[sdiy] Idea to design to prototype to Product question.

[wayfar]

Firstly know your market, know your end specifications your looking for, 
then know your cost and determine the feasibility.

Adjust specifications according to cost of parts and assembly / shipping.

If things are looking feasable, then know exactly what chips / parts you 
will use from which vendor. Find the best vendors, and best pcb 
manufacturers / assembly / and understand the costs of an enclosure 
(machined or injection molded), and determine if your design is still 
worth proceeding with.

By now you should know what your going to do as far as parts and places 
to purchase them from.

Think about RFI EMI, and minimizing any kind of electronic radiation 
that would get you in trouble with the FCC or laws applicable in other 
countrys, think about materials restrictions including RoHS.

Start with a prototype, get it as close to the end product as possible 
on the first go. Minimise revisions by doing testing and calculations as 
much as possible on breadboards before you order a PCB. Make sure your 
PCB has all the optional connectors you need for your test equipment, 
also think about package options, make the design flexible for different 
packages of the same IC in the event that you need to do some substitution.

Build up the prototype and test it with everything it's going to be 
interfaced with, somtimes if your using lots of surface mount hardare 
you won't be able to do much on breadboards and will have to start with 
a PCB.

Get everyting working and then get some quality feedback on features 
that people recommend. Try to implement as many of those features as you 
can without increasing parts count.

Don't lag on user interface, spend a significant amount of time on user 
interface and build quality, use the golden ratio when applicable, don't 
let a user gripe about shoddy switches or bad build ruin an otherwise 
great sounding design. Where possible give the user the option. Add in 
features but let the user be able to bypass or route into them as they 
like. Flexibility is key, but don't re-invent the wheel, so matter how 
elite your design a square block will never fit into a round hole.

Don't take pre-orders, nor do waiting lists, it's a flag of 
unprofessionalism, if you need capital ebay a few prototypes for 
megabucks or find an investor.

Make sure you can ship your orders within a week of the order.

Finally work finantially smart, not hard - and pass the savings half to 
your profits, and half to the customer.

One tip to know your market better, is to read all the harmony-central 
gear reviews that have anything to do with similar gear that you will be 
competing against.

Hope this helps, goodluck.
x|k

Alert me wrote:

> Hi Johannes,
>
> Well, You have a point. But i didnt have that intention in mind. I was 
> asking for guidance and tips on how to go on with the project rather 
> than some one practically  helping me out with the project.
>
> To rephrase my question.  Can someone , who has been involved with 
> product development
> from idea to actualisation / product realisation , give some serious 
> pointers and tips.
>
>
> regards
> Alertme
>
>
>> From: Johannes Öberg <johannes.oberg at gmail.com>
>> To: Alert me <alertme at hotmail.com>
>> Subject: Re: [sdiy] Idea to design to prototype to Product question.
>> Date: Thu, 5 Jan 2006 14:57:22 +0100
>>
>> So the basic idea here is that somebody else should construct, for 
>> free, a
>> product for you to sell? And they don't get to know what any details 
>> about
>> the device, since then they could "rip you off", right?
>>
>> Sounds a bit like a "friend" of mine :p
>>
>> /Janoch
>>
>> On 1/5/06, Alert me <alertme at hotmail.com> wrote:
>> >
>> > Hi All,
>> > Sorry for the generic question.
>> > I have a few ideas which i desperately want to try out to 
>> materialise into
>> > a
>> > product.
>> > Though i have electronics knowledge and am now working with 
>> computers (
>> > support)
>> > I am stuck in the idea of the product phase.
>> > Now, i have documented all the requirements / features and how the 
>> product
>> > behaviour( functionality).
>> > Since the product is going to have a Kind of (complex ) controller 
>> circuit
>> > Now, i am not sure, how to start.
>> > Build the mechanical structure  > firmware > I/f with PC  > PC 
>> software
>> > Please help with the basics. I am new in this field.
>> > Groetjes  and Regards
>> > Alertme
>> >
>
>
>
>