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gerrymoore
CNC expert (well, getting there!)
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Like the idea of the dog with numbers in his mouth..thanks Malvern...and I will see about image copyrights but don't think I'll sell enough to worry anyone.....
Going to powder coaters today for some prices...I'll take a chair with me!!
Going to powder coaters today for some prices...I'll take a chair with me!!
gerrymoore
CNC expert (well, getting there!)
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Gosh...hoping no-one would notice that
The hardest part drawing the silhouettes is 'blending' them into the oval shape...I had to extend the neckline by hand and probably had too much vino!!!
The hardest part drawing the silhouettes is 'blending' them into the oval shape...I had to extend the neckline by hand and probably had too much vino!!!
I hope it's a chair you've made
chunkolini
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I thought of this one years back.
My boy came home from school with a perfect silhouette like you have shown.
My plan was to use my OHP and have people do formal sitting so they can see the process and be a part of it. If you can get insurance they could even watch it being made, that could be a big selling point.
Never got round to it, I am too easily distracted.
Another one I never got round to trying, hard to describe but here goes.
Stand an object up in bright sunlight so it casts a shadow, then draw around the shadow exactly as it comes out and make a metal version of that. I think the skewed perspective could work as wall mounted art.
Boot sales and craft fairs? at a boot sale I would be done for assault within five minutes; I cant stand aggressive hagglers. Craft fairs? you have to pay a fortune to attend them and will be surrounded by mountains of awful generic 'art'.
The selling is in my book the hardest part of this game. Also pricing.
This is my theory.
People are buying something that they like. they have no need it. This makes it a luxury. if they like it enough they will pay for it. If they dont they can get knotted.
I do price in a haggle factor but rarely have to use it. Once the price has been paid that is at least how much it is worth next time.
If you are making arty stuff to sell you need insurance this is the place to go http://www.craftinsurance.co.uk/ I was amazed they cover me to allow people to use my plasma cutter and Mig welder and they dont charge a bomb. They are used to arty farty types and speak plain english.
My boy came home from school with a perfect silhouette like you have shown.
My plan was to use my OHP and have people do formal sitting so they can see the process and be a part of it. If you can get insurance they could even watch it being made, that could be a big selling point.
Never got round to it, I am too easily distracted.
Another one I never got round to trying, hard to describe but here goes.
Stand an object up in bright sunlight so it casts a shadow, then draw around the shadow exactly as it comes out and make a metal version of that. I think the skewed perspective could work as wall mounted art.
Boot sales and craft fairs? at a boot sale I would be done for assault within five minutes; I cant stand aggressive hagglers. Craft fairs? you have to pay a fortune to attend them and will be surrounded by mountains of awful generic 'art'.
The selling is in my book the hardest part of this game. Also pricing.
This is my theory.
People are buying something that they like. they have no need it. This makes it a luxury. if they like it enough they will pay for it. If they dont they can get knotted.
I do price in a haggle factor but rarely have to use it. Once the price has been paid that is at least how much it is worth next time.
If you are making arty stuff to sell you need insurance this is the place to go http://www.craftinsurance.co.uk/ I was amazed they cover me to allow people to use my plasma cutter and Mig welder and they dont charge a bomb. They are used to arty farty types and speak plain english.
gerrymoore
CNC expert (well, getting there!)
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Thanks for the insurance info Chunko and the thoughts on pricing etc. As you say, marketing and pricing is the hardest part...but no use selling too cheap as not worth while.
I'm going to traipse (good scouse word) round some places over the next couple of days to see if any interest...rather sell to a shop than joe public if possible.....
Meanwhile just sold another piece...Dragons Den here I come!!
I'm going to traipse (good scouse word) round some places over the next couple of days to see if any interest...rather sell to a shop than joe public if possible.....
Meanwhile just sold another piece...Dragons Den here I come!!
For my 2p worth,
1) Have you thought of advertising your services on Ebay - it may not be something you want to do longer term, but you should get an idea of what people want which you can then copy (you should also get an idea of the demand)
2) Depending upon the accuracy of your cutting, making jigs for people, some of the standard ones have no margin in, but particuarly for more specialised / custom ones you should be able to charge
3) You could make home CnC machines for people as a sideline!
