Shopbot project on Kickstarter

[oddcoach]

http://http://s3.amazonaws.com/ksr/projects/92562/photo-full.jpg?1344388956

[oddcoach]

Hi all I have a Shopbot project up on Kickstarter wooden iPhone cases and docking cradle
\image{iPhone}
i would appreciate some input from the group
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/639858760/wooden-iphone-case-cradle-and-nose-for-the-4-4s-an

[oddcoach]

having trouble with the picture

[oddcoach]

ok here we go

[myxpykalix]

I went and checked it out...very cool. The neat part is you can make custom engraved covers. Do you use the bot to cut the insides of the front out? Because it needs somewhat of a undercut to snap it in how do you accomplish that? I think you will have a good market for this, good luck. :D

[knight_toolworks]

why do you need a kickstarter for this? just do it. it's not like you have to have parts manufactured or designed. it just takes some work to get it all worked out. I have made at least 500 or 600 iphone docks where I had to come up with a way to hold the plastic adapter plate. this design is easier because there is control in the shape of the device going in it. But it may be a problem depending on the iphone 5 and it's shape. it may be better to wait till it is released.

[twelchPTM]

that is awesome, i woulb buy one in a heart beat. alas.... I don't have an iphone, any plans to expand to other phone models?

[myxpykalix]

I was talking to an iphone dealer telling him about these wooden ones and he told me that the metal ones, they found, tend to block some of the signal and he seemed to think the wooden ones would be better, so thats a good thing for your design.

[myxpykalix]

John,
I'll tell you what other accessory you need to make with the iphone is a clip on magnifying glass that sits up an inch or two from the surface so you can get your finger under it to work, but magnifys the screen. I can barely see the ipad icons and the iphone ones are way smaller.:eek: (<<<< that's me straining to see the icons!)

[oddcoach]

Thanks Guys
Jack the case splits in 2 you can see the seam on the back of the one in the picture. I think the wood ones look better than the metal ones too :)
Steve I chose Kickstarter as more of a marketing tool rather than for the funding.
Thomas I do have plans to expand to Droids and tablets as well

[knight_toolworks]

ok that makes sense. I always leave the marketing to someone else (G)

[planman]

I just read through the kickstarter.com ad.

I like the product, but as a kickstarted investor, what am I kick starting? What is your end goal? What do you need the money for? Are we helping to buy the materials up front in bulk to lower the cost? Are we paying to help you buy a laser engraver? Are you trying to move from the basement to commercial space? Or are you seeking funds to buy your own shopbot? (Highly recommended :) )

Just my 2 cents.... I don't usually go to kickstarter to buy things. I fund kickstarter to fuel the dreams and businesses of others.

Charles

[adrianm]

My thoughts as well Charles. I've invested quite a bit in various "proper" startups on KickStarter.

Using it as a marketing tool just seems wrong to me.

[Brady Watson]

My thoughts as well Charles. I've invested quite a bit in various "proper" startups on KickStarter.


How does one make the distinction between 'legitimate' or 'proper' startups and otherwise?

On one hand, I think it is a great platform to launch all kinds of ideas that need funding - but when I look at all of the overfunded junk projects on there (in disbelief really), I have to wonder - if all of those types of projects were pulled if KS would still have the same amount of traffic and allure.

It could just be that KS is still evolving or - as shocking as it may seem, it's all about the money. They get a piece of whatever action is on there, regardless of whether it funds a campy granola ice cream startup or a pet rock. They are not just 'being nice' by hosting this stuff...they exist to generate coin for their partners.

-B

[planman]

FWIW I don;t have any problem with this particluar kick start.

I am just letting you know the questions that ran through my mind... in the hopes you'll update your kick start (and get a lot more money for whatever you are doing....)

Whatever you are pursuing, go for it. Tell others about it... and like minded folks will support you!

When I went to the ad I was hoping I would find myself helping somebody buy a shopbot (mondo cool thing to be part of) or to add a laser engraver to your shop if you already had a shop bot...

My 2 cents... forge on! :)

[ssflyer]

I'm probably being an ass, but one of my biggest beefs is with SketchChair - asked for $18,000, got $31,475, and we never got anything out of it. Their site now sells product, but no sign of the promised open source program for making them - I have an alpha release from several years ago. nothing since...

Sorry for ranting - it has nothing to do with you - it's late, needed a bit of release, I guess...

[myxpykalix]

I too invested in Sketchchair and i guess for $20.00 you probably don't expect much but since they reached almost double what they asked for you would think you would get a usable product or at least updates on how the project is going. This to me was like "take the money and run"...:eek:

My rant also has nothing to do with THIS project...good luck with it:D

[planman]

I'm probably being an ass, but one of my biggest beefs is with SketchChair - asked for $18,000, got $31,475, and we never got anything out of it. Their site now sells product, but no sign of the promised open source program for making them - I have an alpha release from several years ago. nothing since...

Sorry for ranting - it has nothing to do with you - it's late, needed a bit of release, I guess...

Sketchchair didn't work out for me either.... Write to Sketchchair and express your feelings....

</end thread hijacking>

[oddcoach]

Thanks for the input I do say what the money is for in the video. I want to make some dedicated vacuum jigs out of aluminum I also need to do some more work on the ecommerce website but Kickstarter made me take that part out. If I raise mor than the minimum I would put that money towards a laser engraver

[dan78]

I fell I need to say “Sketchchair” big promises , never delivered …used in a very bad way the open source concept.

[bill.young]

Just an FYI for all the folks that funded SketchChair on Kickstarter (and everyone else that's been following them)

http://www.sketchchair.cc/newsletter/update04.html