MOTM

Any answer to my question below? If the module is compelling enough, I have
no problem with $400. I just don't believe there's enough demand at $400 to
reach 100 units. And then we're back to not seeing anything at any price.

 

Also, what happened to the notion of a little production design, like
designing the PCBs for *multiple* formats. Main module PCBs with a
standardized connector for a format-specific daughterboard (yeah, a few
bucks more, but they could be standardized and end up cheap)?

 

If that's too ambitious then just add power connectors and whatever other
pads are needed for MOTM to the opposite end of the monolithic PCB. Have the
MOTM power connector soldered on along with the Euro hardware. Just make a
run where you save $2.55 + the cost of pots and jacks by not having them do
those operations. This is standard production stuff and doesn't really cost
to have them do.

 

Worst case when we retro-fit a Euro module to MOTM, we cut off the Euro
pots, jacks, etc. and solder wires the old fashioned way to the proper pads.
Bridechamber still gets to sell us MOTM panels and parts.

 

-Greg

 

  _____  

From: motm@yahoogroups.com [mailto:motm@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Greg
James
Sent: Friday, August 17, 2012 10:09 PM
To: 'Paul Schreiber'; motm@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [motm] 5xx series in a MOTM format

 






A 50 unit minimum looks to me like an awfully high bar to reach. Especially
at $400 per. And the rest of the criteria isn't clear to me. Are you saying
you need 50 MOTM AND 50 MU (going by the $40,000 figure you throw out)
before we've got a run? Regardless, I don't see how this is going to happen.
Echoing Thomas' sentiment, my MOTM 'investment' has not been pretty.

 

Greg James

 

  _____  

From: motm@yahoogroups.com [mailto:motm@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Paul
Schreiber
Sent: Wednesday, August 15, 2012 8:49 PM
To: motm@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [motm] 5xx series in a MOTM format

 





This is sort of a 2-part MOTM issue

 

MOTM as DIY-based

 

Certainly since the first module the kits out-sold the assembled like 25:1.
In some modules probably 75:1. Things went OK until the RoHS directive
killed both the Switchcraft jacks and the Spectrol pots at once. It took
nearly 2 years to get those parts back and running, only to have Vishay
(that made the RoHS version) drive the price from $1.80 to $7.50. This
clogged the pipeline, blew up the backlog and it was not until BI came out
with the P260 family that I could finally get going. This is just on the
"business" side of things. 

 

So, I decided to have Scott at BrideChamber take over and I think he has
done a great job. The parts, kits, panels and pc boards are still there.

 

But what is missing? New offerings specifically for DIYers. (and some MOTM
kits I need to ship out, more on that later).

 

I have not decided yet if the ROI (return on investment) is worth it for
doing more DIY-specific MOTM modules. Right now I am thinking not.

 

MOTM as Assembled

 

The current MOTM modules were not engineered to be 'quick' to assemble, in
fact (and you know who you are) some folks think the longer it takes/the
more parts the better the overall fun factor. Which is exactly what DIYers
want but not exactly great for one-at-a-time assembly. It's not that the ROI
isn't good (it is) but the time required is a problem.

 

MOTM as a 'Hobby'

 

It started as a hobby and I want it to remain a hobby. I do NOT want to do
this 100% as my 'living'. But since Jan. it has been (and hopefully next
month will revert back to full hobby status). I have focused on Euro because
that is how I have to support my family. I have NOT ignored MOTM entirely
but yes Euro has "stolen" the bulk of time because it is necessary to do so.
I do not like doing this, it is not fair to 5U customers but it is just what
has to be done now.

 

I have interviewed twice recently and feel at least 1 of them will result in
full time, with health insurance benefits, employment. This will allow me to
then go back to 5U more and more. Note that I may have to physically move
(again) so there will be 3-4 weeks where not much will go on. May people
take holiday/vacation in August so it's a good time to move anyway. I will
not know for sure until next week. But I am optimistic.

 

Will there ever be new 5U stuff?

 

Yes, but as assembled. And I will start with going to Kickstarter
(www.kickstarter.com) in order to judge the demand. In this way, no money
exchanges hands until a goal is reached (in dollars, but that is just a
minimum number of modules). SMT tooling is expensive, like $900. Each pc
board run is $250 setup on the machines. The prices will be "high" (say in
the $400 range) initially. But with SMT assembly, I can go from the boards
in front of me to a finished, calibrated module in about 9 minutes. The
years of waiting are over, I can build 50 modules a week in my spare time.

 

I think offering a 50 module minimum run is fair and the way Kickstarter is
set up I can ship more than 50 but not LESS than 50. So if for example I
offer a 5U and a MU Cloud Generator both at $400 with 50 of each and there
is a dollar pledge over $40,000 then I would just make more and everyone
that pledged gets a module. I think this is fair, I do not even have to buy
parts until the goal is met, unlike the current way where I have to HOPE
there is a demand. I could split it and say "as long as I get 80 modules of
a mix of MU/5U we have a go".

 

BUT..I will NOT do this until EVERY current MOTM user has their modules from
me. I might tinker on the CAD system beforehand but nothing 'official' until
then.

 

And when will this be?

 

The honest answer: I have no idea. Will it be in 2012? Yes it will but not
going to say 'by Oct 1' or whatever. Because I never hit the dates anyway.
So instead of a watch or calendar I'm looking at the leaves of tress :-) A
LOT may happen in the next 6 weeks. I may not get a job offer and then the
5U time is what it is now.

 

If people think MOTM is 'dead' or in a 'death spiral' or they feel
'abandoned' they certainly have the data to point to that. And it's 100% on
me. But as Granny liked to say, "The proof is in the pudding". So, after I
get the MOTM backlog  shipped, and I post the modules to KickStarter (there
will be 3 of them) then the user base will decide MOTM's fate. 

 

Paul S.