1) Have you thought of advertising your services on Ebay - it may not be something you want to do longer term, but you should get an idea of what people want which you can then copy (you should also get an idea of the demand)
2) Depending upon the accuracy of your cutting, making jigs for people, some of the standard ones have no margin in, but particuarly for more specialised / custom ones you should be able to charge
3) You could make home CnC machines for people as a sideline!
gerrymoore
CNC expert (well, getting there!)
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Hi TL...Thanks for your input....
Yes, I'm going to try EBAY again...I did try with the silhouettes but it's such a massive place I didn't know where to place them and got no reponse......
Not sure what sort of 'jigs' do you mean here??
I have tried and tried to get interest in small CNC machines without any success
I have a website where I sell parts for people to make their own but, again, nobody seems to be interested...I've even offered one day courses to give people the chance to try a machine and see exactly what's needed to get up and running...guess what...no interest!!
If you get a chance, check out my smoothkam site you might be able to see where I'm going wrong:?
Yes, I'm going to try EBAY again...I did try with the silhouettes but it's such a massive place I didn't know where to place them and got no reponse......
Not sure what sort of 'jigs' do you mean here??
I have tried and tried to get interest in small CNC machines without any success
I have a website where I sell parts for people to make their own but, again, nobody seems to be interested...I've even offered one day courses to give people the chance to try a machine and see exactly what's needed to get up and running...guess what...no interest!!
If you get a chance, check out my smoothkam site you might be able to see where I'm going wrong:?
gordon stephenson
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All nice stuff Gerry.Doing is the easy bit. Thinking is the hard bit!!Like them all,but particularly the beetles,But they need to be on one base that simulates the zebra crossing the original photograph was taken on.. Just my 2p worth.
chunkolini
celebrity artiste
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I'd watch it with the beetles one, nice idea. No great idea.
But their survivors have lawyers and would be after your ass short time.
But their survivors have lawyers and would be after your ass short time.
I would look at posting a few different adverts in ebay, some in the metalwork section and some in the various craft sections.
There are lots of different jogs around e.g. routing various sizes holes or recesses. Standard ones such as worktop jigs are probably a waste of time, but some of the more bespoke ones (and the offer to cut ones out for people) may be worth while making - but the edges would need to be smooth for a router bearing to follow.
What is the full web address of your site?
There are lots of different jogs around e.g. routing various sizes holes or recesses. Standard ones such as worktop jigs are probably a waste of time, but some of the more bespoke ones (and the offer to cut ones out for people) may be worth while making - but the edges would need to be smooth for a router bearing to follow.
What is the full web address of your site?
gerrymoore
CNC expert (well, getting there!)
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At the moment, my site only shows parts for 'home built' cnc machines but I do now intend to add some pages for bespoke metal signs, jigs (thanks), and anything else I can think off that may bring me some work.
Not sure of the rules re websites but if you search google for smoothkam (with the K) you should find it.
Thanks for your input...it's all helping.... and I'm grateful
Not sure of the rules re websites but if you search google for smoothkam (with the K) you should find it.
Thanks for your input...it's all helping.... and I'm grateful
octo0072000
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Hi Gerry
the silhouette arrived OK nice work thanks
just need to finish it off now and paint it when i get time and get it mounted
the silhouette arrived OK nice work thanks
just need to finish it off now and paint it when i get time and get it mounted
http://www.smoothkam.co.uk 
It looks like a useful kit and a CNC machine is an exciting idea. There are three things I would comment on:
1. Do you know how many hits your site gets? I tried various Google searches I could think of that related to building a DIY CNC machine and didn't come across your web address. I didn't look past the first page of results (many people don't) and on that first page were a number of sites that got my attention so I'd be off on those sites and perhaps never try searching further. If you aren't getting the hits, then it doesn't matter how good the stuff is on your web site.
2. I see two kits and then I figured out I need to buy both to build the machine. Fair enough. Then I saw a load of other bits listed. So I need those too but I have no clue how much they cost or where to buy them from (actually, I did find a small reference to a supplier buried in the setup guide). Can't I buy them from you? I realise that what I need to buy depends on the size of table I want but you could perhaps standardise on a few table sizes and offer kits for those. If you are making the kits to order on a 21-day delivery, you have payment in advance and 21 days to buy in the parts from outside so you wouldn't even have to keep them in stock. Even if supplying them at very little over cost just helps you sell your own custom parts.
