Subnostr

Hi, nostr:nprofile1qythwumn8ghj7un9d3shjtnwdaehgu3wvfskuep0qyg8wumn8ghj7mn0wd68ytnddakj7qgwwaehxw309ahx7uewd3hkctcqyq93rrjq6meal2a30us6jjnywuqlzsxckp36n6z0umjgxezwmsyukd6t6fq , Happy Easter Sunday, and Thanks for asking.😁🫂😇

I hope you don't mind, but you may be in for a bit of a story...😜😆 A decade ago, I was developing what has become our flagship product; the SILVERengines *proton*.

https://SILVERengines.com

My original design concept was to machine some HDPE (High Density PolyEthylene) plastic in two pieces that could be screwed together with half a dozen machine screws and nuts. I made a prototype, and showed it to a couple of machine shops, asking for bids.

Well, the best bid I got was $15 per unit in a minimum quantity of 1,000 pieces, and I would have to supply the HDPE. That was out of the question for a tiny, self-funded agorist startup! But it also told me that I had some capital to allocate for production machinery, and at that point, I began researching 3D printers. This turned out to be revolutionary for my thinking; I started thinking like an FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) 3D printer instead of an industrial milling machine, and that greatly improved the design of our product.

https://silverengines.com/specs/

The case is smaller, uses only two machine screw/nut pairs, is much more refined, and costs us a fraction of the $15 plus material original quote.

After much research, I chose the MakerGear M2 printer because of its industrial grade, rock-solid design and structure.

https://makergear.com/products/m2

It cost me about $3,000 delivered--20% of the original quote for parts alone--and it served me very well. As sales expanded, bought a second M2 to have some redundancy and to increase production.

MakerGear's story is a real "American Dream" story:

https://makergear.com/blogs/stories/makergears-founders-story

The printer we now have is an M3-ID, which is as solid as the original M2s but has a number of features (bed leveling, coated heated platform) that make it even better.

https://makergear.com/products/m3-id

MakerGear was fairly early in the 3D printer game, and their products are outstanding, but not cheap. Their story has currently taken a sad turn as a result of the ongoing destruction of the American nation-state:

https://makergear.com/pages/the-future-of-makergear

Well, if you're still reading, Pam, Thank You.🥰 I really appreciate your interest.🫂💜

pam 1y ago

thanks for sharing this beautiful startup journey of yours and the makergear's initiatives. I wish I was as as smart and explorative as you when I started, only recently the 3D printers have become more affordable for everybody to use here.

I remember reading about them as i was reading on maker spaces and fabrication labs. Its pretty wonderful how an open-source community comes together to help out. I think makergear have to find a way to differentiate themselves to expand their market. I am reading this book call Grow the Pie and it paints diff perspective of growing a business.

I remember your website from last year, and I hope the business is doing well!

Reply to this note

Please Login to reply.

Discussion

Duncan Cary Palmer 1y ago

Thanks for your very kind words and thoughts, and the book mention.🙏🏻🫂

3D printing makes you have to think vertically and in inside-out, negative space ways.😜😆