Printed test kit organizer

[mpgrant77]

You know, a CNC machine could knock one of those out in about 5 mins if it's made of plastic, find a local Machine shop and see what it would cost to make, the first one would probably cost about $150 (shop time and material) but after that they can make you hundreds for very cheap say around price of material + $10 (if your making 25+)

I was an engineer at a large machine shop for years so if I was estimating this job it would look something like this. The plastic would be more because of the size about $10-$15 per piece at a quantity buy. That would be UHMW, ABS, or Nylon which are low cost machinable plastics. Say about 5 mins machining on a CNC with a multi station fixture at a modest $120 an hour machining rate. Plus mark up. At a quantity of 100 or more it would run about $35 a piece or $70 dollars for the set. I would say that fair market value would put the sellable price in the $25-30 range for a set. Just a guess.

 

[_E_]

I was an engineer at a large machine shop for years so if I was estimating this job it would look something like this. The plastic would be more because of the size about $10-$15 per piece at a quantity buy. That would be UHMW, ABS, or Nylon which are low cost machinable plastics. Say about 5 mins machining on a CNC with a multi station fixture at a modest $120 an hour machining rate. Plus mark up. At a quantity of 100 or more it would run about $35 a piece or $70 dollars for the set. I would say that fair market value would put the sellable price in the $25-30 range for a set. Just a guess.

As a consumer, I would actually expect to pay a price of around $50-70 per set ($25-35 per piece). Of course that still only puts you at the break even point or under. I think one other issue with marketing these is the specificity of kits with the average hobbyist. I know that I, for one, have a couple of different brands of kits and I have changed brands through the years.

 

[mpgrant77]

Lets start with this. If you are interested in having me make you a custom one similar to what I made but tailored more to your kits. I will do them for $25 a section. So $50 for something like I made. I would like to start with two people that would like to do it. Then I can show what I make and see how long it takes and go from there if other people are interested. Please PM me. I will take the first two people that agree to have me make them one. Any takers?

 

[timkatz71]

Lets start with this. If you are interested in having me make you a custom one similar to what I made but tailored more to your kits. I will do them for $25 a section. So $50 for something like I made. I would like to start with two people that would like to do it. Then I can show what I make and see how long it takes and go from there if other people are interested. Please PM me. I will take the first two people that agree to have me make them one. Any takers?

U have pm... [emoji1]

 

[Aqua Man 07]

as soon as i get some of my more expensive equipment bought. ill be wanting one just gotta get the big tank salty first.

 

[MayoBoy]

Very nice! But the woodworker in me sees it with a drawer on the bottom for a refractometer. All done in Pau Lope with a shellac finish...or now that Cuba is opening up, in Cuban Mahogany. I also have those original pieces of teak decking from the USS Missouri...

 

[mpgrant77]

Very nice! But the woodworker in me sees it with a drawer on the bottom for a refractometer. All done in Pau Lope with a shellac finish...or now that Cuba is opening up, in Cuban Mahogany. I also have those original pieces of teak decking from the USS Missouri...

That sounds awesome. I think I would use a little purple heart with some coco bolo though.

 

[MayoBoy]

The thought of all those chemicals gives me PTSD over Brother Droste's chemistry class. I have one of those salt measuring gizmos and change 5 gallons every week and call it good.

 

[mpgrant77]

So I redesigned the printed test kit organizers that I made a while back. I redid them by their packaging groups. I think it works out better as a mix and match set to be more versatile towards what someone is using. Thoughts?


