[Arm-netbook] microdesktop case, laptop pcb1 and pcb2, etc.

[Luke Kenneth Casson Leighton]

https://www.crowdsupply.com/eoma68/micro-desktop/updates/taiwan-micro-desktop-casework-laptop-pcb1-and-a20

ok so i'm almost ready to send the laptop pcb1 and pcb4 off for
prototyping, this gets about 20% the way towards getting the laptop
done, but also is planned to be the basis of a new housing (an
all-in-one PC) where sharing the exact same main PCB as in the laptop
will cut costs of production of both.

mark (van de borre): about the casework i've sent the DXF files off to
a china prototyping company just so i can get something quickly. i
don't expect them to be perfect first time, and to have do do another
iteration. i'll want to do one last full systems test then the
microdsktop v1.7 including casework can go into production. i haven't
worked out if i have to do 2,000 of the corner pieces as 3D-printed or
to get them injection-molded, at 2,000 pieces it *might* be worth
doing as injection-molding.

btw if anyone would like to see the gerber files for the three latest
pcbs, they're here:

http://hands.com/~lkcl/eoma/laptop_15in/pcb1/laptop_15in_pcb1_cam/
http://hands.com/~lkcl/eoma/laptop_15in/pcb4/laptop_15in_powerboard/
http://hands.com/~lkcl/eoma/microdesktop/eoma68_microdesktop_cam/

l.

---
crowd-funded eco-conscious hardware: https://www.crowdsupply.com/eoma68

_______________________________________________
arm-netbook mailing list arm-***@lists.phcomp.co.uk
http://lists.phcomp.co.uk/mailman/listinfo/arm-netbook
Send large attachments to

[Allan Mwenda]

Just gonna ask here coz I'm too lazy.
How hard would it be to repurpose one of these cheap $200 macbook clone things with intel atoms to take an eoma68 card instead? I can already imagine the rockchip one in it :)

Post by Luke Kenneth Casson Leighton
https://www.crowdsupply.com/eoma68/micro-desktop/updates/taiwan-micro-desktop-casework-laptop-pcb1-and-a20
ok so i'm almost ready to send the laptop pcb1 and pcb4 off for
prototyping, this gets about 20% the way towards getting the laptop
done, but also is planned to be the basis of a new housing (an
all-in-one PC) where sharing the exact same main PCB as in the laptop
will cut costs of production of both.
mark (van de borre): about the casework i've sent the DXF files off to
a china prototyping company just so i can get something quickly. i
don't expect them to be perfect first time, and to have do do another
iteration. i'll want to do one last full systems test then the
microdsktop v1.7 including casework can go into production. i haven't
worked out if i have to do 2,000 of the corner pieces as 3D-printed or
to get them injection-molded, at 2,000 pieces it *might* be worth
doing as injection-molding.
btw if anyone would like to see the gerber files for the three latest
http://hands.com/~lkcl/eoma/laptop_15in/pcb1/laptop_15in_pcb1_cam/
http://hands.com/~lkcl/eoma/laptop_15in/pcb4/laptop_15in_powerboard/
http://hands.com/~lkcl/eoma/microdesktop/eoma68_microdesktop_cam/
l.
---
crowd-funded eco-conscious hardware: https://www.crowdsupply.com/eoma68
_______________________________________________
http://lists.phcomp.co.uk/mailman/listinfo/arm-netbook

[Luke Kenneth Casson Leighton]

Post by Allan Mwenda
Just gonna ask here coz I'm too lazy.

:)

Post by Allan Mwenda
How hard would it be to repurpose one of these cheap $200 macbook clone
things with intel atoms to take an eoma68 card instead? I can already
imagine the rockchip one in it :)

yeah me too. ok, repurposing of existing casework comes up as a
recurring theme, quite a lot: i was one of the people who believed,
back when this project started, that it would be practical and
perfectly reasonable. so i wrote it up as one of the updates, "laptop
comparison". ha, cool, i just encountered this:

https://www.crowdsupply.com/eoma68/micro-desktop/updates/the-opposite-of-the-eoma-68-modular-laptop

i'm redoing that PCB you can see at the end of that one, except it'll
be coloured green.. :)

this was the one:
https://www.crowdsupply.com/eoma68/micro-desktop/updates/laptop-comparisons

and... ah. that's strange... i didn't add the bits about the
impracticalities of sourcing the components.(which are flat-out
impossible in the anticipated quantities). that _was_ the whole
purpose of mentioning the update. duuUuh :)

ok so _somewhere_ i have a critique of the strategy which utilises
pre-existing casework: it's a comprehensive fail, pure and simple.

why?

well, if you get some existing casework, it's likely to be at least 1
to 10 years old. the company that made the connectors - SPECIFICALLY
for that SPECIFIC laptop case as SPECIAL ORDER ITEMS will have a
unique relationship with the designer of the laptop.

conversations between you and that supplier would go something like this:

you: "hello! we want to make a PCB based around a proprietary laptop
case! please give us 100 of your connectors!"

supplier (very puzzled supplier): "hello! glad to hear from you.
are you a representative of the company whom we signed an NDA with
whom we have multi-million-dollar supply contracts?"

you: "errr.... no? i just want 100 of your $0.10 connectors that you
made 10 years ago"

supplier (who is probably trying to be veery diplomatic by now): "10
years ago? you want to give us $10 for some parts where the tooling's
been destroyed over 9 years ago and it would cost us $100k to remake
it, and it's a proprietary (copyrighted) design as part of one of our
unique client contracts??"

