julianf
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Posts posted by julianf
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I dont think there are any left... The ones still here are just on hold, awaiting payment.
Im considering doing a batch in satin red, but i need at least 5 takers if im not to have material left over.
Well, I guess its not the end of the world if i have a bit left over, but i just dont want to order a whole load of metal for one panel set.
Here is a x0xb0x made in the red that im talking about -
(same image as on another thread)
The red that i can get at the moment is a satin brushed (ie has a grain) finish, rather than a reflective gloss (with no grain).
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Satin red example on a x0xb0x -
I still dont have a fixed date on the gloss : (
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I just had a glance on RS's site, and the price seems to have gone crazy -
http://uk.rs-online.com/web/search/searchBrowseAction.html?method=getProduct&R=2508440591
Im confused, and hoping that im i looking at the wrong thing!
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Just a quick note that im stilll (!) waiting on the gloss red anodised alluminium in 1.5mm that i mentioned weeks back. It appears my own supplier is having some troubles with their supplier (i just spoke with them on the phone)
They are, however, sending me a couple of samples in matt red today. I should get these tommorow, and will, in time, cut a panel if anyone is interested in what it looks like (i know there were some people here still waiting on the gloss red).
It appears that matt blue is also in stock, in 1.5. And, i think, gloss gold, again in 1.5.
Once again, Im sorry for the unexpected delay on the gloss red : (
Thank you,
Julian
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Oh, no - not at all... i hadnt got any of that.
Basically, the bottom line is -
I cant quite do evreything shaeffer does (or at least not at a sensible price), but...
For those wanting what i can do, my pricing generally works out significantly cheaper : )
If someone is wanting to watch expenditure, esp. if they live in europe, id like to think i offer a good choice for what i offer - indeed, i actually offer some things that shaeffer doesnt too (with regards to thicknesses, finishes, etc)
It all depends what people desire, and what their situation is.
Id always encorage people to spend their cash according to their personal desires!
Thanks, Julian
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You should check if....
Hehe... i didnt realise there was a thread here, or id have commented earlier.
The quote i gave to Johan was for the routing as specified (ie window cut in rear etc) but with the holes right through the panel, rather than with threadded blinds.
I made the comment that ordering from me with the proposed changes would work out almost GBP £50 cheaper than ordering the panel as spec'ed from shaeffer. Shaeffers price will certainly become cheaper if you take out the threadded blinds (ie then giving more of a like-for-like comparrison although my price will still be cheaper even then : ) but this was not the point i was making in the original quote - simply that if anyone wanted threadded blinds, shaeffer would a better option, all be it at considerably more money (which is where the 30 somthing percent came into it!)
As for non-threadded blinds - thats entirely possible. Its not the milling thats the hassel, but the threadding. Non-threadded blinds are no more complex than the stepped cut-out arround the viewing screen.
For those who havent seen my rantings on the SID forum, and dont have much of an idea what im on about, the following link may shed some more light -
http://www.thebeast.co.uk/cnc/
Thank you,
Julian
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UPDATE: 3 sets remaining
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Rather embarrasingly, ive ended up with some b-grade panels from the first production run.
Im quite fussy, and wouldnt normally consider a panel with errors salable, however the errors are realy quite small, and the machine time thats been spent on the panles quite great, so i thought id offer them for a reduced rate all the same.
I (thankfully) only have 4 sets of these, and would be happy to see them go for GBP 63 per set (ie front and rear)
To give some perspective on this price, shaeffer (if they carried gloss materials, which i dont believe they do) would want GBP 109 per set once the tax was paid.
Below are two (large) photos. The first is of the panel as it should be, and the second is of the b-grade panel. The errors are cosmetic (ie engraving, not milling) and visible. I will let you spot them : )
Shipping -
UK - £2.14 + 75p (1st class recorded - maximum compensation £39)
UK - £5.40 (fully insured / next day)
EU - £2.99 + £4.50 (airmail + tracking / insurance)
ROW - £5.31 + £4.50 (airmail + tracking / insurance)
(2 sets will cost slightly more to post, but nowhere near double the cost)
Payment by bank in sterling or euro, google checkout in any other currency @ 4.4%.
