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Hardware: How to design, prototype, and manufacture a physical product.

Proposed Q&A site for there's a large group of people starting hardware startups & projects - look at Kickstarter, Etsy, physical startups, quantified-self, makers, etc. We're all experts in some areas (plastic injection molding), but need help in others (package design).
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43 Example Questions (2 closed)

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up vote 15 down vote
What are some design rules for injection molding plastic enclosures?
added by nickpinkston Jul 25 '12 at 19:23
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<comments removed> Please do not use comments to answer these questions. Comments are here to help improve the questions. This proposal is not part of the Q&A site, and the task at hand is to help define a future site. Thank you. – Robert Cartaino♦ Sep 10 '12 at 0:47
2  
There's little point upvoting this question beyond 10 - if you want to help this proposal get to commitment, vote on another question instead! – berry120 Oct 26 '12 at 15:32
up vote 14 down vote
How do you select a Contract Manufacturer, and is it helpful to have them local to you
added by Dave Aug 12 '12 at 16:36
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<comments removed> Please do not use comments to answer these questions. Comments are here to help improve the questions. This proposal is not part of the Q&A site, and the task at hand is to help define a future site. Thank you. – Robert Cartaino♦ Sep 10 '12 at 0:51
up vote 11 down vote
Which 3D printing process is most appropriate for printing heat resistant plastic?
added by nickpinkston Jul 25 '12 at 19:36
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<comments removed> Please do not use comments to answer these questions. Comments are here to help improve the questions. This proposal is not part of the Q&A site, and the task at hand is to help define a future site. Thank you. – Robert Cartaino♦ Sep 10 '12 at 0:48
up vote 11 down vote
Can recomend some software to desgin for a 3d printer ?
added by woliveirajr Jul 26 '12 at 17:48
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1  
<comments removed> Please do not use comments to answer these questions. Comments are here to help improve the questions. This proposal is not part of the Q&A site, and the task at hand is to help define a future site. Thank you. – Robert Cartaino♦ Sep 10 '12 at 0:51
up vote 11 down vote
What are the advantages of 3D printing over CNC-ing?
added by Gert Jul 28 '12 at 20:24
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<comments removed> Please do not use comments to answer these questions. Comments are here to help improve the questions. This proposal is not part of the Q&A site, and the task at hand is to help define a future site. Thank you. – Robert Cartaino♦ Sep 10 '12 at 0:50
up vote 11 down vote
What's a good intro tutorial to circuit design in Eagle CAD?
added by nickpinkston Jul 28 '12 at 23:11
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<comments removed> Please do not use comments to answer these questions. Comments are here to help improve the questions. This proposal is not part of the Q&A site, and the task at hand is to help define a future site. Thank you. – Robert Cartaino♦ Sep 10 '12 at 0:49
2  
Can this be asked on electronics.stackexchange.com already? – dave Nov 2 '12 at 10:13
up vote 11 down vote
I'm designing a part to be made from carbon fibre. How do I decide which types of weave and how many layers?
added by Rocketmagnet Sep 4 '12 at 20:13
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up vote 11 down vote
I want to outsource production. How do I stop the manufacturer from selling my product as their own, bypassing me? Will patents suffice?
added by SF. Dec 19 '12 at 15:04
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up vote 10 down vote
What's best way to implement "Internet of Things" wireless systems for small, low power distributed sensor-nodes?
added by nickpinkston Jul 25 '12 at 19:39
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up vote 10 down vote
How would you prototype a XXX piece made of titanium ?
added by woliveirajr Jul 26 '12 at 17:47
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up vote 10 down vote
My plastic enclosure has a slight blemish, "weld lines" where the plastic meets during injection. How do I get rid of it?
added by Doughy Jul 28 '12 at 16:22
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<comments removed> Please do not use comments to answer these questions. Comments are here to help improve the questions. This proposal is not part of the Q&A site, and the task at hand is to help define a future site. Thank you. – Robert Cartaino♦ Sep 10 '12 at 0:51
up vote 10 down vote
Routing a single wire on the exterior of my product. The smallest cable tie mount I could find is 1/2" square. Looking for less conspicuous. Ideas?
added by udackds Jul 29 '12 at 2:46
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up vote 10 down vote
How do I attach things to be milled to a small desktop CNC router?
added by Derek Lewis Jul 30 '12 at 17:59
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<comments removed> Please do not use comments to answer these questions. Comments are here to help improve the questions. This proposal is not part of the Q&A site, and the task at hand is to help define a future site. Thank you. – Robert Cartaino♦ Sep 10 '12 at 0:50
up vote 10 down vote
Are there any good guides for molding or casting silicone parts?