... you get the general idea, allan? :)

even if it's a common design, as i've found out already, you need a
*personal* connection - someone who *actually* has worked with that
casework and knows *all* of the components *and* suppliers, has a good
relationship with them, and is prepared to risk that because you're
*guaranteed* to order at least 1k and preferably 10k units...

.all of this should give you the general impression that it is a f***
of a lot of work and risk for almost zero return. it's similar to the
hilarious "how i made a $3 toaster for $1800" ted talk, which is well
worth watching.

https://www.ted.com/talks/thomas_thwaites_how_i_built_a_toaster_from_scratch/transcript?language=en

l.

_______________________________________________
arm-netbook mailing list arm-***@lists.phcomp.co.uk
http://lists.phcomp.co.uk/mailman/listinfo/arm-netbook
Send large attachments to arm-

[Allan Mwenda]

God damn NDAs. And it really is a common design too, chinese companies are basically slapping logos on the same chassis. That is unfortunate, the situation you describe.

On Sun, Apr 16, 2017 at 12:42 PM, Allan Mwenda

Post by Allan Mwenda
Just gonna ask here coz I'm too lazy.

:)

Post by Allan Mwenda
How hard would it be to repurpose one of these cheap $200 macbook

clone

Post by Allan Mwenda
things with intel atoms to take an eoma68 card instead? I can already
imagine the rockchip one in it :)

yeah me too. ok, repurposing of existing casework comes up as a
recurring theme, quite a lot: i was one of the people who believed,
back when this project started, that it would be practical and
perfectly reasonable. so i wrote it up as one of the updates, "laptop
https://www.crowdsupply.com/eoma68/micro-desktop/updates/the-opposite-of-the-eoma-68-modular-laptop
i'm redoing that PCB you can see at the end of that one, except it'll
be coloured green.. :)
https://www.crowdsupply.com/eoma68/micro-desktop/updates/laptop-comparisons
and... ah. that's strange... i didn't add the bits about the
impracticalities of sourcing the components.(which are flat-out
impossible in the anticipated quantities). that _was_ the whole
purpose of mentioning the update. duuUuh :)
ok so _somewhere_ i have a critique of the strategy which utilises
pre-existing casework: it's a comprehensive fail, pure and simple.
why?
well, if you get some existing casework, it's likely to be at least 1
to 10 years old. the company that made the connectors - SPECIFICALLY
for that SPECIFIC laptop case as SPECIAL ORDER ITEMS will have a
unique relationship with the designer of the laptop.
you: "hello! we want to make a PCB based around a proprietary laptop
case! please give us 100 of your connectors!"
supplier (very puzzled supplier): "hello! glad to hear from you.
are you a representative of the company whom we signed an NDA with
whom we have multi-million-dollar supply contracts?"
you: "errr.... no? i just want 100 of your $0.10 connectors that you
made 10 years ago"
supplier (who is probably trying to be veery diplomatic by now): "10
years ago? you want to give us $10 for some parts where the tooling's
been destroyed over 9 years ago and it would cost us $100k to remake
it, and it's a proprietary (copyrighted) design as part of one of our
unique client contracts??"
... you get the general idea, allan? :)
even if it's a common design, as i've found out already, you need a
*personal* connection - someone who *actually* has worked with that
casework and knows *all* of the components *and* suppliers, has a good
relationship with them, and is prepared to risk that because you're
*guaranteed* to order at least 1k and preferably 10k units...
.all of this should give you the general impression that it is a f***
of a lot of work and risk for almost zero return. it's similar to the
hilarious "how i made a $3 toaster for $1800" ted talk, which is well
worth watching.
https://www.ted.com/talks/thomas_thwaites_how_i_built_a_toaster_from_scratch/transcript?language=en
l.
_______________________________________________
http://lists.phcomp.co.uk/mailman/listinfo/arm-netbook

[Luke Kenneth Casson Leighton]

Post by Allan Mwenda
God damn NDAs. And it really is a common design too, chinese companies are
basically slapping logos on the same chassis.

yyep... because the casework molds and PCB design files have made
their way into the "system", where it's easy for that to happen.

the problem is: the moment you want to do something different - such
as put in a 5mm x 54mm slot - that's a complete redesign of the molds.
fees for developing molds are anything from $20k to $250k. there's a
good article on bunniestudios (actually several):

https://www.bunniestudios.com/blog/?p=189
https://www.bunniestudios.com/blog/?p=4146

l.

_______________________________________________
arm-netbook mailing list arm-***@lists.phcomp.co.uk
http://lists.phcomp.co.uk/mailman/listinfo/arm-netbook
Sen