TK_LEPER Posted October 28, 2010 Report Share Posted October 28, 2010 Hello my friends! I'm getting a quote on making a minimum order of 5000 accurately sized T-Tracks (about 10" in length). Requesting they be made of black ABS plastic. I'll let you know if it's feasible. Kind Regards, Jesse Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quebectrooper Posted October 28, 2010 Report Share Posted October 28, 2010 5000 ! i'll take 6 if theyre not more expensive than a rake at home depot ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sonnenschein Posted October 28, 2010 Report Share Posted October 28, 2010 I have a pic of the cross section of an original one somewhere. Let me dig it out Karin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pandatrooper[TK] Posted October 28, 2010 Report Share Posted October 28, 2010 How will these be made? Extruded material? Injection molded? Interested, and count me in for a few sets! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TK bondservnt[501st] Posted October 28, 2010 Report Share Posted October 28, 2010 the rakes are really easy to use, but have that subtle taper... really hard to notice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TK_LEPER Posted October 28, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 28, 2010 (edited) I have a pic of the cross section of an original one somewhere. Let me dig it out Karin Kool, yeah... that would make thing a lot easier for me! Thanks in advance K! Jess How will these be made? Extruded material? Injection molded? Interested, and count me in for a few sets! Extruded, you would have to bend them, etc. the rakes are really easy to use, but have that subtle taper... really hard to notice! I really want them to be accurate, and there is still a great need. FOR THE EMPIRE! Edited October 28, 2010 by TK 4702 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TK_LEPER Posted October 28, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 28, 2010 (edited) oops! Edited October 28, 2010 by TK 4702 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TK bondservnt[501st] Posted October 28, 2010 Report Share Posted October 28, 2010 are you going to use the Gino profile? or the sabrefreak profile? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TK_LEPER Posted October 28, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 28, 2010 (edited) are you going to use the Gino profile? or the sabrefreak profile? Neither, I would consider that to be cheating, or even worse. I just wouldn't feel good about myself, you know? I'll do them from scratch, like I do with all my TK parts. Going off of photo references, size comparisons, etc. J Edited October 28, 2010 by TK 4702 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TK bondservnt[501st] Posted October 28, 2010 Report Share Posted October 28, 2010 well, you know the gino track has a curved base to follow the original "found" profile and the sabrefreak is just also a "found" item, so it could not be considered 'recast' but it would be considered prop replication, which is fine in the prop community. I was wondering how much research you had in mind to cover the concept. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pandatrooper[TK] Posted October 28, 2010 Report Share Posted October 28, 2010 Neither, I would consider that to be cheating, or even worse. I just wouldn't feel good about myself, you know? I'll do them from scratch, like I do with all my TK parts. Going off of photo references, size comparisons, etc. J Couldn't agree more. Great idea. One thing that popped into my head: why not create a 3D file of it (even in Illustrator, just use bezier curves). This could be converted to a profile view in CAD and that could be used to make the die for extrusion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TK_LEPER Posted October 29, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 29, 2010 I'll upload an illustrated cross section, and see what you think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sonnenschein Posted October 30, 2010 Report Share Posted October 30, 2010 Maybe this helps: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TK_LEPER Posted November 2, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 2, 2010 Well, I'm going to see if I can find a company that will make less than 5000 pieces. Because, that would be more than 800 sets (6X) of T-Tracks! Frankly, I would be surprised if I could even sell more than a couple hundred sets. What do you guys think? Jess Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich330[TK] Posted November 2, 2010 Report Share Posted November 2, 2010 (edited) I think you are right about the figures. I also think it's going to be difficult finding a company which will make smaller quantities of a product which they in essence will have to custom-build from scratch. The initial outlay (development, new tools etc.) has to be rewarded by a big production order otherwise it may turn out to be prohibitively expensive. Don't be discouraged - leave no stone unturned etc. - but it might turn out be easier trying to source an existing item which fits the bill. Or even building somethign from scratch yourself? You're good with your hands and very creative, Jess, I bet you could build something out of scraps of ABS, or even make a mould and form parts. What about talking to Steve (TANGO'D FETT: http://forum.whitearmor.net/index.php?showuser=1939) about developing some resin parts. He's even casting the ESB greeblies in a rubbery material now. Edited November 2, 2010 by Rick330 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TK_LEPER Posted November 4, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 