43s status

[robberknight]

(04-28-2015 08:20 AM)walter b Wrote:  [*]If said home could be taken from an existing product (like the WP 34S and WP 31S took it from the HP 30B/20B), fulfilling regulatory requirements (like FCC) would be far easier. Else it may be a real challenge (i.e. a problem) since creating it from scratch and getting the paperwork required would be quite expensive.

I don't think taking an existing "shell" of a calculator and modifying it would help with regulatory requirements: the moment you modify any part of the hardware and want to give (not necessarily sell) it to someone else or use it in a business environment, you have to re-do all the tests for compliance. At least that is what EU directives say, don't know about the US, but guess the rules are similar. But during development in a hobbyist environment I wouldn't care much about regulatory requirements. Regulatory requirements should of course be met before someone starts selling them.

From my experience at work, doing the necessary tests for CE and FCC is far cheaper than having the molds for injection molding produced. At least for something with the complexity of a well-made calculator. 3d printing gets better year by year and is very reasonable for prototype units. But getting the same quality as injection molded parts is still a challenge.

So to get this started I'd try 3d printed parts which are designed in a way that they are possible and economical to produce using injection molding.

[MarkHaysHarris777]

(04-28-2015 06:56 PM)robberknight Wrote:  3d printing gets better year by year and is very reasonable for prototype units. But getting the same quality as injection molded parts is still a challenge.

Yes, at the moment. My prediction is that within two years injected molded parts will be a thing of the past completely.
It comes down to plastic(s) materials and resolution. Micro 3D printing is going to be where its @ for everything from model airplane parts to keyboard keys of all types, to hair pins to miniature fasteners etc. Its all about resolution and material; both are improving at exceptional rates. And, like every other technology that has every appeared, it will take 15 years to make it perfect (but that number is coming down every year too).

Pretty soon, and its sooner than you think, there is not going to be anything that we cannot make ourselves in our own side rooms ( this is going to completely change industry and marketing as we have known it ).

Cheers,
marcus

[Paul Dale]

Assuming the firmware developers have time -- Marcus can't devote a year full time to the project like he did for the 34S and I will have trouble justifying too much time in the near to mid term future too


- Pauli

[Paul Dale]

At present, my workplace has an emissions lab capable of scanning to the FCC requirements, or at least it could a few years ago.

Not sure how long I'll have access though, I'm looking for a more reasonably paying job.


- Pauli

[Claudio L.]

(04-30-2015 07:16 AM)Paul Dale Wrote:  Assuming the firmware developers have time -- Marcus can't devote a year full time to the project like he did for the 34S and I will have trouble justifying too much time in the near to mid term future too


- Pauli

Forget about getting a case then, the project has no case, no developers, and it appears some scaled reptiles ate the hardware designers too.
It's really bad news for the project.

[Sukiari]

(04-30-2015 12:51 PM)Claudio L. Wrote:  

(04-30-2015 07:16 AM)Paul Dale Wrote:  Assuming the firmware developers have time -- Marcus can't devote a year full time to the project like he did for the 34S and I will have trouble justifying too much time in the near to mid term future too


- Pauli

Forget about getting a case then, the project has no case, no developers, and it appears some scaled reptiles ate the hardware designers too.
It's really bad news for the project.

How much money would it take to hire everybody involved full time and happily at that, and to purchase all the requisite materials? Take this figure, double or triple it, and put up a Kickstarter. Who knows, it might be the start of a calculator company ready to assume the mantle of the old HP (the *quality* HP, not the printer ink company).

[robberknight]

(04-30-2015 12:51 PM)Claudio L. Wrote:  Forget about getting a case then, the project has no case, no developers, and it appears some scaled reptiles ate the hardware designers too.
It's really bad news for the project.

Not good.

The WP 34s will also only be available as long as HP's stock lasts: The AT91SAM7L128 microcontroller that is used in the HP 20b and 30b is End-of-Life and not available anymore: Atmel SE133406A

[BobVA]

FYI the latest edition of the "Ben Heck Show" is about building a DIY calculator. He prints most of the case and the buttons (both have engraved labels) on an SLA printer.

Ben Heck DIY Calculator

(The keyboard specifics start at about 17 minutes.)

Bob

[sa-penguin]

While I expect the 43 to be expensive, asking me to first buy an SLA printer is a lot.
How much do they cost...?

[Sukiari]

(07-04-2015 05:46 AM)sa-penguin Wrote:  While I expect the 43 to be expensive, asking me to first buy an SLA printer is a lot.
How much do they cost...?

There are many services that will run a custom 3D printing job for you. These days it makes sense to job such a project out unless you anticipate either running your own for-profit 3D printing service, or printing so much stuff that the TCO of the machine and related materials is going to be cheaper.

You could probably get a calculator case printed for less than $30 these days.

[Jake Schwartz]

Speaking of 43S status - Eric, might you have any hint as to where things might be these days with the hardware? Is the "day job" getting in the way?

Thanks,
Jake

[Marcio]

(07-04-2015 05:46 AM)sa-penguin Wrote:  While I expect the 43 to be expensive, asking me to first buy an SLA printer is a lot.
How much do they cost...?

Does anyone have any idea of how they will cost?

Thanks

Marcio

[d b]

(07-06-2015 01:56 PM)Marcio Wrote:  

(07-04-2015 05:46 AM)sa-penguin Wrote:  While I expect the 43 to be expensive, asking me to first buy an SLA printer is a lot.
How much do they cost...?

Does anyone have any idea of how they will cost?

Thanks

Marcio

SLA Printer cost-
-1st generation: an arm and a leg, but the software is completely useless.
-2.01: a leg, but the driver wont work on any computer that you own or can buy.
-Subsequent revisions: One Hand, it works but you need to re-boot & re-install the startup disc every time you make something.
-Final Software Versions: various numbers of fingers, but at last it works
-4 years in the future: $5 at the flea market, but design flaws are showing up as wear or breaking contacts and the resin is now made of unobtainium, only available at collectors prices.

[Marcio]

(07-06-2015 02:47 PM)Den Belillo (Martinez Ca.) Wrote:  

(07-06-2015 01:56 PM)Marcio Wrote:  Does anyone have any idea of how they will cost?

Thanks

Marcio

SLA Printer cost-

I think my not having read a couple pages of this thread might have led you and me both to confuse things, in actuality, I was asking about the 43s, not the printer, sorry!

[Jake Schwartz]

(07-06-2015 06:31 PM)Marcio Wrote:  in actuality, I was asking about the 43s, not the printer, sorry!

At the HHC2014 conference, Eric Smith was still talking about the U.S. $300.-or-so range.

Jake

[jebem]

So, I see a lot of constrains (country specific FCC rules and so on) to have this project running and available worldwide.

Are waiting for the 3d printing costs to go down enough to have a try, or is the project definitely dead?

[John Smitherman]

Can the Prime be reprogrammed like the 30b?

[d b]

Yes. Better because of the much larger memory. But you will need a big pocket to carry it in.

[John Smitherman]

The 43s should follow Thomas Okken's lead with Free 42 - run the software on hardware that others provide.

[Carlos CM (Mexico)]

(08-25-2015 02:06 AM)John Smitherman Wrote:  The 43s should follow Thomas Okken's lead with Free 42 - run the software on hardware that others provide.

1+