Credit card orders must be tracked & insured. Optional / at buyers risk otherwise.
And, lastly, a quick update on the red gloss panels -
Im still waiting on the materials (my own supplier is having to order in the gloss red in 1.5mm especially) but they should be here somtime next week.
The gloss red panel sets will be priced at GBP 75 per set, and i will make sure i dont waste half of them in the same way as i have the black!
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@julianf - CrystalFontz makes some nice red-on-black displays. They are a bit pricey but look great, though I'm not sure what format you are looking for. I used a yellow-on-black one on my MB-6582 and love it.
Im in the UK. I filled in the website form asking about uk distributors, and no reply.
The only displays ive found are boring ones...
If anyone has an easy source for me here in england, id be keen to know, as, i suspect, buying in 1-off quantities from the states is going to be prohibitivly expensive.
...but i havent realy looked in detail yet.
ps. im after one for the mb6582 device
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Ill update the photo below tommorow some time (the background will change from being a 606 to being outside on grass or wood or stone)
This is the rear panel, cut to Wilba's original design -
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Right...
Depending on confirmations, ive got enough buyers for the first batch of mb6582 panels, so im closing the list on tommorow at 5pm (GMT)
If anyone else wants a set, PM me before then, and ill be certain to make you a set.
The reason for closing the list is that i want to make these in batches, rather than all the time, hence wanting to close this run, make them, and get it all concluded before making more. The list wont be opened again untill all these are shipped.
The price for this batch, as mentioned, is GBP £68 ex delivery / card fees
(but i can accept payment by BACS in both sterling and euro without any fees at all)
If this all turns out more hassle then expected, the next batch may change in price, but i think ive got a good idea of whats what from the panels in the pictures.
So, yes, anyone confirming before tommorow night gets on this list, at this confirmed price.
No payment will be accepted before the panels are reddy for shipping.
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Im in england, and was thinking of getting one of these -
(but i must admit, i havent checked out the spec sheet properly yet)
However -
What i really want is a red on black display
I know the proposed buy isnt for them, but i just wanted to register my interest, should there be any developments : )
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Julian: A set of mb-6582 panels would be great (in satin or matt if possible), PM me when you get enough names to do a run - I'm UK based so postage is easy. (Cheque or Paypal for the £68 + post ?)
Price is GBP £68 + post + transaction fees (but only if applicable!)
The company accounts are run in both sterling and euros, so BACS payments from most of europe is completely without processing cost, as will be a UK cheque from you. Indeed, you can even go into a branch of HSBC and save yourself the stamp cost : )
I really dont like paypal, and use google checkout to process card payments. Fees are the same, but you get a company who a) doesnt try evade uk trading regulations, and b) actually reads, and answers your mails - with relevant answers and evreything! ; )
...see, im almost ranting allready, such is my loathing!
As a buyer, its even simpler than paypal. Not even any need to setup an account - its all done through a google page on one of their 'secure' servers.
Ill have to look through but i think the numbers are almost up to five. As soon as they are, ill start.
Indeed, im putting in a metal order in the next few days, so if you all want red or blue or green or any other colour, i can order that, and use them insted of the black (which i have in stock right now) It does need to be a MOQ 5 per colour though : (
Oh, and, as for the fan -
Ive concluded that its probably best to stick to wilbas specified cut-out on this.
I realised that a fan cover can be fitted on the outside without a fan fitted to the inside. If i cut the panels like that people have the option of fitting the fan or not, and, at the same time, the machine time is way lower for a large hole than a matrix of smaller ones.
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I would be interested. What do you think shipping to NY, USA might be in the ball park of?
Sorry, havent worked it out yet, but i always ship at cost.
