Anyone here ever brought a hw product to market?

[HankMcSpank]

I'd be interested to hear of real world examples!

I've got a few ideas...& I reckon the needed circuit, & dare I say - code - can be knocked out in short order - but it's the presentation I'll likely stumble at.

To make it look pro, yoiu need to get a custom enclosure - but where/how do you get one of those?!!

I only need a small enclosure not much bigger than a 9V battery ....a few holes drilled in it (for a couple of LEDs & momentary switches)...but then there's the printing/graphics etc....hmmm - what to do?

[Jumper]

Hi,

You can always have a look at one of my favorite stores www.enclosures.com.cn . I buy boxes in single numbers from their Beijing store and the prices are really nice and they have alot of different shapes and styles in stock.

I can totally agree when you say the enclosure is the most hard thing to solve to get a nice looking product. For small volume products it is just to find a currenly avaliable box and squeeze the design to fit it.

In the same mall they also sell PCB, overlays, dome foil solution and tons of connectors and components.

If it looks home made.. it is not really a good start for the sales.

/me

[Jerson]

Have you looked at sparkfun? They have a tie up with pololu and others to give you custom enclosures. I haven't used their service, but, it may be helpful to you,

[rsocor01]

HankMcSpank,

There are many manufacturers that have premade enclosures that can be customized. To mention a few,

http://www.pactecenclosures.com/
http://www.serpac.com/
www.polycase.com

However, the site that Jumper mentioned www.enclosures.com.cn seems to be a good option because it should be cheap.

Robert

[HankMcSpank]

Thanks for links & feedback gents ...still pondering whether to bother! (it's not just the enclosure, but then the printing etc)....an all this for something that wouldn't likely sell for a great deal of money anyway!

Anyway, I'll digest the URLs you've given me & take it from there.

[mtripoli]

I've brought many products to market. I wouldn't get hung up on the enclosure; that is the least of your worries.

I'd say take a step back and look at the bigger picture; how much of your time and money do you have to devote to the project? What will your sales outlet be? Internet is fine (and I'm a big proponent of it) but then keep in mind you have to have a website, how you'll collect funds (CC, Paypal, etc.).

I wrote an article for a magazine once where I outlined the task of bringing a simple product to market. The magazine later told me they had one of the biggest repsonses to that article, almost all saying how utterly depressing it was! Once you get past ordering your first run of boards, ordering components, populating, testing, installing, writing directions, inventory - I'm free-wheeling here... it soon makes you wonder how anything makes it to market. And if it's any good, here come the knock-offs.

Didn't want to ran on anyones parade... figure out first if you really want to do it.