4, 2010 (edited) I think you are right about the figures. I also think it's going to be difficult finding a company which will make smaller quantities of a product which they in essence will have to custom-build from scratch. The initial outlay (development, new tools etc.) has to be rewarded by a big production order otherwise it may turn out to be prohibitively expensive. Don't be discouraged - leave no stone unturned etc. - but it might turn out be easier trying to source an existing item which fits the bill. Or even building somethign from scratch yourself? You're good with your hands and very creative, Jess, I bet you could build something out of scraps of ABS, or even make a mould and form parts. What about talking to Steve (TANGO'D FETT: http://forum.whitearmor.net/index.php?showuser=1939) about developing some resin parts. He's even casting the ESB greeblies in a rubbery material now. I could cast them myself... but I'll keep on looking for other options. The 1st quote: Jesse, The $750 is for the tooling to produce the part as well as development time from the engineering department. The cost per foot is $.373 with a minimum order of 5,000 feet for a minimum order total of $1865.00. Make sense? -End Edited November 4, 2010 by TK 4702 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amish Trooper Posted November 4, 2010 Report Share Posted November 4, 2010 Has anyone found a cheap brand of windshield wiper blades that match the profile. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sonnenschein Posted November 4, 2010 Report Share Posted November 4, 2010 whoa... that's a lot of money... but lot's of t-track aswell. But lots of TK, TD and saber people would need accurate, and cheaper tracks. Gino's might be the most accurate, but also the priciest one.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GINO Posted November 4, 2010 Report Share Posted November 4, 2010 (edited) The 1st quote: Jesse, The $750 is for the tooling to produce the part as well as development time from the engineering department. The cost per foot is $.373 with a minimum order of 5,000 feet for a minimum order total of $1865.00. Make sense? -End This is exactly the situation that I ran into when I had mine custom made. It is also why I have to charge so much in an effort to try and make my as much of my money back as possible (which I still haven't). It's a bad financial deal for the person fronting the money (ie me) because it's doubtful that I'll ever be able to recoup from t-track sales. I had to have it made and bite the financial bullet because I wanted to see it made correctly once and for all. In other words, I did it a what will most likely end up being a loss rather than turn any profit whatsoever. I did have it made and it turned out awesome and incredibly accurate. I still have some left, but unfortunately, it's on the pricey side. No sense re-inventing the wheel when it is already available. Unfortunately, the cost of accuracy can suck the fun out of things (and our wallets). . Edited November 4, 2010 by GINO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dmian Posted November 4, 2010 Report Share Posted November 4, 2010 Gino, have you offered your T-tracks here for the FISD members? Cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GINO Posted November 4, 2010 Report Share Posted November 4, 2010 (edited) Gino, have you offered your T-tracks here for the FISD members? Cheers. Hey Dmaian. I'd be glad to offer it here as well. I'll put a thread up in the ongoing sale section if that will be helpful. . Edited November 4, 2010 by GINO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dmian Posted November 4, 2010 Report Share Posted November 4, 2010 Yes, please! Thanks! I think not all of us are regular rpf visitors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GINO Posted November 4, 2010 Report Share Posted November 4, 2010 Here you go as requested. http://forum.whitearmor.net/index.php?showtopic=13295 . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john danter Posted November 5, 2010 Report Share Posted November 5, 2010 Shop around dude I almost did this myself and got put off by the limited length until I found a company here in the uk who I'd pay just to make the extrusion mould first The actual track would then be pennies /m I just never got around to it but if you look around and find someone to do both you'll be fine GINO, maybe you should have done what this guy is doing. A bit of homework on demand va expected costs first Mine didn't come to anywhere near yours guys. Shop around please Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vicsouders Posted November 5, 2010 Report Share Posted November 5, 2010 I could cast them myself... but I'll keep on looking for other options. The 1st quote: Jesse, The $750 is for the tooling to produce the part as well as development time from the engineering department. The cost per foot is $.373 with a minimum order of 5,000 feet for a minimum order total of $1865.00. Make sense? -End Honestly, that isn't near what I thought it would cost. I don't think it's that bad at all! Look at it this way, you said there would be 800 sets; 1865/800= 2.33125 per set to just cover cost. Now, you think you might only sell a few hundred sets...ok. 1865/200=9.325 per set to make up for cost. Anything else would be gravy. 33 years later and people still are joining the forum (take THAT Avatar!) to live out the Star Wars fantasy. I don't think the need for t-tracks is going to go away anytime soon. Just my two cents (Oh...and I'll take two sets). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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