added by Gareth White Aug 5 '12 at 23:24
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up vote 10 down vote
What tolerance should I allow on mating injection-moulded plastic parts? The parts are 100mm diameter hemispheres, 1.5mm wall.
added by Rocketmagnet Aug 14 '12 at 17:29
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up vote 10 down vote
How and with what materials can I cheaply and flexibly prototype pipework for thermal or chemical devices?
added by martin Aug 17 '12 at 7:55
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up vote 10 down vote
What easily machinable material has good thermal conductivity, but is also a good electrical insulator?
added by Rocketmagnet Sep 4 '12 at 20:08
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up vote 10 down vote
How can I achieve a chrome / mirror like finish on a plastic part (machined or moulded) ?
added by Rocketmagnet Sep 8 '12 at 10:48
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up vote 10 down vote
What is a Bill of Materials (BOM) and what is the best way to manage it? Is there software available?
added by AlanNYC Dec 18 '12 at 17:24
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up vote 8 down vote
Is there a program to calculate the mechanical pressure of a 3D design?
added by FarhadA Oct 28 '12 at 20:34
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up vote 7 down vote
Inexpensive or free software for making 3D model of multi-material enclosure (injection-molding + glass) for a prototype molding + fabrication shop?
added by Anindo Ghosh Oct 21 '12 at 14:12
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up vote 6 down vote
If I use a Laser to cut something sprayed with Plasti-kote or similar, will it burn or discolor?
added by puppybeard Dec 11 '12 at 15:05
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up vote 5 down vote
Inventory Factoring / Finance: Any crash courses on terms, negotiation, provider selection?
added by nickpinkston Jul 25 '12 at 19:54
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up vote 4 down vote
Clamping systems: vacuum, vise, magnetic - which fits my specific needs best?
added by SF. Dec 19 '12 at 14:48
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up vote 3 down vote
How do you create a technical drawing?
added by sarahm Apr 10 at 18:24
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up vote 3 down vote
Is google sketch a serious solution for hardware prototyping?
added by MDMoore313 May 4 at 11:07
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up vote 2 down vote
Who is a good vendor for short-run prototype assembly? PCB assembly of interest, assembly of complete product also of interest.
added by alizardx Jul 29 '12 at 23:20
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2  
Shopping questions are generally considered off topic on Stackexchanges. – Rocketmagnet Sep 8 '12 at 10:49
2  
What to look for in a vendor on the other hand is on topic and this question could be modified to ask that. – dave Nov 2 '12 at 10:15
up vote 2 down vote
I have CNC machined parts from Delrin. How can I polish them up to a professional shine?
added by Rocketmagnet Aug 14 '12 at 16:55
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up vote 2 down vote
I am looking for the exotic part XYZ, which I cant find, even on the internet. Are there any services, which can help locating this part?
added by ernestopheles Dec 12 '12 at 17:16
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up vote 2 down vote
Is it possible to reuse silk screen fabric when printing serial numbers on my product? (To expose it to a different images/numbers/letters)
added by Annonomus Person May 8 at 0:15
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up vote 1 down vote
How is it possible to calculate the strength of a metal design in 3D an open source Interlockable Compressed Earth Block
added by FarhadA Oct 28 '12 at 20:36
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up vote 1 down vote
Are there any affordable 3D printers for consumers/hobbyists?
added by sarahm Apr 10 at 18:18
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up vote 1 down vote
Are there instructions for building your own 3D printers?
added by sarahm Apr 10 at 18:19
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up vote 1 down vote
Where can I find (preferably open source/creative commons/public domain licensed) technical drawings?
added by sarahm Apr 10 at 18:27
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up vote 1 down vote
How do I tackle supply chain management?
added by MDMoore313 May 4 at 11:04
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I have an idea for a product, however I have limited capital and do not know how to go about getting a 'supply chain', let alone how to manage it. – MDMoore313 May 4 at 11:05
up vote 0 down vote
How to find optimal parameters (speeds, depths) for milling material XXX?
added by SF. Dec 19 '12 at 14:34
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up vote 0 down vote
What tricks can I use to achieve more than plain 2.5D in milling/printing with plain 3-axis devices?
added by SF. Dec 19 '12 at 14:38
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up vote 0 down vote
How to determine if my 3D model is printable in one piece, or needs to be rotated, or assembled from more parts due to "hanging isles"?
added by SF. Dec 19 '12 at 14:46
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up vote 0 down vote
How can I make a high quality product made out of metal without outsourcing to another company?
added by Annonomus Person Apr 8 at 22:26
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up vote 0 down vote
What is a cheap heat proof, rust proof (without any rust spotting) metal for use in a firepit/bbq?
added by Spina May 13 at 20:13
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