My custom toggle switches: Project for base model

[DarkHorse]

I just got goosebumps...this is going to happen!!!

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[zackmd1]

I just got goosebumps...this is going to happen!!!

Haha!!

This order is for the first article (first production part). Once it arrives I will evaluate it and make sure it works in the car itself. Once verified I will finalized the other two toggles and then post them on shapeways! I will be sure to give everyone here the information once they go live!

 

[mustangtaxman]

Sounds awesome man
Great job on this !!!!!!


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[zackmd1]

Sounds awesome man
Great job on this !!!!!!


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Thanks! I hope shapeway's quality and reliability are good! From all that I have seen thus far it should be!

 

[RobbieFrazier]

First COTUS, now this. :lol:

 

[pinero61]

Just spent 15 minutes or so perusing their products. I don't think you could have chosen a better vendor. Their work looks amazing.

 

[zackmd1]

Just spent 15 minutes or so perusing their products. I don't think you could have chosen a better vendor. Their work looks amazing.

Credit goes to derieuz for suggesting the company to me in a PM!

 

[zackmd1]

First COTUS, now this. :lol:

Ha! It does look like COTUS doesn't it!

 

[FireHive]

Here is an idea Zack.

Assuming shapeways can print in different materials (even actual aluminum, it seems)
Wouldn´t it be nice if you gave us the choice of choosing whether we want it in the metallic nylon or actual aluminum (at a higher cost, obviously)? SInce the dimensions are the same, there wouldn´t really be the need to redesign anything.

Would the production cost and overall extra cost outweigh the profit?

 

[derieuz]

Glad to see you used shapeways!

 

[zackmd1]

Here is an idea Zack.

Assuming shapeways can print in different materials (even actual aluminum, it seems)
Wouldn´t it be nice if you gave us the choice of choosing whether we want it in the metallic nylon or actual aluminum (at a higher cost, obviously)? SInce the dimensions are the same, there wouldn´t really be the need to redesign anything.

Would the production cost and overall extra cost outweigh the profit?

I do plan on giving multiple options for materials. At first I am thinking of offering the full color range of their strong and flexible plastic as well as their metallic plastic. Once I can verify that their metal options work (stainless steel and aluminum) and modify the design to allow for a heavier material (if needed) then I will open up those options as well. It is important to note though that their aluminum printing process is still in beta so it might be some time before this can become a widely available option. Another thing to note is that metal toggle's cost would go up significantly over its plastic counterpart but not outside the realm of feasibility I don't think.

With all of that said, yes I do plan on offering other material choices once I get the plastic material moving along.

 

[FireHive]

Good stuff. The only concern i had was that the cost would have gone up, assuming they charged you on the basis of how many different material you wished to offer. Since they won´t i guess it´s to your advantage to offer more options and profit more

 

[zackmd1]

Good stuff. The only concern i had was that the cost would have gone up, assuming they charged you on the basis of how many different material you wished to offer. Since they won´t i guess it´s to your advantage to offer more options and profit more

Yep! Their site is almost to good to be true... I have been researching it for days trying to figure out any catches or issues. So far I have not found any serious ones and lets hope it stays that way.

I can offer any material I want at no extra cost to me as long as the part can be successfully printed in that material. The current toggle revision passes the requirements for most of the materials listed on their site! Stainless steel might require a slight change in the design and some assembly on the customer side. With their steel printing you cannot easily print moving parts together which means the toggle and base would need to be separate in order to preserve functionality. This of course would require the customer to assemble the two after receiving. I am thinking it will be as simple as putting a pin through both parts but it of course is not as simplistic as printing the parts together.

The aluminum process looks much more promising and moving parts can be printed together. As I stated before though, this process is still in beta which means production parts cannot be printed with the process yet. Hopefully soon Aluminum will come out of beta and I can begin offering it as a material option.

 

[FireHive]

It does indeed sound quite perfect for a designer that wants to sell. I would love to have the aluminum switches. That said, i would favor something that feels "tight" and OEM over something that looks very good but has a couple of fitment issues ( as you said, due to some minor design changes).

I´m still incredibly exited about this project, regardless of what material ill end up buying

 

[zackmd1]

It does indeed sound quite perfect for a designer that wants to sell. I would love to have the aluminum switches. That said, i would favor something that feels "tight" and OEM over something that looks very good but has a couple of fitment issues ( as you said, due to some minor design changes).

I´m still incredibly exited about this project, regardless of what material ill end up buying

I am doing my best to get that OEM feeling! The toggle I have just ordered will be the first real test of that do to it being very high resolution and production ready. My personal 3D printer is good for the big picture but not so much for the tiny details.

The only issue I have found with shapeways thus far is how they organize their marketplace or lack of organization. You have general tabs but things are not as organized and broken down as I would like. With that said, as long as customers have the shop name my parts will be very easy to find!

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