
>
> I think we're mostly in agreement on these things.
--
Rick C.
++ Get 1,000 miles of free Supercharging
++ Tesla referral code - https://ts.la/richard11209
Lasse Langwadt Christensen
Jan 27, 2020, 7:42:30 PM1/27/20
to
tirsdag den 28. januar 2020 kl. 00.53.22 UTC+1 skrev Rick C:
> I've wanted to make some items that are small and cheap, like Chinese made and sold sort of cheap. But I can't find a way to sell they way they do. There could be lots of competition, but not until the volume gets high enough. I would love to contract out the whole thing, but my understanding is I would never see much money from it because of the way they work.
>
look at things like arduinos, arduino shields, MCU boards,
> I've wanted to make some items that are small and cheap, like Chinese made and sold sort of cheap. But I can't find a way to sell they way they do. There could be lots of competition, but not until the volume gets high enough. I would love to contract out the whole thing, but my understanding is I would never see much money from it because of the way they work.
>
usb logic analysers, etc. I don't see how anyone makes any money on those. The minutes it gets any traction you can buy a clone on ebay with free shipping
for half your BOM
Rick C
Jan 27, 2020, 7:59:38 PM1/27/20
to
Actually, it might be practical to do this if the product has some aspect that requires connecting to the Internet to access a server. That would allow control and monitoring as long as the code is secure enough to not be hacked. That can be done in an FPGA...
I need to file that away for the deluxe version of a product I've wanted to build.
--
Rick C.
--- Get 1,000 miles of free Supercharging
--- Tesla referral code - https://ts.la/richard11209
Lasse Langwadt Christensen
Jan 27, 2020, 8:37:51 PM1/27/20
to
tirsdag den 28. januar 2020 kl. 01.59.38 UTC+1 skrev Rick C:
> On Monday, January 27, 2020 at 7:42:30 PM UTC-5, Lasse Langwadt Christensen wrote:
> > tirsdag den 28. januar 2020 kl. 00.53.22 UTC+1 skrev Rick C:
> > > I've wanted to make some items that are small and cheap, like Chinese made and sold sort of cheap. But I can't find a way to sell they way they do. There could be lots of competition, but not until the volume gets high enough. I would love to contract out the whole thing, but my understanding is I would never see much money from it because of the way they work.
> > >
> >
> > look at things like arduinos, arduino shields, MCU boards,
> > usb logic analysers, etc. I don't see how anyone makes any money on those. The minutes it gets any traction you can buy a clone on ebay with free shipping
> > for half your BOM
>
> That's why I said "like Chinese". I mean tap into their process. Have them build it and sell it on eBay and Aliexpress and I get my $0.10 commission or however much. But I've yet to figure out how to do that without being cut out.
>
and even if you don't get cut out from your manufacturer, if there is a market someone else will clone it cut few corners and sell cheaper and you are done
> On Monday, January 27, 2020 at 7:42:30 PM UTC-5, Lasse Langwadt Christensen wrote:
> > tirsdag den 28. januar 2020 kl. 00.53.22 UTC+1 skrev Rick C:
> > > I've wanted to make some items that are small and cheap, like Chinese made and sold sort of cheap. But I can't find a way to sell they way they do. There could be lots of competition, but not until the volume gets high enough. I would love to contract out the whole thing, but my understanding is I would never see much money from it because of the way they work.
> > >
> >
> > look at things like arduinos, arduino shields, MCU boards,
> > usb logic analysers, etc. I don't see how anyone makes any money on those. The minutes it gets any traction you can buy a clone on ebay with free shipping
> > for half your BOM
>
> That's why I said "like Chinese". I mean tap into their process. Have them build it and sell it on eBay and Aliexpress and I get my $0.10 commission or however much. But I've yet to figure out how to do that without being cut out.
>
> Actually, it might be practical to do this if the product has some aspect that requires connecting to the Internet to access a server. That would allow control and monitoring as long as the code is secure enough to not be hacked. That can be done in an FPGA...
>
> I need to file that away for the deluxe version of a product I've wanted to build.
>
it isn't easy
Bill Sloman
Jan 27, 2020, 8:49:01 PM1/27/20
to
It's covered in chapter 8 of Davies and Price "Security for Computer Networks" ISBN 0 471 90063 X published in 1984. I mainly bought the book because I'd had an interaction with the authors a few years before the book got published, when they were proposing to make the Teletex protpcol explicitly capable of handling it. The Teletex system was supposed to offer a step up from Telex (and did for a few years in Sweden and Germany).
It's quite a neat system. You need a pair 1024 bit long keys these days, and quantum computers threaten even them, but so far it seems to work.
--
Bill Sloman, Sydney
Rick C
Jan 27, 2020, 9:38:46 PM1/27/20
to
On Monday, January 27, 2020 at 8:37:51 PM UTC-5, Lasse Langwadt Christensen wrote:
> tirsdag den 28. januar 2020 kl. 01.59.38 UTC+1 skrev Rick C:
> > On Monday, January 27, 2020 at 7:42:30 PM UTC-5, Lasse Langwadt Christensen wrote:
> > > tirsdag den 28. januar 2020 kl. 00.53.22 UTC+1 skrev Rick C:
> > > > I've wanted to make some items that are small and cheap, like Chinese made and sold sort of cheap. But I can't find a way to sell they way they do. There could be lots of competition, but not until the volume gets high enough. I would love to contract out the whole thing, but my understanding is I would never see much money from it because of the way they work.
> > > >
> > >
> > > look at things like arduinos, arduino shields, MCU boards,
> > > usb logic analysers, etc. I don't see how anyone makes any money on those. The minutes it gets any traction you can buy a clone on ebay with free shipping
> > > for half your BOM
> >
> > That's why I said "like Chinese". I mean tap into their process. Have them build it and sell it on eBay and Aliexpress and I get my $0.10 commission or however much. But I've yet to figure out how to do that without being cut out.
> >
>
> and even if you don't get cut out from your manufacturer, if there is a market someone else will clone it cut few corners and sell cheaper and you are done
Only if they know there is a market.
> tirsdag den 28. januar 2020 kl. 01.59.38 UTC+1 skrev Rick C:
> > On Monday, January 27, 2020 at 7:42:30 PM UTC-5, Lasse Langwadt Christensen wrote:
> > > tirsdag den 28. januar 2020 kl. 00.53.22 UTC+1 skrev Rick C:
> > > > I've wanted to make some items that are small and cheap, like Chinese made and sold sort of cheap. But I can't find a way to sell they way they do. There could be lots of competition, but not until the volume gets high enough. I would love to contract out the whole thing, but my understanding is I would never see much money from it because of the way they work.