The cheapest option will be with Royal Mail - here's a link to the pricing -
http://www.royalmail.com/portal/rm/jump1?catId=400023&mediaId=400033
The airmail alone is dead cheap, but the irritating catch is that credit card orders need to be signed for etc. which adds to the cost, not to mention the credit card fees themselves : (
Julian,
I'd like a set of your panels if there's enough interest.
Do you have any plans to produce the panel for the MB-SEQ ?
I would be interested in one of those too, if Wilba is happy with that.
Gary
Hi Garry,
I can cut 1-offs too, but the panel above is a fair bit of work, which is why i want a (allbeit small) MOQ at the stated price.
I can, and do, cut 1-offs all the time.
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I have just updated the file on the server to a better photo (a browser refresh may be needed if you are still seeing the photo with the black paper in the background)
Here the original, and another shot too -
Note that -
- I havent cut the sepperating lines that are in the original design. These are possible, but i thought they would make too much of an impact if left in silver
- I have cut the 4 corner mounting holes
- This panel is in a high gloss finish (you can see the clouds in the 2nd shot, and part of a structure in the first!) - gloss isnt availible in many colours in the 1.5mm
- Satin is availible too (my own x0xb0x [not the unit on my website] is in satin)
So... @ GBP £68 per set (set = front and rear) would anyone be interested?
- I havent cut the sepperating lines that are in the original design. These are possible, but i thought they would make too much of an impact if left in silver
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Thanks for that Mike,
Ive been muttering about building a midibox device for a long time, so its about time i got on with it!
Wilba's design had a single large cut-out for the fan, but maybee if i do a cutout like the one on the front of my cnc controler in the photo above, then it'll be visually nice regardless of if a fan is fitted or not?
(on the cnc controller, thats actually just an inlet - the fan is mounted on the rear)
If i do a matrix of holes, like the LED matrix, thatlld look nice, but wouldnt work so well for mounting a fan to later.
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Be very keen to see the panel once it comes off the machine, all those holes are going to take some time !!
Ill take another photo tommorow (ie 15th aug, gmt) and update the link, as, at time of writing, its dark outside, and my camera isnt much good without natural light.
(if you see a background of wood or slate, its the new photo, if its paper, its the old one)
The photo ive just taken (ie the paper background one) looks a bit blurry, but the line width is the same as the x0xb0x in the first photo.
You can see that the milled cut is nice and clean.
I chose not to cut the lines sepperating the various sections - in wilba's design this is a red line, but i intend to leave this one natural to match the x0xb0x panels, and i think a silver line might be a bit 'heavy'.
I have also milled fixing holes in the corners, for the pactec enclosure, to aleviate the (i assume) epoxy resin issues. Ill fit the same A4 stainless bolts, again, to match the x0xb0x above.
Before i cut the rear panel, can someone tell me -
The design has a fan in the rear. I hate fans. Their whine drives me mad... Not to mention clogging evreything with dust.
What about if i was to cut somthing like this -
in the rear, but not actually fit a fan? Would there be enough convection currents etc. for passive cooling?
Or even a matrix of holes, rather like the led matrix on the top panel?
I havent even built the electronics yet, hence not knowing how hot they get at all!
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[snip]...if this is possible i will try and get the face drawn up this week and pass the drawing to you, i would want it in the black adonised aluminium
entirely possible. indeed, if its work for one of the pac-tec cases, i have the metal work in stock.
when you are reddy, drop me a direct mail with the full details...
(the address is on picture on the website)
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The cost will be about GBP 68 for the set. This is inclusive of all european taxes.
As ive allready said, a silk screened run would work out cheaper, but ordering from shaeffer would be considerably more, esp when you consider that that the numbers spit out by FPD are subject to 19% tax (at least in the EU - i dont know about sales taxes in the states?)
Indeed, i think my *inclusive* price is actually cheaper than shaeffers *exclusive* price, but ill leave someone to confirm this?