3. How do I make it work? Perhaps I missed it on a quick visit but I didn't see any links to how to connect it to a PC (I assume it is PC-driven?) nor where to get software to drive it. I know my way around electronics, mechanics is my hobby and software engineering is my day-job but for something like this I would be more interested in the prospect of having an affordable CNC cutter than in the fun of trying to make it work. In years gone by I had the free time to work all this stuff out and then source everything for myself but these days I don't. Some links to information on other web-sites that people would find useful in order to get themselves up and running would be a great help.
Forgive me if the information is there but most people spend less than 30 seconds scanning a web page before deciding whether to linger or move on.
I realise your intended market is probably for people who have already researched all this and are now looking for the parts. If so, perhaps they would prefer to buy from a single supplier if they can find one (see above).
The above is only from my personal perspective and I am probably not your intended prospective customer but I hope it helps.
It looks like a useful kit and a CNC machine is an exciting idea. There are three things I would comment on:
1. Do you know how many hits your site gets? I tried various Google searches I could think of that related to building a DIY CNC machine and didn't come across your web address. I didn't look past the first page of results (many people don't) and on that first page were a number of sites that got my attention so I'd be off on those sites and perhaps never try searching further. If you aren't getting the hits, then it doesn't matter how good the stuff is on your web site.
2. I see two kits and then I figured out I need to buy both to build the machine. Fair enough. Then I saw a load of other bits listed. So I need those too but I have no clue how much they cost or where to buy them from (actually, I did find a small reference to a supplier buried in the setup guide). Can't I buy them from you? I realise that what I need to buy depends on the size of table I want but you could perhaps standardise on a few table sizes and offer kits for those. If you are making the kits to order on a 21-day delivery, you have payment in advance and 21 days to buy in the parts from outside so you wouldn't even have to keep them in stock. Even if supplying them at very little over cost just helps you sell your own custom parts.
3. How do I make it work? Perhaps I missed it on a quick visit but I didn't see any links to how to connect it to a PC (I assume it is PC-driven?) nor where to get software to drive it. I know my way around electronics, mechanics is my hobby and software engineering is my day-job but for something like this I would be more interested in the prospect of having an affordable CNC cutter than in the fun of trying to make it work. In years gone by I had the free time to work all this stuff out and then source everything for myself but these days I don't. Some links to information on other web-sites that people would find useful in order to get themselves up and running would be a great help.
Forgive me if the information is there but most people spend less than 30 seconds scanning a web page before deciding whether to linger or move on.
I realise your intended market is probably for people who have already researched all this and are now looking for the parts. If so, perhaps they would prefer to buy from a single supplier if they can find one (see above).
The above is only from my personal perspective and I am probably not your intended prospective customer but I hope it helps.
gerrymoore
CNC expert (well, getting there!)
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Hi Bill....thanks for taking your valuable time over this. To be honest, I've almost given up trying to sell CNC machines either in kit form or ready built.
I've found that, although there is an interest, people are just not prepared to pay out for either a kit or ready made machine....it's not as cheap as people think, or would like to think it is!
Also, CNC has a very steep learning curve...you've said yourself that you don't have time to work it out and just want to buy one 'that works'...oh it was that simple!! You need to be a fairly good all-rounder in electronics, engineering, software and hardware or pay for someone to teach you....guess what...I tried offering CNC tuition...one taker from the forum...nothing from the website....I've removed it now.
I am now concentrating on using my own machine to make items to sell. I do still sell the odd kit for people but, to be honest, it's hardly worth my while......I spend more (unpaid) time answering questions than making any sort of living.
Sorry to sound so negative, I wish it was a different story.....just going out to slash both my wrists
I've found that, although there is an interest, people are just not prepared to pay out for either a kit or ready made machine....it's not as cheap as people think, or would like to think it is!
Also, CNC has a very steep learning curve...you've said yourself that you don't have time to work it out and just want to buy one 'that works'...oh it was that simple!! You need to be a fairly good all-rounder in electronics, engineering, software and hardware or pay for someone to teach you....guess what...I tried offering CNC tuition...one taker from the forum...nothing from the website....I've removed it now.
I am now concentrating on using my own machine to make items to sell. I do still sell the odd kit for people but, to be honest, it's hardly worth my while......I spend more (unpaid) time answering questions than making any sort of living.
Sorry to sound so negative, I wish it was a different story.....just going out to slash both my wrists