> > > >
> > >
> > > look at things like arduinos, arduino shields, MCU boards,
> > > usb logic analysers, etc. I don't see how anyone makes any money on those. The minutes it gets any traction you can buy a clone on ebay with free shipping
> > > for half your BOM
> >
> > That's why I said "like Chinese". I mean tap into their process. Have them build it and sell it on eBay and Aliexpress and I get my $0.10 commission or however much. But I've yet to figure out how to do that without being cut out.
> >
>
> and even if you don't get cut out from your manufacturer, if there is a market someone else will clone it cut few corners and sell cheaper and you are done
> > Actually, it might be practical to do this if the product has some aspect that requires connecting to the Internet to access a server. That would allow control and monitoring as long as the code is secure enough to not be hacked. That can be done in an FPGA...
> >
> > I need to file that away for the deluxe version of a product I've wanted to build.
> >
>
> unless someone finds a flaw in your security scheme, or the hassle with being connected or problems with the server scares away your costumers
>
> it isn't easy
--
Rick C.
--+ Get 1,000 miles of free Supercharging
--+ Tesla referral code - https://ts.la/richard11209
Tom Gardner
Jan 28, 2020, 2:54:19 AM1/28/20
to
On 28/01/20 00:59, Rick C wrote:
> Actually, it might be practical to do this if the product has some aspect
> that requires connecting to the Internet to access a server. That would
> allow control and monitoring as long as the code is secure enough to not be
> hacked. That can be done in an FPGA...
Dongles are disliked for good reasons.
> Actually, it might be practical to do this if the product has some aspect
> that requires connecting to the Internet to access a server. That would
> allow control and monitoring as long as the code is secure enough to not be
> hacked. That can be done in an FPGA...
Virtual dongles (including DRM) are hated because
there are too many "you're left dead in the water"
failure mechanisms.
Start by thinking of internet connectivity, then DDOS
attacks on some part of the infrastructure, then on
your servers, and finally consider servers being
switched off or a company folding.
Learn about Microsoft's PlaysForSure (TM) (sic) music
viz: "DRM servers related to PlaysForSure were turned
off August 31, 2008, meaning that any operating system
upgrade or migration rendered all content unplayable."
This week's hoo-haa is about Sonos speakers.
Customers are rapidly becoming sensitised to the
problem.
Rick C
Jan 28, 2020, 5:55:50 AM1/28/20
to
On Tuesday, January 28, 2020 at 2:54:19 AM UTC-5, Tom Gardner wrote:
> On 28/01/20 00:59, Rick C wrote:
> > Actually, it might be practical to do this if the product has some aspect
> > that requires connecting to the Internet to access a server. That would
> > allow control and monitoring as long as the code is secure enough to not be
> > hacked. That can be done in an FPGA...
>
> Dongles are disliked for good reasons.
>
> Virtual dongles (including DRM) are hated because
> there are too many "you're left dead in the water"
> failure mechanisms.
I think you exaggerate the issue. The device only has to be authenticated once.
> On 28/01/20 00:59, Rick C wrote:
> > Actually, it might be practical to do this if the product has some aspect
> > that requires connecting to the Internet to access a server. That would
> > allow control and monitoring as long as the code is secure enough to not be
> > hacked. That can be done in an FPGA...
>
> Dongles are disliked for good reasons.
>
> Virtual dongles (including DRM) are hated because
> there are too many "you're left dead in the water"
> failure mechanisms.
> Start by thinking of internet connectivity, then DDOS
> attacks on some part of the infrastructure, then on
> your servers, and finally consider servers being
> switched off or a company folding.
> Learn about Microsoft's PlaysForSure (TM) (sic) music
> viz: "DRM servers related to PlaysForSure were turned
> off August 31, 2008, meaning that any operating system
> upgrade or migration rendered all content unplayable."
>
> This week's hoo-haa is about Sonos speakers.
>
> Customers are rapidly becoming sensitised to the
> problem.
--
Rick C.
-+- Get 1,000 miles of free Supercharging
-+- Tesla referral code - https://ts.la/richard11209
George Herold
Jan 28, 2020, 11:00:41 AM1/28/20
to
On Monday, January 27, 2020 at 5:41:44 PM UTC-5, Clifford Heath wrote:
So better to let someone else do it. Much of the lab/interface/ hardware
and software space is taken up by national instruments and lab-view.
I find their hardware over priced and hate the software. So pushing an alternative seems like it might not only be good for me.. but also for the
physiics lab community.
I guess I wouldn't worry much about labjack coping me... small market.
If I head dwon this road I would try and contact labjack early on...
see if there are other vendors like me re-selling their stuff.
Anyway it is interesting to think about. at my PPoE I would often get
requests from customers to provide some sort of an experiment where students
could learn instrument/ computer interfacing. Going to physics lab
workshops the way people are doing this these days is either with
Arduino's, maybe a few Rasbery Pi's and labveiw.
One huge problem with this idea, is I'd have to become a labjack expert
and at the moment I'm a novice.
George H.
George Herold
Jan 28, 2020, 11:04:53 AM1/28/20
to
On Monday, January 27, 2020 at 7:42:30 PM UTC-5, Lasse Langwadt Christensen wrote:
carving out a niche in this space.
George H.
Sjouke Burry
Jan 28, 2020, 12:39:10 PM1/28/20
to
A friend has his sonos apps in disarray , one phone to old,
the other phone its app needs a password, but updating that password
at the sonos site fails, (new password not accepted, try again).
So their radio turned into a doorstop.
Tom Gardner
Jan 28, 2020, 1:12:50 PM1/28/20
to
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-51206604
https://us.cnn.com/2020/01/24/cnn-underscored/sonos-legacy-speakers-guide/index.html
I should have emphasised "this /week/". Read comp.risks,
and you will see many other examples of this. Google/Nest
springs to mind.
Lasse Langwadt Christensen
Jan 28, 2020, 1:26:03 PM1/28/20
to
a tenth on ebay complete with a link to sparkfun/adafruit for documentation
and software
Phil Hobbs
Jan 28, 2020, 2:35:35 PM1/28/20
to
On 2020-01-26 15:31, Phil Hobbs wrote:
> can get audio rates out of it. I have a couple of Blue Sky 'Collimeter'
> units, which are shear-plate collimation testers dithered by a bit of
> Nitinol wire driving a flexure pivot.
