Custom Computer Systems with Ponoko

By chance Ohio based Darin Woods came across an article on Ponoko in Wired magazine.  But that’s the short story.  And the long story?

“ I began by looking for an attractively designed computer case that I could install in my living room.  I thought it might be easy, but soon found that it was a tad more difficult than I had originally anticipated.  After months of searching, I was beginning to grow frustrated by some of the cases that looked too much like computers, and not enough like attractive pieces of electronic equipment.  Naturally, my next move was to have the case custom built, but – oddly enough – this wasn’t how I found Ponoko.  I was working with a company that specialized in building custom cases, searching for materials and other parts, when – by some random act of clicking – I ended up on Wired magazine’s article highlighting Ponoko.”

How did you used to make products before Ponoko?

I didn’t – and honestly wasn’t planning on getting into designing and building my own stuff.  But the process on Ponoko is pretty easy, so I decided to give it a try.

How would you describe your creative process?

Well…my 2D drawing skills are a bit…we’ll go with, sad…since I tend to visualize in 3D.  So, to start, I use Google’s SketchUp program to create the model, then I use a plug-in for SketchUp that exports the faces to a 2D SVG file, then I arrange the faces on the Ponoko template using Inkscape.  I’ve also recently began using a re-usable moldable plastic material called ShapeLock (www.shapelock.com); it’s allowed me to prototype smaller parts and create small scale models of future case designs.

What material/s do you use / have you used and why?

I’m currently using acrylic; it does a decent job of wicking away heat, and it’s the cheapest way to produce the cases I’ve designed.  In addition to Ponoko, I’ve used TAP Plastics (for glues, cleaners, and other supplies – they also sell sheets of acrylic), as well as local hardware stores (for screws, brackets, and other hardware) extensively.
Have you been surprised by anything in the Ponoko process: positives / negatives?

The positive:  It’s surprisingly easy (and fun) to make stuff; everything is in one place, you don’t have to find and coordinate the designers, manufacturers, and suppliers.  It’s not fool-proof, but for those of us who occasionally like to set our brains on auto pilot, it’s fairly easy to get stuff made.  The pricing was also surprising; many manufacturers I looked at needed over $500 just to get started, where I could turn out similar products through Ponoko, at a much lower price.  Manufacturing time is relatively fast; some of the more expensive manufacturers take about 6 – 8 weeks to deliver, whereas (if you have a Designmake Prime account), you get it in about 2 – 3 weeks via Ponoko.  Ponoko’s customer service is also really nice; they do a good job of taking most of the uncertainty out of the manufacturing process, and have provided welcome feedback on designs I’ve submitted.

The negative:  Ponoko currently only has one type of manufacturing process; although, it sounds like you all will be expanding your capabilities in the future, so this is more of an observation than a negative.  Also, I kind of wish there was a system where makers / designers can hire makers in other countries that could construct their products for them (kind of like the design request, but in reverse…I think…maybe a bit more like a club or group…); this could greatly reduce the cost of products to customers outside the designer’s country, as we wouldn’t have to worry about the expensive shipping costs.

Do you have any tips for other users?

1 – Register in the Ponoko forums, and don’t be afraid to ask questions.  Unlike other forums, the community won’t pummel you with stones and beer bottles if you ask too many questions.  It’s also a great way to learn about and discuss design and material information.
2 – Take the time to find a design process that works for you; I tried many combinations before utilizing the system I’ve got now.  Still hasn’t cured my absent-mindedness though.
3 – Get a Designmake Prime account, especially if you’re in the prototyping phase (or want to sell your products).  It’ll save you a good sum of cash, plus you can always cancel it once your flurry of purchases has subsided.  From my experience, having a Designmake Prime account has kept my prototyping (as well as final product) expenses pretty reasonable.

Links
http://www.niridia.com/, http://www.ponoko.com/showroom/TheNiridiaLaboratory

versatile, sustainable, flexible.

Kraftplex is a sheeting material made entirely of sustainably harvested wood fibers, making it 100% biodegradable. German manufacturers Well have developed a production process that “uses nothing but water, pressure and heat; no chemical additives, bleaches or binding agents are needed.”

Kraftplex is also very flexible, allowing for 3D formations through deep drawing. It can be easily laser-cut and treated with a variety of paints, varnishes, waxes, and adhesives.

A single sheet size is 1.40 x 2.44m (aprox 55 x 96″) and is available in thicknesses of .76mm (aprox .03″) and 1.52mm (aprox .06″). Prices range from 128.10€ to 189.00€ for a set of 3 sheets.

Kraftplex is not available in the Ponoko materials catalog; however, Ponoko Prime members can make material requests.

Follow up on the Renegade Craft Fair

Jennifer Putzier aka Isette recently received a Ponoko Makers Grant to present her Ponoko produced works at the Chicago Renegade Craft Fair. Following is her account of the event and what the grant helped her achieve. SALES….

Hello all! Jennifer at Isette here, bringing you a recap of Renegade Chicago. It was, in a word, busy! The weather was beautiful, and people were everywhere! What I had originally applied to the Maker Grant for was help to defray the costs of custom display pieces for the booth. The chandeliers were designed as eyecatchers – something representative of my work, and big and interesting enough to bring people into the booth

The response to these was fantastic – over the next month I will be working out some of the kinks and hope to have it in the shop. I also custom designed necklace stands / easels for the show. I made the design in both whiteboard and MDF (later painted white) and they were a huge hit amongst other jewelers that stopped by the booth.

I think the best part, though, was getting to talk to the people that stopped by. I was surprised at the number of people that knew about Ponoko! I got to pull out the samples to show people the variety of materials…I could see people thinking about the amazing things they could make with them. So hello to all the lovely people I met, and try Ponoko – it’s fun!

Congrats to Jennifer on her success with sales and making some new Ponoko friends.

Anyone else with the entrepreneurial spirit can apply for a Ponoko Makers Grant to help them along the way.

Owner and designer of New Zealand based Pollen, Adam Ellis recently received some high-profile product placement. The Endoplasm Planter was featured prominently in the relaxation lounge for the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series regatta.

Product development firm Locus Research partnered with Coast to design the sailors’ lounge and VIP room for the luxury label. They had this to say about selecting Adam’s planters:

These unique products designed by Adam Ellis bring the outside in with a stylistic take on the role of plants in our environment. We will soon be sporting some of these beauties in the studio.

But you don’t have to be BFFs with Marc Jacobs or own a yacht to have your own hanging gardens. The Endoplasm Planter is available in the Ponoko showroom. And if you’re a designer that wants to elevate and expand the reach of your designs, consider Ponoko Prime.

For those of you who are now selling your designs in your very own Ponoko store, or if you are a potential Ponoko ID designer, there is a great article on the Wired website where they gave Ponoko ID a test run.

What They Wanted
A table with a gutter to catch raining Jenga blocks. We said we’d pay up to $300.

What They Got
A table with a nifty magnetic handle to pop open compartment lids. “You can also use the space to store cards and other games,” designer Simon Beard says. Cost $210 (bargain)

The article had a second component where the interns who were charged with assembling the product gave a quick Q&A session on their experience, from the customers angle. This is especially revealing as it gives us some free user testing of the assembly process for potential customers. It is always easy to assume that the end user will know how to assemble, and even use our designs as we often invest so much time and attention into the design process we know the product backwards and think it is obvious.

So next time you design a product, put yourself in the end users shoes, or better yet, give it to a friend, parent or grand parent to assemble and watch them try and put it together without any verbal instructions or guidance. Once you see what they struggle with you can draw up simple step by step instructions just like Ikea do, with part numbers, fasteners needed and an image of the end product.

This can be done with a series of drawings, or a step by step series of photographs of your grand mother putting it all together.

Also congrats to Flight of Ideas for winning the gig

Just while we take some time to update our system to automatically show Prime members how much they are saving with each order – here’s how to make that calculation for yourself:

If the Prime making cost is $100 (for example), then …

… if you scored the $22/month + $0.73/min Prime launch deal, the making time is 136.99 mins (=$100 / $0.73). This means at the normal $2.00/min rate you would have paid $273.97 (=136.99 x $2.00). So you are saving $173.97 (=$273.97 – $100) or 64%.

… if you scored the $39/month + $1.35/min Prime deal, the making time is 74.07 mins (=$100 / $1.35). This means at the normal $2.00/min rate you would have paid $148.15 (=74.07 x $2.00). So you are saving $48.15 (=$148.15 – $100) or 33%.

Hope this helps.

You can try Prime for FREE for 30-days here.