Anyway, there are some things to note -
- I would not want to infill panels in more than one colour (wilba's design has both red and white - i cant meet the above price for dual color designs)
- I can supply on 1.5mm in different colours, whilst, i think, shaeffer can only do 2mm in other colours - which isnt ideal for the pactec cases (this assumes at least 5 people wanting the same colour though)
- Price is just an estimate - i have a panel on the machine at the moment to confirm
Somthing else i have realised, after reading posts by Doug -
Doug's group buy is up to somthing like 200 units. He has mentioned in a couple of places that he's bought a mill to do the panels.
I know, from my own experiance, that milling 200 units is going to take, well, forever. Im sure people will find this hard to believe, but the panels for the x0xb0x above take about 10 hours of machine time per set. Even if half this time can be saved through silk screening, a 200 unit run is still going to take 1000hrs of machine time (at least of the rate on my machine)
1000hrs @ 8hrs per day is - 125 days, or about 4.5 months. Even at double the 2mm/s feedrate that i run at, thats still over 2months of continual production.
What im trying to say is that, i think i can offer out a few engraved sets and not dent any group buys in progress!
- I would not want to infill panels in more than one colour (wilba's design has both red and white - i cant meet the above price for dual color designs)
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Thats nice. I cannot start a company as i have to be vat registered to start one in the Netherlands.
Over here there's still paperwork for the other taxes, but just not for sales tax. A company, as opposed to "trading-as", has to have a charted accountant (rather than just a book keeper), a company number, buisiness bank accounts, etc. etc. So its only the VAT issue that is initially escaped!
Anyway good luck on selling. However you're not the only one that is offering ;)
To confirm -
Im *not* looking to compete with existing group buys. Esp. in Doug's case, that would be exceedingly poor taste, but, in addition, i would never be able to compete financially with a group-buy based on silk screening costs.
Both the beauty and the peril of engraving, as opposed to silk screening, is that the costs for engraving are (pretty much) the same for 1-off as they are for 10-off (assuming stock metal)
This makes it way cheaper for small quantities / 1-offs, etc. but there comes a point where the setup costs of the silk screen are outweighed by the speed at which multiple panels can be printed.
Engraving gives a different finish to screening. Its more durable, but more difficult to do colours, and, as mentioned, virtually impossible to do 'blocks' of colour on control surfaces. Line widths can be way lower than a silk screener would ever be able to manage, esp. using diamond drag techniques. (although it should be noted that i dont presonally like the visual appearence of diamond line work on control panels)
But, yes, in short, theyre different creatures, with different end results, each with their own pro's and con's : )
The reason i made the first post was simply because i was aware of builders buying in engraved panels, and considered that it may be good to give an alternative to this, rather than an alternative to the screened group buys already organised.
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The short answer is, unfortunatly, no.
The longer answer -
There is a distinction between being a registered company, and being VAT registered. One does not pre-suppose the other.
I forgett the exact figures, but below a certain level of turnover a company does not have to be VAT registered, then there is a band where it it optional, and then over this band is is compulsory.
Not being VAT registered meens that i (the company) have to pay VAT on all goods purchased (so the tax is paid at that point) and it is not added on again at point of sale. But then this paid tax can not be refunded for export orders either.
However....
Britain has very low import thresholds (the price of a good before customs duties are paid), and im aware that they are a lot more 'sensible' in other regions. Because of this, I suspect the majority of panels going to the majority of regions are without customs fees.
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This is a good example of capabilities, as it shows three sepperate techniques -
The engraving is obviously one of them.
The precision milling of the square button holes could be noted. This is a panel where the cuts are visable, and need to be clean.
The area arround the keys is done with an end mill, cutting very shallow. Although im reluctant to do this on other panels, it demonstrates capability.
What this panel does not show is infill use, for two reasons - firstly, the silver against gloss black looks good. The bolts are stainless, the leds white, and another 'colour' would have visually complicated things, and, secondly, because of the technique used on the 'keys'. Infill will not hold in large areas like that on objects that are going to have continued physical contact.