>
> It'll give you nice smooth bidirectional motion if you have some sort of
> feedback. There's a resistance change associated with the phase
> transition, but I don't know how repeatable that is.
>
> Cheers
>
> Phil Hobbs
>
It might be interesting to mount a Nitinol coil spring coaxially with a
steel one to make rotary motion. The spring rate would let you limit
the torque on the valve, and running the current down one spring and
back up the other would cancel out the magnetic field pretty well. The
parlour trick would be the encoder.
Alternatively a model airplane servo would work--you can turn it off
between motions to get rid of the field.
Or you could put a breakaway shaft extension on the valve, so that Mr
Gorilla just has it come away in his hand without anything breaking
permanently. Something in a nice low-density polystyrene, maybe.
> On 2020-01-26 06:06, Piglet wrote:
>> On 26/01/2020 00:15, George Herold wrote:
>>> Sure with pressure as the pusher. The one thing I hate about any
>>> magnetic valve ideas.. is that it will f with any magnetic measurements.
>>>
>>> George H.
>>
>> Good luck George.
>>
>> Getting movement without magnetic fields makes me wonder again about
>> Nitinol* "muscle wire" - always seemed a great solution looking for a
>> problem to solve. But possibly not right for your app, as far as I
>> know it is bang-bang only with no proportional control, slow in the
>> hundreds of milliseconds, and being thermally driven probably a
>> complete mismatch for cryo N2 valves!
>>
>> piglet
>>
>> *For those unfamiliar a shape memory alloy wire that switches between
>> two states and corresponding lengths with temperature. Passing a
>> current to self heat makes a sort of electrical-mechanical transducer.
>>
>>
>
> Nitinol goes much faster if you use a thin gauge and dunk it in oil--you
>> On 26/01/2020 00:15, George Herold wrote:
>>> Sure with pressure as the pusher. The one thing I hate about any
>>> magnetic valve ideas.. is that it will f with any magnetic measurements.
>>>
>>> George H.
>>
>> Good luck George.
>>
>> Getting movement without magnetic fields makes me wonder again about
>> Nitinol* "muscle wire" - always seemed a great solution looking for a
>> problem to solve. But possibly not right for your app, as far as I
>> know it is bang-bang only with no proportional control, slow in the
>> hundreds of milliseconds, and being thermally driven probably a
>> complete mismatch for cryo N2 valves!
>>
>> piglet
>>
>> *For those unfamiliar a shape memory alloy wire that switches between
>> two states and corresponding lengths with temperature. Passing a
>> current to self heat makes a sort of electrical-mechanical transducer.
>>
>>
>
> can get audio rates out of it. I have a couple of Blue Sky 'Collimeter'
> units, which are shear-plate collimation testers dithered by a bit of
> Nitinol wire driving a flexure pivot.
>
> It'll give you nice smooth bidirectional motion if you have some sort of
> feedback. There's a resistance change associated with the phase
> transition, but I don't know how repeatable that is.
>
> Cheers
>
> Phil Hobbs
>
It might be interesting to mount a Nitinol coil spring coaxially with a
steel one to make rotary motion. The spring rate would let you limit
the torque on the valve, and running the current down one spring and
back up the other would cancel out the magnetic field pretty well. The
parlour trick would be the encoder.
Alternatively a model airplane servo would work--you can turn it off
between motions to get rid of the field.
Or you could put a breakaway shaft extension on the valve, so that Mr
Gorilla just has it come away in his hand without anything breaking
permanently. Something in a nice low-density polystyrene, maybe.
speff
Jan 28, 2020, 8:12:27 PM1/28/20
to
I guess the important thing is to know the customers and what they're
comfortable with- software they get free or already have and know how
to use, and hardware that they think is good for their application. The
younger guys I have been dealing with like MATLAB/Simulink, for example (despite
free alternatives), and I have yet to find anyone who likes Labview much, but some use it. As an aside, I've been playing around with it, because I ended up
with a little NI data acquisition system that runs off a PXI Windows XP card and
a couple NI USB-powered data acquisition modules. Nice for gathering data in
simple experiments.
This is just an impression but I get the impression it's not that uncommon for
university purchases to go either top end (they have specific funding and are
going to spend it on really nice equipment) or bottom scraping (they've
got very little budget), which doesn't leave much room in the middle. That's
not the educational market though, which I'm not that familiar with. I've
seen a few products like Mr. SQUID, for example, but no idea of that market.
Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany
bitrex
Jan 28, 2020, 11:06:00 PM1/28/20
to
little more to get the product in 48 hours or sometime before Hell
freezes over.
Rick C
Jan 28, 2020, 11:34:52 PM1/28/20
to
--
Rick C.
-++ Get 1,000 miles of free Supercharging
-++ Tesla referral code - https://ts.la/richard11209
Winfield Hill
Jan 29, 2020, 7:35:35 AM1/29/20
to
Clifford Heath wrote...
>
> a packaged version of the plentiful AD8706 modules...
> Search AliExpress for AD8706 and you'll see modules ...
AD8706?
--
Thanks,
- Win
>
> a packaged version of the plentiful AD8706 modules...
> Search AliExpress for AD8706 and you'll see modules ...
AD8706?
--
Thanks,
- Win
Michael Kellett
Jan 29, 2020, 9:58:45 AM1/29/20
to
On 26/01/2020 19:25, George Herold wrote:
> If I was to do this LN2 thing, the first thing I'd need is
> a leak detector. (Or an RGA and pumping station.)
>
> I think I'm mostly trying to talk myself out of this idea.
> If I could work 1/2 time for someone else and 1/2+ for myself
> that might work.
> George h.
>
Some ideas that may be useful:
I quit a family business 20 years ago to work on my own and it's been
good. I'm not rich but doing OK.
No one bosses me about, I go out with the dog during the day when it
suits me and work when it's raining or dark.
I've done 100% work for other people and while I've had zillions of
ideas I don't make my own products. Still thinking about it but doubt
I'll ever do it - I'm good at what I do but a lot less good at all the
stuff you need to be into to sell stuff and produce it.
I design things, write software, make prototypes and one off test gear
and do some product testing. It pays for loads of fun gear and a pretty
good time.
