PointCTRL - Finger Mounted VR Controller

[MilesD]

I fully understand your hesitation to give timeframes, Miles! That is why I asked if it would be more like "a few weeks/months" or more like "a year". I will just keep following this thread and try to busy myself with something else in the remaining time. :thumbup:

 

Thank you for taking the time to reply!

 

Hi iffoif, I see your number is 84, I hope to be there in less than 30 days.

 

 

Thanks for the interest.

 

Miles

[MilesD]

I discovered this thread abt. 10 days ago. After having read it for a minute, I was ready to place an order for the product described.Still not done - I simply got caught by what was happening right under my eyes. A forum assisted product development- WOW what a thing! Maybe a glimpse into the future of very close marketdriven productdev. I had to read every post.

 

MilesD - You have, out of your own head and out of your own pockets, lead this unique project. You - Sir- have earned my complete respect and I am so glad that you have found us on the forum to be a shiny thing, as you yourself and FireCat are shiny fellows.

 

FireCat - Please add me to the release list - This is going to be fun! - I am on Rift(maybe updating to the upcoming HP, but foresee no adapting problems).

 

 

Hi SPIKEN,

Thanks for the kind words, I will feel better about them when those who have been so supportive of this project are satisfied with the function and operation of their own PointCTRL units.

I still cant believe I had a working prototype in a week and a year later of full time work I am just getting to production.

If it were not for the fact that I do not want to let this community down, I would have become bored with this long ago and never bought PointCTRL to this level.

 

Thanks,

 

Miles

Edited April 1, 2019 by MilesD

[FireCat]

I discovered this thread abt. 10 days ago. After having read it for a minute, I was ready to place an order for the product described.Still not done - I simply got caught by what was happening right under my eyes. A forum assisted product development- WOW what a thing! Maybe a glimpse into the future of very close marketdriven productdev. I had to read every post.

 

MilesD - You have, out of your own head and out of your own pockets, lead this unique project. You - Sir- have earned my complete respect and I am so glad that you have found us on the forum to be a shiny thing, as you yourself and FireCat are shiny fellows.

 

FireCat - Please add me to the release list - This is going to be fun! - I am on Rift(maybe updating to the upcoming HP, but foresee no adapting problems).

 

You have been added to the list link below. Miles is the man to earn your praise I haven't done anything to earn it, but thanks all the same.

 

https://forums.eagle.ru/showpost.php?p=3862014&postcount=690

 

Cheers.

 

Hi SPIKEN,

Thanks for the kind words, I will feel better about them when those who have been so supportive of this project are satisfied with the function and operation of their own PointCTRL units.

I still cant believe I had a working prototype in a week and a year later of full time work I am just getting to production.

If it were not for the fact that I do not want to let this community down, I would have become bored with this long ago and never bought PointCTRL to this level.

 

Thanks,

 

Miles

 

I think I can safely speak for everyone on here and say we are glad like a true warrior you stuck with it Miles. The end of the tunnel is in sight.

 

Big thanks from the community.

Edited April 1, 2019 by FireCat
Grammer

[SPIKEN]

FireCat,

 

Thanks for adding me - and you have been working for us all.

 

MilesD - Somewhere down the line, I still think you are quite happy with yourself.

[MilesD]

Tonight's Update: Finished building interim HMS fixtures and test built 5 HMS's on interim fixtures. 100% pass rate.

 

Tomorrows goal: Solder paste and re-flow oven fixtures for FCU PCB's

 

Miles

Edited April 2, 2019 by MilesD

[javelina1]

Tonight's Update: Finished building interim HMS fixtures and test built 5 HMS's on interim fixtures. 100% pass rate.

 

Tomorrows goal: Solder paste and re-flow oven fixtures for FCU PCB's

 

Miles

Woot buddy! :thumbup:

[farmertom]

I think I can safely speak for everyone on here and say we are glad like a true warrior you stuck with it Miles. The end of the tunnel is in sight.