<a href="http://s292.photobucket.com/user/mpgrant77/media/Aquarium/85D8931D-27E0-44CF-BA46-261E78E8AA6C.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm37/mpgrant77/Aquarium/85D8931D-27E0-44CF-BA46-261E78E8AA6C.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 85D8931D-27E0-44CF-BA46-261E78E8AA6C.jpg"/></a>

ammonium/nitrite/nitrate rack
<a href="http://s292.photobucket.com/user/mpgrant77/media/Aquarium/937EBBE5-9F56-4969-8A77-8E8BFD63077F.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm37/mpgrant77/Aquarium/937EBBE5-9F56-4969-8A77-8E8BFD63077F.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 937EBBE5-9F56-4969-8A77-8E8BFD63077F.jpg"/></a>

coral colors test kit rack
<a href="http://s292.photobucket.com/user/mpgrant77/media/Aquarium/385D8E77-5780-4A3C-A015-5DA66FA41363.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm37/mpgrant77/Aquarium/385D8E77-5780-4A3C-A015-5DA66FA41363.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 385D8E77-5780-4A3C-A015-5DA66FA41363.jpg"/></a>

Reef foundation test kit rack
<a href="http://s292.photobucket.com/user/mpgrant77/media/Aquarium/584C8CAF-F670-4080-9785-D8C69C7622AA.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm37/mpgrant77/Aquarium/584C8CAF-F670-4080-9785-D8C69C7622AA.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 584C8CAF-F670-4080-9785-D8C69C7622AA.jpg"/></a>

universal drying rack
<a href="http://s292.photobucket.com/user/mpgrant77/media/Aquarium/F433D56B-A4D7-4F00-B621-A907365E2EE2.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm37/mpgrant77/Aquarium/F433D56B-A4D7-4F00-B621-A907365E2EE2.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo F433D56B-A4D7-4F00-B621-A907365E2EE2.jpg"/></a>

 

[timkatz71]

Awesome! Can't wait to get them!!

 

[_E_]

I think the modular design is pretty cool.

 

[jasonandsarah]

Wonder if putting 3-4 drying post on each side of the colored ones would work? That way you could hold the whole test kit and dry the vials with one rack?

Don't get me wrong I like the set I was just thinking it would be cool to have them all in one as well.
When are you gonna make the Hanna checker version? [emoji6]

 

[sjeff35]

 

[dacullen]

Here comes the problem. 3D printing is great for one off prototyping and really unique artistic shapes. (1 rack every 12 hours) Something like this rack could be produced at a much faster rate by machining for mid level quanities. (1 rack every 12 mins) High production would go to injection molding machines which output would 12/min on up) Just as a comparison.

I have designed/prototyped and revised ( 4x ) a similar product for another hobby. Print time is about 5 hours per and materials cost is under $1. The real issue of trying to make any $ producing and sell it the time factor. I am looking at using the 3D print to create a buck for vacuforming. Vacuform is a proven technology for small production runs of plastic parts and would be at least 10x faster with similar materials cost. Product surface finish is much nicer.

CNC machining has greater material costs as your stock needs to be larger than the product. Probably doable on a hobby level CNC as a Shapeoko or X Carve - So include that 5k or so to your start up costs.

Vacuform fills the gap between the lower production rate for 3D FDM and the high start-up cost for injection molding or CNC - Machine cost in the order of 100's of dollars.

 

[Pife]

Wow....

 

[trinity9]

Paypal for the files

Paypal for the files

Are you interested in selling the files for the rack so I can print my own?

I can Paypal you the funds.

Thanks!
Bill C.
Sacramento
bill@creightons.net

 

[mpgrant77]

Sorry the files are not for sale.

 

[fugitiveALiEN]

Thread revival. Any new updates on your 3d printed Red Sea Kits? I've been looking at other STL files online but you seem to have a good kit.

 

[clevername]

FYI for EVERYONE... there are many sites out there where you can pay to get an item printed.
if the OP posts the raw files, you can send them to shapeways.com to get as many as you want printed.

want to go a step further, learn "tinkercad" (free program) and modify what you want, then print your own.

 

[Tigé21v]

FYI for EVERYONE... there are many sites out there where you can pay to get an item printed.
if the OP posts the raw files, you can send them to shapeways.com to get as many as you want printed.

want to go a step further, learn "tinkercad" (free program) and modify what you want, then print your own.

I'd rather support someone local, when at all possible. :thumbsup: