The keyboard/mouse combo has typically labored effectively to manage our computer systems for the previous couple of a long time. However, for duties like video modifying, CAD, and easily turning the quantity as much as 11, I wished one thing higher. One thing with a knob and specialised buttons — i.e. a customized macropad.
This journey began for me in 2017 with a easy pc quantity knob, which morphed into the JC Professional Macro 2 (JCPM2) crowdfunding venture in 2021. I subsequently offered it as a product on Tindie. Together with the Kickstarter, I’ve offered someplace round 200 of those gadgets. Whereas gross sales have slowed down because the preliminary rush, I just lately needed to assemble two of them, giving me time to mirror on my PCB meeting setup.
So, with out additional ado, right here are some things to think about when fulfilling your PCB-based crowdfunding venture.
Group and subassemblies
When doing a sophisticated meeting, you may need to divide the method into steps. That is essential in the event you’re doing the meeting your self, and much more so in the event you’re utilizing workers or sending out kits. In my case, I purchased plenty of labeled decide bins, and put the smaller elements collectively into pre-packaged baggies.
These luggage will be despatched out to prospects with the bigger PCB, Arduino, and base parts, or simply picked up by me when it is time to journey out to the storage for soldering and meeting. Whereas I am comfortable to ship out unassembled kits, doing issues myself serves as a pleasant spot-check to make sure that the kits are so as. It additionally retains me conversant in the method.
Batch assemblies
After the preliminary kickstarter for this venture, I needed to assemble, and assemble… and assemble JCPM2s. Which acquired tedious. On the identical time, it allowed me to get into an excellent rhythm, with few distractions, arrange with all of the wanted elements and instruments in the correct place. Lengthy story quick, make issues in multiples to save lots of a ton of effort and time.
Examples and documentation
After I just lately put collectively two JCPM2s, I wasn’t fairly positive the place all the pieces went off the highest of my head. Happily, I had a working instance (that I exploit every single day) subsequent to my keyboard. All I needed to do was unplug it and take it to my meeting space.
I even have intensive written documentation out there that I might refer again to, and will even use the above video if wanted. Whereas doubtlessly useful for me, I think about it is much more helpful for many who purchased a to-be-assembled equipment.
Jigs
Jigs are customized instruments that you just carry out a selected activity. Whereas it may possibly take a whole lot of time to develop an excellent jig setup, when carried out proper, and when producing a ample quantity of completed items, this will save a whole lot of effort and time in the long term. Will Smith even had a track about it.
Pictured under is my 3D-printed Professional Micro soldering jig, together with a extra difficult JCPM2 meeting jig within the second slide.
These had been extraordinarily worthwhile as I fulfilled orders. Remember to preserve your jigs, examples, and documentation round till you are sure you are carried out together with your venture. Really, go away the documentation up so long as doable. You by no means know when it will likely be wanted!
In fact, generally you do not have to design customized instruments to enhance your workflow. It’s possible you’ll simply have to purchase them!
Instruments, magnification, and lighting
When assembling a PCB venture, instruments matter. A great soldering iron, snippers, serving to arms, and fume extractor are the obvious issues to have on the prepared. Whereas good instruments could be costly, in the event that they final a very long time and prevent even a tiny little bit of time (time and again and over) they’re effectively price it.
Additionally, make sure you’ve gotten the correct magnification and lighting on your work. I do not usually put on glasses, however I exploit these “cheater lenses” for close-up soldering work. I additionally use this lamp/magnifying glass at my desk, and have been fairly pleased with it, although I do not solder there.
Design for manufacturing, know when to begin over
One annoying factor about my PCB design is that it is pretty straightforward to mistake which facet to place the Microcontroller socket on. Maybe I ought to have put a notice like “no Arduino right here” on one facet of the PCB to make manufacturing simpler. Whereas such a mistake can be corrected, it is rather tedious, and at a worth of some {dollars} per board, it is not typically price it.
So in the event you make a foul sufficient mistake, simply toss the board and begin over. Additionally, acknowledge when to name one thing adequate. How this performs out will depend on the context, however do not drive your self loopy pursuing “defects” that do not truly matter and that nobody else will discover.
Get another person to make it
In case your course of is sufficiently documented and arranged, and your factor will be made in batches, you could possibly get your gadget assembled by a contract producer. Whereas I have never pursued this past surface-mount parts and fundamental viability testing by the board/meeting home, it is one thing to think about.
LEDs soldered on – ought to have carried out extra?
The board/meeting home seemingly might have additionally soldered on my through-hole parts on for a worth. Higher but, if I had designed issues in order that I wanted fewer through-hole soldered parts (e.g. constructed Professional Micro performance into the principle board as a substitute of utilizing a dev board on a socket), that will have been much less work for me… A incontrovertible fact that I used to be reminded of whereas just lately soldering JCPM2s collectively.
Is crowdfunding/promoting PCB merchandise price it?
Between Kickstarter and Tindie, I’ve straight grossed someplace round $20,000 from this venture. Whereas that may sound like some huge cash, the venture has taken a lot of time to develop, fulfill, and keep, and that does not even account for materials prices. Whereas I did make a revenue, I might be scared to know my precise hourly wage.
Alternatively, I like utilizing my macropad, and could not have gotten precisely what I wished with out going by way of the design course of. And that greenback quantity would not account for the number of articles and different content material that I have been capable of produce and receives a commission for based mostly on the expertise and what I’ve realized from it.
Must you design, manufacture, and promote your concept/gadget? Like many issues in engineering and enterprise, it relies upon. Hopefully this text has given you some small perception into what’s concerned. For this venture, between gross sales, content material, studying alternatives, fame features, and easily the truth that I loved doing it, I am glad I took it on.
Lastly, know when to retire a product, or perhaps even go it on to another person. I’ve had JCPM2 elements setup taking over house in my closet for years now. It could be time to take that space again. For different store group concepts, take a look at my PCB Friday: Group for Hackers, Engineers, and Electronics Aficionados submit!
Thanks for studying!
Thanks for studying my biweekly PCB Friday column! I am trying ahead to sharing extra PCB-related data and insights right here, and I hope you may observe alongside for the journey. You too can discover me on YouTube @jeremycook, learn my semi-technical musings at TechAdjacent.io, or electronic mail me at [email protected] if in case you have any feedback or recommendations!
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