Big thanks from the community.

 

+1 on that!

[59thCasper]

Gotta say Miles its looking great, glad im just over the 100th to get one, spend most my life in vr and testing products, will be great to get my hands on it :)

[Gruman]

Miles, while I'm sure you have made your calculation and have your experience, why did you choose to assemble them manually? With the quanitity you have for a first batch, a assembly in a factory would have been a good choice.

 

Order the PCB in a panel of 50 pcs, paste, place parts and then reflow. Your batch would have been done in 30 min. Not sure about the price per part, but my company probably would have wrote an offer for about 10 $ a piece (Everything included with the exception of the tracking module). Since we are located in Switzerland, that wouldnt make sense, but I'm sure there are plenty of assemblers in the USA.

 

I know its tempting to make the first few prototypes by hand, but that for that quanity it seems like a lot of manual labor which gets boring really quick ;-)

 

Anyway, I wont be in the first release wave, since I just sold my Rift. Will jump on the train again, as soon as I decided on what VR device next :)

 

Best of luck.

Gruman

[MilesD]

Miles, while I'm sure you have made your calculation and have your experience, why did you choose to assemble them manually? With the quanitity you have for a first batch, a assembly in a factory would have been a good choice.

 

Order the PCB in a panel of 50 pcs, paste, place parts and then reflow. Your batch would have been done in 30 min. Not sure about the price per part, but my company probably would have wrote an offer for about 10 $ a piece (Everything included with the exception of the tracking module). Since we are located in Switzerland, that wouldnt make sense, but I'm sure there are plenty of assemblers in the USA.

 

I know its tempting to make the first few prototypes by hand, but that for that quanity it seems like a lot of manual labor which gets boring really quick ;-)

 

Anyway, I wont be in the first release wave, since I just sold my Rift. Will jump on the train again, as soon as I decided on what VR device next :)

 

Best of luck.

Gruman

 

Hi Gruman,

Thank you for your input, I am appreciative of it, especially coming from a professional in this field, which I am not, which is probably a point of frustration for many here.

I don't have much experience in this field, and my "calculation" is the question "Am I enjoying this ?" I am developing this product mostly for the journey, but the interest has exceeded my expectations.

 

To answer your good questions,

 

1) Panelzation Because of the 90 degree solder attachment for the FCUs, I needed a good machined edge for ease of soldering without post processing of the PCB to clean it up.

 

2) Reflow and stencil I am using a 10 board stencil and re-flow oven. I will be modifying a piece of lab equipment for PNP. (this I have experience with) 5 min stencil and re-flow cycle time x 10 PCBs = 120 PCBs per hour = faster than I will ever need.

 

3) Cost vs Time I did look at having PointCTRL manufactured locally, but it started to feel like a business, and I really wanted to set up my own 1 piece flow production line, just because. I am intrigued by making machines to make machines, and this helps prepare me for when Sky-net becomes self-aware.

 

I really don't expect PointCTRL to have very long legs, and new HMD integrated tech will probably replace it soon. I plan to move to other similar products, and having the ability to quickly produce products in-house will be helpful.

 

Thanks again for your comments

 

Miles

Edited April 2, 2019 by MilesD

[MilesD]

Not sure about the price per part, but my company probably would have wrote an offer for about 10 $ a piece (Everything included with the exception of the tracking module). Since we are located in Switzerland, that wouldnt make sense, but I'm sure there are plenty of assemblers in the USA.

 

Wow, your Price is much less than I was quoted at several PCB manufactures in the U.S. I think it is the combination of the SMT and thru hole components on each board that drive up the price. I do have 5 PCBs per unit plus the sensor, which is the most expensive item on PointCTRL, plus all the other stuff. It would have pushed the price point higher than I thought was reasonable for most people. I can justify paying myself a low wage for my time, as long as I am learning and enjoying what I am doing.

 

Thanks again for you comments and insight.