I don't get hung up about other people making money from my ideas -
there's always another idea coming along during the next dog walk !
I do buy test gear - I quote jobs on a fixed price - its up to the
client to decide if likes the price or not - he doesn't need to know it
covers loads of labour or a new scope.
In the end you have to discover what works for you, but it might be good
to try for a couple of freelance type jobs from existing contacts while
they are still fresh. Nothing builds your confidence like sending out an
invoice.
MK
> On Sunday, January 26, 2020 at 4:22:03 AM UTC-5, Tom Gardner wrote:
>> On 25/01/20 21:22, George Herold wrote:
>>> The other bad thing about selling stuff is you've got to
>>> spend ~1/2 your time on marketing... maybe more early on.
>>
>> And all the other administrivia :( Even if someone
>> else is doing all that guff, and engineer operates
>> at full throttle for about 30%-40% of their time.
>> The rest is "unproductive" meetings etc. Hence in
>> the absence of better information, multiply your
>> first estimate by 2.5-3.5 :)
>>
>> I've seen a couple of startups make one mistake;
>> I suspect you are too smart, but here it is anyway...
>>
>> The founder(s) are trapped by the glitz of being
>> "self-employed CEOs", and spend money on unnecessary
>> /visible/ trappings, e.g. cars, boardroom furniture,
>> and the like.
>>
>> On 25/01/20 21:22, George Herold wrote:
>>> The other bad thing about selling stuff is you've got to
>>> spend ~1/2 your time on marketing... maybe more early on.
>>
>> And all the other administrivia :( Even if someone
>> else is doing all that guff, and engineer operates
>> at full throttle for about 30%-40% of their time.
>> The rest is "unproductive" meetings etc. Hence in
>> the absence of better information, multiply your
>> first estimate by 2.5-3.5 :)
>>
>> I've seen a couple of startups make one mistake;
>> I suspect you are too smart, but here it is anyway...
>>
>> The founder(s) are trapped by the glitz of being
>> "self-employed CEOs", and spend money on unnecessary
>> /visible/ trappings, e.g. cars, boardroom furniture,
>> and the like.
>>
>> They feel great and "energised", but none of that
>> gets money in the door.
>>
>> More successfully...
>>
>> I've also seen successful R&D consultancies that
>> only buy the minimum of equipment, i.e. equipment
>> that is guaranteed to be useful on every project.
>>
>> gets money in the door.
>>
>> More successfully...
>>
>> I've also seen successful R&D consultancies that
>> only buy the minimum of equipment, i.e. equipment
>> that is guaranteed to be useful on every project.
>>
>> Any equipment that doesn't fall into that category
>> is bought on a project-by-project basis and after
>> the project it is part of the deliverable to the
>> client.
>>
>> is bought on a project-by-project basis and after
>> the project it is part of the deliverable to the
>> client.
>>
>> Good luck; all startups need that.
>
> Huh, no I won't be purposely buy un-needed stuff.
>
> If I was to do this LN2 thing, the first thing I'd need is
> a leak detector. (Or an RGA and pumping station.)
>
> I think I'm mostly trying to talk myself out of this idea.
> If I could work 1/2 time for someone else and 1/2+ for myself
> that might work.
> George h.
>
Some ideas that may be useful:
I quit a family business 20 years ago to work on my own and it's been
good. I'm not rich but doing OK.
No one bosses me about, I go out with the dog during the day when it
suits me and work when it's raining or dark.
I've done 100% work for other people and while I've had zillions of
ideas I don't make my own products. Still thinking about it but doubt
I'll ever do it - I'm good at what I do but a lot less good at all the
stuff you need to be into to sell stuff and produce it.
I design things, write software, make prototypes and one off test gear
and do some product testing. It pays for loads of fun gear and a pretty
good time.
I don't get hung up about other people making money from my ideas -
there's always another idea coming along during the next dog walk !
I do buy test gear - I quote jobs on a fixed price - its up to the
client to decide if likes the price or not - he doesn't need to know it
covers loads of labour or a new scope.
In the end you have to discover what works for you, but it might be good
to try for a couple of freelance type jobs from existing contacts while
they are still fresh. Nothing builds your confidence like sending out an
invoice.
MK
jla...@highlandsniptechnology.com
Jan 29, 2020, 10:43:22 AM1/29/20
to
Mag field sensors? You know that business.
Phil Hobbs
Jan 29, 2020, 1:35:22 PM1/29/20
to
licensing plus NRE for customization. If you have enough recurring
themes in your designs, you can do your own based on stuff you've
learned on other jobs.
Many of our projects, especially for new customers, include a photon
budget and proof-of-concept (POC) demo as the first two milestones.
These days our POC systems usually consist largely of a collection of
our existing boards (often modded) plus fairly small amounts of
hand-wired custom circuitry and fairly simple optics and mechanics as
required.
Here's the POC from the cathodoluminescence system that I posted a few
months back:
<https://electrooptical.net/www/sed/MPPCphotonCounting.mpg>. It goes
from photon counting up to bright room lights with a twist of a knob,
which we think is pretty slick.
We find that when they see our stuff doing what they wanted, better than
they hoped, cheaper than they expected, the licensing conversation
usually goes pretty smoothly. It helps that our royalty expectations
are fairly modest--we'd way rather do lots of deals that put smiles on
everybody's faces than screw the last dime out of only a few.
YMMV, but a bit of recurring revenue is very comforting.
Clifford Heath
Jan 29, 2020, 10:07:41 PM1/29/20
to
On 29/1/20 11:35 pm, Winfield Hill wrote:
> Clifford Heath wrote...
>>
>> a packaged version of the plentiful AD8706 modules...
>> Search AliExpress for AD8706 and you'll see modules ...
>
> AD8706?
Sorry, typo. AD7606. There's also the 24-bit ADS1256, and modules for both.
> Clifford Heath wrote...
>>
>> a packaged version of the plentiful AD8706 modules...
>> Search AliExpress for AD8706 and you'll see modules ...
>
> AD8706?
