[sdiy] Advice for someone entering the kit business?

[neil.johnson97 at ntlworld.com]

(in humour/jest/etc...)

> a) Don't talk about it, don't mention it and don't announce it until you
> have a website with shopping cart set up (I use the free ZenCart) and have
> *inventory* you can ship one *Day 1*.

Corollary: don't believe everyone who says that they'll buy ten when its ready.

> b) spend as much time on documentation as design. Documentaion is as
> boring a thing to do as humanly possible. But if the docs are not through
> and *correct*, you are killing yourself.

Corollary: write the documentation at a level that a 5-year old would understand.

True story: when Acorn started selling the Atom as a kit (predecessor of the BBC Micro) they had one returned by a customer who just could not get it to work.  When it arrived back at the factory, they carefully opened it up, to reveal the mainboard with every component in the right place with the correct orientation --- GLUED in place!!  No solder anywhere!  They revised the construction manual after that.

> c) to not build 1 perf board and assume you can go into production. YOu
> can always get *1* of anything to work. Go to www.4pcb.com and order 5 pc
> boards. Use a real CAD system and layout boards with decent power/grounds.
> Use LPI solder mask so the silkscrenn loot decent. Do NOT cut cost on the
> pc board. MOTM pc boards are about $8/ea in 100pcs. Big deal :)

Corollary: the PCB is the foundation.  Make sure it is strong enough for a 300lb gorilla with a sore head to solder together using a 500A MIG welder.

> Build *5* of every protype, give 4 to away to 4 different people to test.

Corollary: Use this opportunity practice your customer support skills.

> d) use 2mm 6061T6 aluminum for front panels. Best compromise of
> cost/weight/flexing/ease of finishing

Corollary: looks sell.

> e) buy decent pots and jacks as this is what people actually "use".

Corollary: no matter how good the innards perform, if the interface sucks then the world and his dog will soon be hearing about it.

> f) use Tl072ACP for general purpose op amps, LT1013 for summing amps and
> OP275GPs for best audio. FOr transistors. use higher gain NPN/PNP and stay
> away from crap-ola 2N3904/6 unless to are turning LEDs on and off.

Corollary: crap in, crap out.

> g) think of a fair and decent price to sell your widget. Then *double it*.

Corollary: and ignore the whiners who say they could make it for less.

:-)

Cheers,
Neil

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