But there are other examples in the link in my sig with infill use.
I can easily do 19" panels up to 5u in height. I can actually go up to 700mm x 300mm (or even larger if you dont want engraving right up to the edge) but theyre hassle to clamp properly.
Although blinds would be possible in thicker panels, but im reluctant to offer them, as theyre a fair bit of hassle. The rear-side code needs to be prepared, the pannel needs to be flipped (taking care to protect the top side from the clamping), the holes then need to be milled, and then id have to tap them by hand. I hate doing things by hand : )
For the mb6582 in a pactec enclosure i wouldnt recommend anyone cut blinds in the rear, because youre only dealing with 1.5mm.
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Note this thread was titled -
"Would it be wrong for me to offer CNC engraved panels for the  MB-6582 project?"
Photos have been inserted below -
Gloss MB6582 panel sets (red or black) - £75
Matte MB6582 panel sets (black) - £75
Matte x0xb0x panel sets - £75
All sets include both top and rear plates.
Postage charged at cost price -
UK - £2.14 + 75p (1st class recorded - maximum compensation £39)
UK - £5.40 (fully insured / next day)
EU - £2.99 + £4.50 (airmail + tracking / insurance)
ROW - £5.31 + £4.50 (airmail + tracking / insurance)
EDIT - the postage costs are not quite right any more, as the postal company has increased the charges. remember though that i only ever charge cost price for shipping, and packing is always free : )
(2 sets will cost slightly more to post, but nowhere near double the cost)
Payment by bank in sterling or euro, google checkout in any other currency @ 4.4%.
Credit card orders must be tracked & insured. Optional / at buyers risk otherwise.
Original thread follows below -
I have been sorting out stuff here, and came across the box where id stored the SIDs whilst waiting for the MB-6582 board to be completed (yep, id forgotten all about the project for about a year!)
...anyway, ive just spent the last number of hours reading through the forum there are a number of people getting high priced panels from shaeffer etc.
I dont know if i should offer panels for this project?
Im not well known here (although am on sdiy/ah/etc), and, besides, havent posted for years anyhow.
I currently have spare time on the cnc machine, and could beat shaeffer / FPE's price by about 40%.
...but im aware that there are also stalled group buy projects, and, for a number of reasons, itlld be wrong to take interest away from them.
However, in the meen time, people are wanting, and paying for panels elsewhere.
Can anyone advise as to the general feeling? Â I know, ultimatly, its up to the buyer, but i dont want to get a bad rep when ive only just found my way back here!
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I use the allen cap screws on the x0xb0x units i build. Against black, i think they look nice in stainless.
I think that the trick is to either try and make them totally blend in, and not get noticed, or to go the other way, and almost make a feature of them. I fear anything inbetween doesnt work as well.
Stainless comes in different variants. A2 and A4 have different finishes, A4 being the shiniest, but also the most expensive : (
Gloss Red and Gloss Black MB-6582 panel sets back in stock : )
in Fleamarket
Posted
A package turned up from my supplier just now, although there are problems.
Out of the 9 sheets that they ordered, only 1 turned up! I purchased all of this, but, as its the same as i use for the x0xb0x units, i do not want to sell it all here, and then be left with none myself.
And there were again no sheets at all of the gloss red : (
All the uk suppliers of this specific engraving material are having this same trouble. The manufacturer is simply not sending it out to the distributors for some reason : ( I have called them all.
So, i hopefull have a small ammount of black gloss for mb6582 panels, but again no red gloss. I did not order satin red, as there seemes little interest, but i have ordered quite a bit of flat matt black as i want it for somthing else anyhow. I think that the flat matt is the same finish that shaeffer supplies [however i am still considerably cheaper : ] but i do not think they carry the gloss finishes at all.
I have not opened the package yet, and am about to quit for the day (it is my partners birthday today : ) I will probably update on the quantities availible after the weekend.
Thank you for your paitence!
Julian