Here's Analog's selection table, lots of nice devices:
<https://www.analog.com/en/parametricsearch/10994>
CH
Michael Terrell
Jan 30, 2020, 6:06:05 PM1/30/20
to
On Sunday, January 26, 2020 at 3:42:40 PM UTC-5, George Herold wrote:
> On Sunday, January 26, 2020 at 11:16:31 AM UTC-5, jla...@highlandsniptechnology.com wrote:
> > On Sun, 26 Jan 2020 09:21:58 +0000, Tom Gardner
> On Sunday, January 26, 2020 at 11:16:31 AM UTC-5, jla...@highlandsniptechnology.com wrote:
> > On Sun, 26 Jan 2020 09:21:58 +0000, Tom Gardner
> > <spam...@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:
> >
> > >On 25/01/20 21:22, George Herold wrote:
> > >> The other bad thing about selling stuff is you've got to
> > >> spend ~1/2 your time on marketing... maybe more early on.
> > >
> > >And all the other administrivia :( Even if someone
> > >else is doing all that guff, and engineer operates
> > >at full throttle for about 30%-40% of their time.
> > >The rest is "unproductive" meetings etc. Hence in
> > >the absence of better information, multiply your
> > >first estimate by 2.5-3.5 :)
> > >
> > >I've seen a couple of startups make one mistake;
> > >I suspect you are too smart, but here it is anyway...
> > >
> > >The founder(s) are trapped by the glitz of being
> > >"self-employed CEOs", and spend money on unnecessary
> > >/visible/ trappings, e.g. cars, boardroom furniture,
> > >and the like.
> >
> >
> > >On 25/01/20 21:22, George Herold wrote:
> > >> The other bad thing about selling stuff is you've got to
> > >> spend ~1/2 your time on marketing... maybe more early on.
> > >
> > >And all the other administrivia :( Even if someone
> > >else is doing all that guff, and engineer operates
> > >at full throttle for about 30%-40% of their time.
> > >The rest is "unproductive" meetings etc. Hence in
> > >the absence of better information, multiply your
> > >first estimate by 2.5-3.5 :)
> > >
> > >I've seen a couple of startups make one mistake;
> > >I suspect you are too smart, but here it is anyway...
> > >
> > >The founder(s) are trapped by the glitz of being
> > >"self-employed CEOs", and spend money on unnecessary
> > >/visible/ trappings, e.g. cars, boardroom furniture,
> > >and the like.
> >
> > Some people think that the appearance of success (hence buying all
> > that glitzy expensive stuff) is success. It's the opposite.
> >
> > One guy that I know of got some investors to join up, and first thing
> > bought a private jet. Next thing, they fired him.
> >
> > (One common mistake is to give up too much equity early on, often to
> > less than savory/competent partners.)
> >
> > >
> > that glitzy expensive stuff) is success. It's the opposite.
> >
> > One guy that I know of got some investors to join up, and first thing
> > bought a private jet. Next thing, they fired him.
> >
> > (One common mistake is to give up too much equity early on, often to
> > less than savory/competent partners.)
> >
> > >
> > >They feel great and "energised", but none of that
> > >gets money in the door.
> > >
> > >More successfully...
> > >
> > >I've also seen successful R&D consultancies that
> > >only buy the minimum of equipment, i.e. equipment
> > >that is guaranteed to be useful on every project.
> >
> > >gets money in the door.
> > >
> > >More successfully...
> > >
> > >I've also seen successful R&D consultancies that
> > >only buy the minimum of equipment, i.e. equipment
> > >that is guaranteed to be useful on every project.
> >
> > General-purpose equipment is good to have around. These days, a suite
> > of good test equipment isn't very expensive.
> >
> > >
> > of good test equipment isn't very expensive.
> >
> > >
> > >Any equipment that doesn't fall into that category
> > >is bought on a project-by-project basis and after
> > >the project it is part of the deliverable to the
> > >client.
> >
> > >is bought on a project-by-project basis and after
> > >the project it is part of the deliverable to the
> > >client.
> >
> > NO! Keep all the toys! Well, you can provide custom test sets at large
> > additional cost. Price them separately; they may find that they want
> > several.
> Yeah, a bad thing about losing my job, was losing most of my toys.
> (I've got some power supplies, rigol scope and rigol sig. gen.
> and as you say parts are pretty cheap these days.)
>
> George H.
>
> >
> > >
> > additional cost. Price them separately; they may find that they want
> > several.
> Yeah, a bad thing about losing my job, was losing most of my toys.
> (I've got some power supplies, rigol scope and rigol sig. gen.
> and as you say parts are pretty cheap these days.)
>
> George H.
>
> >
> > >
> > >Good luck; all startups need that.
> >
> >
> > One can certainly be a consultant, and sell the IP and designs and
> > equipment on a one-time basis. That gets a company started, and some
> > people can do that forever. But that requires constant selling, and is
> > often feast-famine stressful. Selling products is a better long-term
> > force multiplier.
> Right, you need a few horses in the stable for sales (at least at the
> low volume level I'm contemplating.) to be semi-stable.
>
> The other thing I think about is fun little pcb's and a part's bag/ list.
> There's lot's of rather mundane circuits you can think about,
> (gain, filtering)
> fun ones are rev. biased led spads, and fast edge TDR's
>
> Some standard box for little circuits would be nice.
> Phil, what do you pay for your 'stomp' boxes.
> (two piece diecast )
> > equipment on a one-time basis. That gets a company started, and some
> > people can do that forever. But that requires constant selling, and is
> > often feast-famine stressful. Selling products is a better long-term
> > force multiplier.
> Right, you need a few horses in the stable for sales (at least at the
> low volume level I'm contemplating.) to be semi-stable.
>
> The other thing I think about is fun little pcb's and a part's bag/ list.
> There's lot's of rather mundane circuits you can think about,
> (gain, filtering)
> fun ones are rev. biased led spads, and fast edge TDR's
>
> Some standard box for little circuits would be nice.
> Phil, what do you pay for your 'stomp' boxes.
If you need a piece of test equipment, ask. A lot of us have an item or two that we wouldn't miss, and at a better price than the used equipment dealers or untested on Ebay. For my use, I bought mostly damaged or 'for parts' items and repaired the best of a model. Sometimes it was a working but damaged item, and one that looked brand new but wasn't worth repairing. Like a Fluke 8920 True RMS (up to 20MHz) like it had either been used in a High Voltage circuit, or it had been hit by lightning. It did yield a nice case. ;-)
There are a lot of diecast and extruded cases on Ebay for prototypes. There are some nice knockoffs of Hammond diecast with a brushed finish.
<https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=1590BB+120x95x35mm+Aluminum+Box&_sacat=0&LH_TitleDesc=0&_osacat=0&_odkw=111599975005>
I found some two piece 25mm extrusions that you can use with 'large flange' BNC,N and other connectors with a 1" square flange.I use them to build RF modules and test fixtures. These come in several colors and lengths.
