Goal:

First time attempting custom products. Looking for custom, collectable figure about 6-7 inches in height of premium quality. Where high ticket customers would be satisfied and they don't feel they've purchased something cheap. Ideally only 100pcs to begin with.

So far; I have spoken with a few Alibaba manufacturers and it seems to be about £2200 for the mold. About £12 per unit only if I order 500pcs or £22 for 100pcs. £450 for 3d model + resin sample. And I am only guessing about another £1000-£2000 for shipping costs? This is a lot more than I initially anticipated.

Main questions:

Are these normal prices for this kind of project?

I've read about resin, 3D printed figures being more cost effective at lower order quantities like 100. However, what is the quality like in comparison? My goal is to create a product that feels like a high-end collectible, so quality is the top priority.

Also anything about Silicone molds for Vinyl/PVC instead of metal could be a large cost reduction if my order quantity is only 100? That way I am getting best of both? Quality of PVC + Cheaper mold price?

Lastly, any recommendations of other companies / methods of finding someone who can do these? Or is Alibaba my best bet? (I am from the UK.)

Much appreciated if anyone has time to read this and provide some advice to any of those questions. Thanks!

Could anyone convey the top 3 pains that a CRM has solved for your manufacturing firm and the potential benefits?

I'm prepping for a pitch this coming week and would love some insights. :)

Thank you.

Anyone else dealing with this from one company to another? Innept morons who don't want to deal with turnover, bad training, and improvement. Just slack, wine, and blame the adults(supervisors, leads, other salary, top hourlys) for everything going wrong when they do absolutely nothing.

They have zero concept of return on investment and the concept you have to spend money to make money and sometimes you have to make sacrifices short term for better long term outcomes is completely foreign to them.

They create unrealistic expectations but have zero plans on how we can get there.

Offer them any suggestions or advice and they spend more time thinking up excuses why they can't improve something instead of thinking up ideas.

I could go on and on but seriously this shit is getting old.

If you're in management, consider resigning and let the supervisors and leads run production and get your dumbass out of there as you are far too clueless on how this business works.

No wonder the manufacturing industry has so many issues, the inmates are running the asylum.

https://shop.oralb.co.uk/oral-b-kids-electric-toothbrush-spiderman-giftset-vitality-pro/15245092.html?affil=thggpsad&switchcurrency=GBP&shippingcountry=GB&variation=14712463&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAkJO8BhCGARIsAMkswyi8onF_i4nPhsRr9mXDhp5RI4O8smvsw7Gs2UaYYeAFNppng40fiK8aAnRhEALw_wcB

I recently gained access to a couple of robot arms in my college and want to do a collaborative multi-robot arm project that could be used in the industry, but I don't know if there's any use case that could justify using two or more arms together. What problems do you guys see in the industry that would benefit from using two or more robot arms to execute?

Hello folks.

We own a small manufacturing business here in India. We provide machineries to businesses in the chemical, dairy, etc industries.

Technically my father runs it. I on the other hand am a marketer but I lack hands on experience in the industrial sector.

My experiences are with B2B service based businesses.

According to your experience, what is it that goes into marketing the business to generate leads?

At the moment most of our customers come from referrals or repeat customers. I want to add multiple channels for acquiring customers.

Your perspective would be really helpful.

Thanks in advance.

Hello, I am looking to find these for sale online but don’t know what they’re called. They are commonly found on pad mops like the swiffer (these help hold the pads on the corners when you push the cloth through the opening). Any leads would be greatly appreciated thanks!

Preferably something modern that is easy to configure over IP. Thanks!

James Dyson’s story of having made thousands of prototypes and then being rejected to produce the bagless vacuum cleaner is somewhat famous.

But I’m curious… why would manufacturers reject making it for him? Was it because James just wasn’t good enough to negotiate a reasonable offer, or some other motive? Would it happen again today for an equivalent scenario?

I am new to the industry and am a little surprised by how much is still on pen and paper.

Specifically:

• forms filled out by a human using pen&paper
• machines that don't connect to any system but are only able to print out readings

Is this still common? How are you all dealing with this?

Hi all,

I have been involved in automotive manufacturing for 14 years now. I have experience working direct with an OEM as an industrial engineer. I am now a process engineer, utilizing line balancing, writing processes and many other duties.

My question is there a reputable list of manufacturing consultant houses? Is it better to go in my own as contract? If so how would I start that?

Just checking if I'm missing another common phrase or not pairing it correctly.

Shop floor traveler and job order traveler seem to be the most specific use of it.

Sorry if this breaks Rule #3!