 

Miles

[Gruman]

Awesome little DIY machine you got there :) I like it.

 

Yeah, we can offer good prices, which is the reason we have a pharma company from San José as one of our bigger customers. We do all SMT placement in house in Switzerland. For low cost option we have a workshop doing the THD in eastern europe.

 

For the clean 90° edge, you can request to have a curved out section on the PCB from the manufacturer, but that wont work with most online services.

 

Anyway, if you have any questions regarding the manufacturing, feel free to PM me. Happy to help a fellow simmer with some tipps.

 

Have a good one.

[Deano87]

This part of this forum really is full of a bunch of interesting amazing people. Not including myself in that lol. Really interested as always to see the progress Miles. Can’t wait to get my hands (fingers) on it. :D

[MilesD]

Awesome little DIY machine you got there :) I like it.

Anyway, if you have any questions regarding the manufacturing, feel free to PM me. Happy to help a fellow simmer with some tipps.

Have a good one.

 

Thank you very much, I am sure there will be a few challenges with the SMT PNP machine and I will seek your counsel. This is my first go at SMT stuff, and I really like it so far, much easier than thru hole.

To fill the DCS orders ASAP I am utilizing the Household 6 multifunction device. While it uses little electricity, it does require significant tribute in the form of jewelry to maintain peak operating efficiency.

[Fusedspine33]

.45 mag on the table. Two thumbs up

[Tronorail]

I just learned about this device and I’m eager to buy one. Please add me to the list for purchasing. :)

[farmertom]

I am utilizing the Household 6 multifunction device.

 

Looks like the upgraded version...:thumbup:

[FireCat]

Hey FireCat. Can you add me to the list ? Of the Pointing device?

 

Thanks.

 

 

I just learned about this device and I’m eager to buy one. Please add me to the list for purchasing. :)

 

You have both been added to the list link below.

 

https://forums.eagle.ru/showpost.php?p=3862014&postcount=690

 

Cheers.

Edited April 3, 2019 by FireCat

[Harlikwin]

Thank you very much, I am sure there will be a few challenges with the SMT PNP machine and I will seek your counsel. This is my first go at SMT stuff, and I really like it so far, much easier than thru hole.

To fill the DCS orders ASAP I am utilizing the Household 6 multifunction device. While it uses little electricity, it does require significant tribute in the form of jewelry to maintain peak operating efficiency.

 

And a K-pop boy band poster in the background.

[Tronorail]

Thanks for adding me to the list, but I just realized: there was no mention of mounting for the Dell Visor.

 

Miles, any chance of support for the Dell Visor?

 

EDIT: I realize now you’re nearing release so adding support for another headset may be tough. I have a 3D printer at home, so I may be able to make my own mount, for what it’s worth.

 

EDIT2: My Dell Visor broke so now I’m using a Samsung Odyssey+

Edited April 14, 2019 by Tronorail

[Gruman]

Jewelery as fuel for peak operating efficiency? That doesnt sound like a good business plan :music_whistling:

 

Anyway, Just make sure you observe basic handling precations for Electronic Static Discharge. It could bite you in the arse later on (Warrenty requests). You are handling bare electronic parts, which are a lot more sensitive to ESD than fully assembled PCBA. Get a ESD Mat, get a nice fancy ESD armband (More Jewelery for her :megalol:) and connect that gear to earth.

[hammer97]

FireCat please add me to the buy list.

 

Thanks

[FireCat]

FireCat please add me to the buy list.

 

Thanks

 

You are already on the list 172 use the link below.

 

https://forums.eagle.ru/showpost.php?p=3862014&postcount=690

 

Cheers.

Edited April 3, 2019 by FireCat

[Upchuk]

FireCat, please put me on the list also. thanks!

[FireCat]

FireCat, please put me on the list also. thanks!

 

You have been added to the list link below.

 

https://forums.eagle.ru/showpost.php?p=3862014&postcount=690

 

Cheers.