A little blurry, taken with my cell phone
<https://www.dropbox.com/s/vb8ezxigea6an1u/2020-01-30%2013.39.39.jpg?dl=0>
<https://www.dropbox.com/s/q9734ehl1g4vpwj/2020-01-30%2013.39.49.jpg?dl=0>
<https://www.dropbox.com/s/q3vu08mggnjcci4/2020-01-30%2013.39.57.jpg?dl=0>
Michael Terrell
Jan 30, 2020, 6:13:28 PM1/30/20
to
On Monday, January 27, 2020 at 5:43:56 PM UTC-5, Bill Sloman wrote:
> On Tuesday, January 28, 2020 at 4:02:52 AM UTC+11, jla...@highlandsniptechnology.com wrote:
> > On Mon, 27 Jan 2020 08:47:12 -0800 (PST), George Herold wrote:
> >
> > >On Sunday, January 26, 2020 at 3:50:04 PM UTC-5, Phil Hobbs wrote:
> > >> > (two piece dicast )
> > >>
> > >> They're cheap--five or ten bucks depending on size. BTW once you have a
> > >> web site up, you can do pretty good SEO by adding your contact info and
> > >> a few keywords to your Usenet posts--SED is widely mirrored. (See below.)
> > >Huh thanks for the SEO tip.
> > >Re: SED mirroring. I do find it weird how many times I'm searching some
> > >electronics thing and I get sent to a few years old SED discussion.
> > >Sometimes that's good, cause it's a discussion I missed or skipped.
> > >
> > >George S. Herold
> > >unemployed instrument builder
> >
> > Sometimes I google a subject and find my own old SED posts.
> >
> > Want to do some occasional research for us? Email me.
>
> Jim Thompson seems to be dead, so John Larkin will have to find some other right-wing lunatic to to tell just who has just e-mailed him privately.
>
> James Arthur might serve.
I would rather have Jim here and for the Grim reaper to have done his assigned job on you.
You are a cancer on this group.
A lot of good people have left because of your continual attempt to be relevant, which you can only do with your mindless attempts to put others down. If you were the man you want us to think that you are, you wouldn't act like a baby cutting their first tooth.
> On Tuesday, January 28, 2020 at 4:02:52 AM UTC+11, jla...@highlandsniptechnology.com wrote:
> > On Mon, 27 Jan 2020 08:47:12 -0800 (PST), George Herold wrote:
> >
> > >On Sunday, January 26, 2020 at 3:50:04 PM UTC-5, Phil Hobbs wrote:
> > >>
> > >> They're cheap--five or ten bucks depending on size. BTW once you have a
> > >> web site up, you can do pretty good SEO by adding your contact info and
> > >> a few keywords to your Usenet posts--SED is widely mirrored. (See below.)
> > >Huh thanks for the SEO tip.
> > >Re: SED mirroring. I do find it weird how many times I'm searching some
> > >electronics thing and I get sent to a few years old SED discussion.
> > >Sometimes that's good, cause it's a discussion I missed or skipped.
> > >
> > >George S. Herold
> > >unemployed instrument builder
> >
> > Sometimes I google a subject and find my own old SED posts.
> >
> > Want to do some occasional research for us? Email me.
>
> Jim Thompson seems to be dead, so John Larkin will have to find some other right-wing lunatic to to tell just who has just e-mailed him privately.
>
> James Arthur might serve.
I would rather have Jim here and for the Grim reaper to have done his assigned job on you.
You are a cancer on this group.
A lot of good people have left because of your continual attempt to be relevant, which you can only do with your mindless attempts to put others down. If you were the man you want us to think that you are, you wouldn't act like a baby cutting their first tooth.
DecadentLinux...@decadence.org
Jan 30, 2020, 6:41:22 PM1/30/20
to
Michael Terrell <terrell....@gmail.com> wrote in
news:85b07588-82ef-42dc...@googlegroups.com:
> A lot of good people have left because of your continual attempt
> to be relevant,
If folks left due to a bad taste problem the group would be empty
except for you.
Some folks leave... some folks stay... you knowing any real stat on
the matter is pure horseshit... guaranteed.
news:85b07588-82ef-42dc...@googlegroups.com:
> A lot of good people have left because of your continual attempt
> to be relevant,
except for you.
Some folks leave... some folks stay... you knowing any real stat on
the matter is pure horseshit... guaranteed.
Bill Sloman
Jan 30, 2020, 8:27:14 PM1/30/20
to
> You are a cancer on this group.
> A lot of good people have left because of your continual attempt to be relevant, which you can only do with your mindless attempts to put others down.
> If you were the man you want us to think that you are, you wouldn't act like a baby cutting their first tooth.
--
Bill Sloman, Sydney
Michael Terrell
Jan 31, 2020, 5:58:21 AM1/31/20
to
blo...@columbus.rr.com
Jan 31, 2020, 6:27:19 AM1/31/20
to
On Saturday, January 25, 2020 at 4:22:22 PM UTC-5, George Herold wrote:
> So I've been in this kinda dark place... partly due to BS from my PPoE.
> (need not be discussed)
> But that looks to finally be behind me!
>
> I went down to visit with Phil H. for a day, (wonderful people!),
> and when I came back there was all this good news in the mail.
> One says that I can use my unemployment insurance benefits
> to apply for the Self-employment Assistance Program.
> And I'd like to explore that idea here. (starting own company)
>
> First off it seems like a big lift. Spit balling numbers, if
> I'm going to take ~$100k in profit (to pay myself and health insurance
> and taxes and..) I'm going to need ~$300k in sales.
> (most of my ideas involve fun physics teaching stuff, where
> price is paramount.) And I don't see any selling enough.
>
> Maybe I need to think about selling to industry too?
> I think my number one, this could sell enough, idea
> is a LN flow cryostat*. With a bare-bones cryostat for
> ~$1-2k, (Dewar, minimal probe and pump.) Then people
> could make their own probes, and I can sell different probes
> (and electronics).
> probes could sell for much more money....
> but it is what I look at as part of the grunt work.
>
> Thoughts and ideas welcome.
>
> George H.
>
>
> *typically the variable flow impedance is done with a needle
> valve. The needle valve is the expensive, costly to replace bit,
> that thumb fingered brutish students can break**.
