Ask HN: How do I get a physical product manufactured?

Re:Ask HN: How do I get a physical product manufactured? by beagle3 on Wednesday January 12, 2011 @04:45PM (#2097864)

If you're still at the idea stage, you will want to prototype first. If it's small enough, you can print it with a MakerBot (Desktop 3D printer for $1200 or so). Alternatively, you could use ShapeWays (the "fedex/kinkos" of 3D printing). Until you actually have production volumes in the hundreds (perhaps thousands) of units, this will be the cheaper, faster, easier option.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: How do I get a physical product manufactured? by limedaring on Wednesday January 12, 2011 @11:10PM (#2098819)

Is the MakerBot $1200 for the printer, or $1200 to print one thing?

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: How do I get a physical product manufactured? by beagle3 on Thursday January 13, 2011 @06:51AM (#2099533)

The printer. raw material is then 50cents/pound or so, and it basically all goes to use.

It's a kit, not hard to build from what I've seen and heard, but still you have to be willing to spend those few hours tinkering (or find someone else who does).

It takes 20-30 minutes to print a nontrivial object, but it can run continuously for hours, so it's good enough to prototype with and get the first 20 made.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: How do I get a physical product manufactured? by proexploit on Thursday January 13, 2011 @01:32AM (#2099063)

For the printer.

[ Parent | on HN ]