Well it’s a good quality ABS print from my Prusa. Better even than the Tantillus PLA print I’m using right now.
There’s just one little problem: It’s backwards. The herringbone teeth are all pointing the wrong way. Thank goodness the parts I need to print are symmetrical! I can print anyways and figure out the backward stuff later.
’nuff said. I’ll fill the back orders and then start printing more and up the stock in store. Even with this I’ll have to temporarily rely on other local printers to meet demand. Thank you, VHS members.
Does anyone know of a way to tell zencart to make one product from a collection of other products? In other words, if I sell one drawbot I want it to decrement the inventory of each component. I’d also like it to say “if you have these many parts you can have this many drawbots”
Another Drawbot being build by a member if IRC::freenode::reprap
I’ve had three other friends try to print parts and all of them have had things … happen… to their machines in the middle of my prints. I think I know what’s going on.
I’ve had several prints quit before finishing today. One is useable, the others end early.
I think the laptop I’m running on is going to sleep so I’ve pushed all the energy saving options to off. The other option is thermal shutdown – the room is quite warm (to warm the bed faster) and there might be too much heat building up in the polulu chips. I have a small 12v fan I’m going to use to blow air over the heat sinks and I hope that will keep them in line.
But hey! At least a kit can ship tomorrow! Also I heard from some of my suppliers that more motor mounts are due soon, so stay tuned!
I’m ecstatic that I’ve solved my production problem and can meet demand now. I’ve even got a backup solution in case my primary printer goes boink. I’ve got an online store that works, and I’m getting a label maker & printer so I can make sure orders are fulfilled in a timely way with precision.
So where do I go from here to grow the business? Branding? More kits? Advertise the CanDo more? Better pricing, like discounts on EL that isn’t moving too fast? (I’m looking at you, yellow and orange.) No one I know is currently growing a company like I am, so I don’t know who to ask or even *what* to ask. I’ve also got opportunities all around me. Should I 3D print for other people more often? Do more CNC routing? Funds are tight and time is limited so I can’t choose them all at once. Your advice, please. What would you like to see from MCS?
Oh, and I’ve started to include all the M3 screws you’ll need in the Drawbot kits. No sense making you drive all over to buy a box of 100 when all you need is six.
Halloween special pricing!
For the next two weeks I’m having a sale on orange EL wire and yellow EL wire. 25% off the usual price. Get all decked out for Halloween while supplies last!
…and seriously, be quick about it. These things are moving. While the 3D printer was stalling all Drawbot orders EL was movin’, movin’, movin’.
It’s always busy in some way here. I love the way the challenges keep changing and things are growing. For instance, last night I bought a new Brother printer and label maker. Kits look great when they’re nicely labelled and come with an invoice. Feels more industry standard, less care package from mom. Also: Shaking my fist at HP and Canon. Not only have I been disappointed in your product but now I see your display at the local Staples should have tipped me off from the start – HP’s says “we will distract you with video!” and Canon’s says IDGAF. Brother’s was the only one that clearly spelled out their support plan to give me confidence with my purchase. There’s a lesson in there.
Last night a new piece of contract work fell in my lap. It’s the first time I’ve ever used the Twitter API or Tropo.com. So far they seem great and are really forthcoming with help. My hat is off to you for doing it right. Easy APIs make me a happy man. It’s also great to be working on something while the 3D printer is going. It makes me feel so… efficient. Like my first employee, almost!
PS: Did you notice there’s a Facebook and Twitter icon in the top left? You can follow us there if you like.
This morning I woke to find my development web server died and took out half the electronics in my office. Thankfully it was just a flipped breaker. After we got the power back on the server refused to start. It’s in the shop now and as soon as it’s back I’ll you the twitter stuff. Nobody likes to be teased without mercy.
So while it’s in the store I went to the post office and shipped another 3 kits today. All the back orders (except my less-than-stellar IndieGoGo campaign) are now filled and “delivered”. Special thanks to each of you who sent me kind words of support and kept clicking refresh until I delivered a tracking number. Special thanks also to the lady at the post office who gave me water when I nearly collapsed. Note to self: bike more often!
Today’s next goal is to get all the products in the store photographed. You may remember I built a light box a while ago. I never showed you the box itself, did I?
Let me know if you find something in the shop that is missing a picture and I’ll take one ASAP.
Many hands make light work, yes?