> Part of me thinks.. well let your students learn on this one
> (and make it easy to repair) Or some fixed impedance with
> variable pressure to change flow.. or something else?
> (magneto striction, pwm a solenoid, peizo electric valve?)
> ** actually I think the latest designs are motor controlled,
> with torque sensors or something.
Good luck. It seems to be easier to find a path to making money when it is not so important. Uhg.
> So I've been in this kinda dark place... partly due to BS from my PPoE.
> (need not be discussed)
> But that looks to finally be behind me!
>
> I went down to visit with Phil H. for a day, (wonderful people!),
> and when I came back there was all this good news in the mail.
> One says that I can use my unemployment insurance benefits
> to apply for the Self-employment Assistance Program.
> And I'd like to explore that idea here. (starting own company)
>
> First off it seems like a big lift. Spit balling numbers, if
> I'm going to take ~$100k in profit (to pay myself and health insurance
> and taxes and..) I'm going to need ~$300k in sales.
> (most of my ideas involve fun physics teaching stuff, where
> price is paramount.) And I don't see any selling enough.
>
> Maybe I need to think about selling to industry too?
> I think my number one, this could sell enough, idea
> is a LN flow cryostat*. With a bare-bones cryostat for
> ~$1-2k, (Dewar, minimal probe and pump.) Then people
> could make their own probes, and I can sell different probes
> (and electronics).
> probes could sell for much more money....
>
> The other bad thing about selling stuff is you've got to
> spend ~1/2 your time on marketing... maybe more early on.
>
> I don't mind, and even enjoy some, a little bit of marketing.
> The other bad thing about selling stuff is you've got to
> spend ~1/2 your time on marketing... maybe more early on.
>
> but it is what I look at as part of the grunt work.
>
> Thoughts and ideas welcome.
>
> George H.
>
>
> *typically the variable flow impedance is done with a needle
> valve. The needle valve is the expensive, costly to replace bit,
> that thumb fingered brutish students can break**.
> Part of me thinks.. well let your students learn on this one
> (and make it easy to repair) Or some fixed impedance with
> variable pressure to change flow.. or something else?
> (magneto striction, pwm a solenoid, peizo electric valve?)
> ** actually I think the latest designs are motor controlled,
> with torque sensors or something.
Good luck. It seems to be easier to find a path to making money when it is not so important. Uhg.
Bill Sloman
Jan 31, 2020, 7:08:46 AM1/31/20
to
--
Bill Sloman, Sydney
George Herold
Jan 31, 2020, 11:00:35 AM1/31/20
to
I don't mind spending more at DigiK or for beer at Hogan's
down the bottom of my hill, because I don't want either to go away.)
or people are lazy... maybe both.
George H.
George Herold
Jan 31, 2020, 11:15:23 AM1/31/20
to
goes on the end of electric drills.. I took one apart a few
weeks ago.. not sure the right name, torque clutch, slip?)
Some RC servo motor thing might work. It'd be cool if people
could program the valve... you could set up long temperature sweeps
77-400 K. But it would have to do multiple turns... not sure how that
would work.
But I'm putting this probe idea on the back burner. There are
too many unknowns to get ti up and running quickly.
I've got this HBT idea (which we talked about a little)
I'm going to start a new thread.
George H.
George Herold
Jan 31, 2020, 11:49:23 AM1/31/20
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quality. (just the price.)
For the university/ college lab teaching market the customer base
is varied, from idiots to masters... mind you any given customer
can be an idiot about something and master at another.
As far as instrument interfacing, I'm much more an idiot than master.
(so maybe not the best thing to start a company doing that. :^)
I do get the feeling that those teaching uni labs are aware of
what type of skills/ techniques are getting their graduates jobs,
and trying to tailor labs for that. (My feeling is this is
much more so for BS physics majors.)
>
> This is just an impression but I get the impression it's not that uncommon for
> university purchases to go either top end (they have specific funding and are
> going to spend it on really nice equipment) or bottom scraping (they've
> got very little budget), which doesn't leave much room in the middle. That's
> not the educational market though, which I'm not that familiar with. I've
> seen a few products like Mr. SQUID, for example, but no idea of that market.
I think the latest has gotten the bugs out of the 'repeated contacts to
stuff at LN2 temperatures.' (Mostly I don't hear complaints about it
anymore.)
But I think what you say (lotsa money, or shoe strings) is true of
teaching lab funding too. Just much less money than research labs.
So if I do something like this, I'd be selling to the fully funded
people. And then you sell bits and pieces of your stuff to the shoe
string guys, not making much, but bread on the water.
Hey Speff, I was thinking of trying to contact you via linked in...
but. Send me an email... ggherold at gmail
Maybe I can buy you lunch.
George H.
>
> Best regards,
> Spehro Pefhany
George Herold
Jan 31, 2020, 12:19:08 PM1/31/20
to
Trade shows, workshops, website, word of mouth, all work.
>
> I design things, write software, make prototypes and one off test gear
> and do some product testing. It pays for loads of fun gear and a pretty
> good time.
Sound a bit like Phil H's gig.
> I design things, write software, make prototypes and one off test gear
> and do some product testing. It pays for loads of fun gear and a pretty
> good time.
>
> I don't get hung up about other people making money from my ideas -
> there's always another idea coming along during the next dog walk !
(for me there are just a whole bunch of ideas festering in the back
> I don't get hung up about other people making money from my ideas -
> there's always another idea coming along during the next dog walk !
of my brain... you do what you can. :^)
>
> I do buy test gear - I quote jobs on a fixed price - its up to the
> client to decide if likes the price or not - he doesn't need to know it
> covers loads of labour or a new scope.
OK do you get a lot of repeat work? That would help.
> I do buy test gear - I quote jobs on a fixed price - its up to the
> client to decide if likes the price or not - he doesn't need to know it
> covers loads of labour or a new scope.
>
> In the end you have to discover what works for you, but it might be good
> to try for a couple of freelance type jobs from existing contacts while
> they are still fresh. Nothing builds your confidence like sending out an
> invoice.
(Oh dear, you remind me I once mentioned wanting to make a Cavendish
balance but with a big wall (with some holes) as the fixed mass
and maybe cylinder shapes for the moving masses. That would get like
two or so times the torque (I did the numbers once, riff on the
problem of falling through the earth) And some guy contacted me
and wanted me to build him one... for 50-100k or something.)
Thanks very much for your advice/ story.
George H.