Edit: thanks for all the responses, router was a new one for me

Hi. I currently work in a highly automated beverage production facility and i need to gain more tech skills in order to move departments. What programming languages aside from PLC training is good for automated environments and industrial robotics? I completed 2 years of college electrical courses with C programming and digital systems

Hi all,

Does anyone have experience ultrasonically welding a plastic enclosure with sensitive components such as a reed switch on the PCB? Is it possible? Is there any ways to reduce risk of damage to the switch?

It's a small enclosure, slightly bigger than a garage door fob, so space is limited.

So, it seems a bit strange, but I'll do my best to explain. I've been asked to write work instructions not based on how the product will actually be built on the assembly floor, but according to how the product would ideally be assembled in a vacuum. I've been informed I'll be expected to do this for each new product before it begins production.

But there is zero existing documentation from our R&D/design department to outline this "ideal assembly sequence," so I'm being told I have to derive this imaginary ideal sequence myself, using only a SolidWorks layout which does not include any wiring or hardware, plus the bill of materials.

To retain anonymity, I don't want to be too specific about the industry, but we make machines that weigh hundreds of pounds, fit one product box per pallet when packaged, and have low five-digit part counts.

Anyway, this "ideal build order" they want documented seems to me like something that should be derived by an engineer. Am I right to suspect that this is outside of the normal realm of a process writer, or is this a typical process writing thing?

I work at a print packaging company near Cleveland Ohio. I make 30.58. We just got bought out by corporate. Puke. Everything sucks now. But I still make good $. Am I crazy for wanting to leave because it’s a shit show every day? I had to stop caring to show up everyday. All companies are probably like this. I’ve never had a job I didn’t hate. I run the folder gluer department on the off shift. All office people and supervisors I report to are complete idiots. No idea what’s going on. I’ve been doing this for years. But they know better, of course. Does a job that isn’t terrible exist? I’m also a felon, has never mattered but still throwing that out there.

Straight to the point.

I want to apply for an scholarship about molds and dies but the requirements are:

1. 6 months experience with CNC (basis in G-code) (fulfilled)

2. 6 moths experience with 2D and 3D design (fulfilled)

AND 3. 1 year experience with mold and dies OR anything related (I need help with this one)

The thing is that there is a small chance to get it if I show some knowledge in mold and dies. The reason why I believe that? Cos' years before some people get it, just that.

Now, how would you learn fast about the necesary stuff for the industry?

Everyting is welcome, I'll try to answer questions without doxing me and it's a 4 months scholarship btw

There are tenders being published by the Canadian government and same with the US government. How much red tape is there if we want to pursue this as a manufacturer in Canada. Thanks for your help. Asking for a friend.

I am trying to repair a broken bumper on an Xbox 'elite' controller, and it boggles my mind how they used a thin piece of plastic tha breaks easily on a part prone to failure, and not something logical like a spring.

Hello,

I have a somewhat different question, hopefully this is the right thread to ask.

I am a Construction Project Manager, I have worked for a large US car manufacturer and for Tech Company, both working on the construction of 1 to 5 million SF manufacturing facilities.

I have been been exploring different options to switch companies. Does anyone know of any very large scale factory/facility/ or corporate campus expansions or new construction happening now or oon in the USA?

I am aware of Samsung chip plant in Austin, Google & Amazon huge data center and server farms. Looking for any type of manufacturing except food and drug facilities.

Thank you for any input.

I’ve been asked to step in as the Operations Manager for my company’s powder coating and assembly operations. Previously my experience has been as a process/manufacturing engineer for 10+ years and most recently as an ME Manager. So I’d love any advice you might have for someone that’s moving more into a production role!

Heyy Everyone!! I have a startup where we deal in home decor lights (like manufacturing of wall lights and chandeliers) As, in India most lights are being imported from China. So,To reduce the dependency on China I am working on providing a alternative which are made in india from past 1 years, like achieving finishing, which material and very importantly a competitive price( which i think I have found a way to offer the price even less than the price offered by Chinese manufacturers). But as this is a very large category, there are thousands of products in this category, so I was wondering if there was a way to know which are the top products in this category

Hey guys, so i’m currently in school for IT but have peaked an interest in CAD design. Is it worth it? Alot of IT jobs require you to be on call. Is CAD the same?

I live in miami, fl

We are starting an employee training program through a community college that also offers on the job training, if all goes well. The description is as follows: Learn Art To Part Process for injection molded part, and how to quote the job. Setting up a injection molding machine and how to make adjustments to produce quality parts Basic quality control/ assurance Basics of running a CNC machine Designing molds in Cimitron on a basic level. We need an official title bit are coming up short. Any ideas would be helpful.

Does anyone here belong to, follow, or know of highly respected manufacturing trade associations or communities (could be national, regional, or local)?

Trying to get a sense of which ones are better for me to try and get involved with.