>
> MK
George Herold
Jan 31, 2020, 12:29:23 PM1/31/20
to
On Wednesday, January 29, 2020 at 10:43:22 AM UTC-5, jla...@highlandsniptechnology.com wrote:
> On Tue, 28 Jan 2020 08:04:47 -0800 (PST), George Herold
> <gghe...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> >On Monday, January 27, 2020 at 7:42:30 PM UTC-5, Lasse Langwadt Christensen wrote:
> >> tirsdag den 28. januar 2020 kl. 00.53.22 UTC+1 skrev Rick C:
> >> > I've wanted to make some items that are small and cheap, like Chinese made and sold sort of cheap. But I can't find a way to sell they way they do. There could be lots of competition, but not until the volume gets high enough. I would love to contract out the whole thing, but my understanding is I would never see much money from it because of the way they work.
> >> >
> >>
> >> look at things like arduinos, arduino shields, MCU boards,
> >> usb logic analysers, etc. I don't see how anyone makes any money on those. The minutes it gets any traction you can buy a clone on ebay with free shipping
> >> for half your BOM
> >
> >You've got places like Spark fun and ada-fruit which seem to be
> >carving out a niche in this space.
> >
> >George H.
>
> Maybe do something exotic and physics-related. Cryo sensor adapters?
> Mag field sensors? You know that business.
>
Yeah, I've got to start a HBT thread.
> On Tue, 28 Jan 2020 08:04:47 -0800 (PST), George Herold
> <gghe...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> >On Monday, January 27, 2020 at 7:42:30 PM UTC-5, Lasse Langwadt Christensen wrote:
> >> tirsdag den 28. januar 2020 kl. 00.53.22 UTC+1 skrev Rick C:
> >> > I've wanted to make some items that are small and cheap, like Chinese made and sold sort of cheap. But I can't find a way to sell they way they do. There could be lots of competition, but not until the volume gets high enough. I would love to contract out the whole thing, but my understanding is I would never see much money from it because of the way they work.
> >> >
> >>
> >> look at things like arduinos, arduino shields, MCU boards,
> >> usb logic analysers, etc. I don't see how anyone makes any money on those. The minutes it gets any traction you can buy a clone on ebay with free shipping
> >> for half your BOM
> >
> >You've got places like Spark fun and ada-fruit which seem to be
> >carving out a niche in this space.
> >
> >George H.
>
> Maybe do something exotic and physics-related. Cryo sensor adapters?
> Mag field sensors? You know that business.
>
(The blue jay gang has invaded the bird feeder, scaring the cardinals
chickadees, juncos and woodpeckery birds into the nearby trees.
White snow, dark trees, the green on the spruce is the same shade as
maple bark.. The blue jays and red cardinals pop, color-wise. )
George h.
George Herold
Jan 31, 2020, 12:50:25 PM1/31/20
to
in different ways. I bunch of the stuff I made was just
one or two analog IC's (quad opamp = 1 IC) with power, connections
and switches. I was alwyas using some bit for something else.
> Here's the POC from the cathodoluminescence system that I posted a few
> months back:
> <https://electrooptical.net/www/sed/MPPCphotonCounting.mpg>. It goes
> from photon counting up to bright room lights with a twist of a knob,
> which we think is pretty slick.
>
> We find that when they see our stuff doing what they wanted, better than
> they hoped, cheaper than they expected, the licensing conversation
> usually goes pretty smoothly. It helps that our royalty expectations
> are fairly modest--we'd way rather do lots of deals that put smiles on
> everybody's faces than screw the last dime out of only a few.
>
> YMMV, but a bit of recurring revenue is very comforting.
Thinking of flapping off by myself is a bit scary!
> months back:
> <https://electrooptical.net/www/sed/MPPCphotonCounting.mpg>. It goes
> from photon counting up to bright room lights with a twist of a knob,
> which we think is pretty slick.
>
> We find that when they see our stuff doing what they wanted, better than
> they hoped, cheaper than they expected, the licensing conversation
> usually goes pretty smoothly. It helps that our royalty expectations
> are fairly modest--we'd way rather do lots of deals that put smiles on
> everybody's faces than screw the last dime out of only a few.
>
> YMMV, but a bit of recurring revenue is very comforting.
George H.
George Herold
Jan 31, 2020, 12:53:36 PM1/31/20
to
don't know what I'll need yet. :^) But I do appreciate the support.
George H.
John Larkin
Jan 31, 2020, 3:41:55 PM1/31/20
to
On Fri, 31 Jan 2020 09:29:17 -0800 (PST), George Herold
We had a mountain lion near the Safeway on Diamond Heights Blvd. About
a zillion animal control people took it away.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/d75t8nid5u2z3n8/ML2.jpg?raw=1
And lots of coyotes. Now we seem to have at least one big cat but not
as big as the one in the pic, some sort of lynx maybe.
Coyotes have been seen commuting across the Golden Gate Bridge.
I wonder if it would be worth making a little cryo-diode adapter for
an arduino or a Lab Jack or something. Then it would be a small step
to making a cryo temperature controller.
--
John Larkin Highland Technology, Inc
picosecond timing precision measurement
jlarkin att highlandtechnology dott com
http://www.highlandtechnology.com
a zillion animal control people took it away.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/d75t8nid5u2z3n8/ML2.jpg?raw=1
And lots of coyotes. Now we seem to have at least one big cat but not
as big as the one in the pic, some sort of lynx maybe.
Coyotes have been seen commuting across the Golden Gate Bridge.
I wonder if it would be worth making a little cryo-diode adapter for
an arduino or a Lab Jack or something. Then it would be a small step
to making a cryo temperature controller.
--
John Larkin Highland Technology, Inc
jlarkin att highlandtechnology dott com
http://www.highlandtechnology.com
George Herold
Feb 4, 2020, 9:17:35 AM2/4/20
to
of farm land.
>
> I wonder if it would be worth making a little cryo-diode adapter for
> an arduino or a Lab Jack or something. Then it would be a small step
> to making a cryo temperature controller.
Hmm not sure what that looks like. But have a FET as heater down the
> I wonder if it would be worth making a little cryo-diode adapter for
> an arduino or a Lab Jack or something. Then it would be a small step
> to making a cryo temperature controller.
bottom of a probe is a must. I have this dram of using the
same FET as temp sensor too.. but that may be too much.
Starting HBT thread.
George h.
>
>
>
> --
>
> John Larkin Highland Technology, Inc
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