Just purchased a CNC Router. What should I make?

Re: the first request..

Exactly, my manfrotto head has a large QR plate that covers the battery compartment and needs to be unscrewed each time to change the battery wasting time on set.

Even if the QR allowed access to the battery compartment, I would still prefer to have the riser/spacer that I described for you because it is a waste of time to take the camera off the tripod (have to rebalance head, reframe shot, blah blah... it adds up.)

Plus, in a professional world there is no guarantee that I will always be using my QR system, I may need to adapt to whats given me which could be anything. Pro tripods are not designed with DSLRs in mind, they will almost always cover the battery. A riser that stays on my camera ensures I will always have the form factor I want.

Re: the second request...

Stop thinking of this in terms of tripods or cameras or manufacturers. It's simply a tiny adapter to connect or disconnect a screw to a hole, without having to turn screws. You push in or out a small key or tab, and are able to release or lock a 3/8" - 16 or 1/4" - 20 screw mounted device. That's it. It's valuable because its 100x faster to pull a tab or key than it is to pull out a screw driver or a coin or grapple a screw head with your fingers.

Again, stop thinking in terms of tripods. EVERYTHING on a set mounts with 1/4" -20 or 3/8" - 16 threads. That means hot light heads, flashes, microphones, mic pre-amps, converter boxes, portable batteries, monitors, audio recorders, bounce card holders, wireless a/v receivers, superclamps, the list can go on forever...

The ability to mount/dismount these devices from one place to another using a simple tab or pin release versus screwing/unscrewing is valuable because it will save time on set.

For this to sell, it needs to be really high quality -- i.e, the two sides need to mate solidly, so the device is securely mounted and doesn't wobble, shake or fall. The pin needs to be quickly releasable, and not stick. it's a bit trickier than it sounds at first, to actually make this so it's high quality. But if you can make it work, trust me it would sell, to every set. And b/c every device can use it, you'll sell quantity. At least, I would buy hundred of $ worth of it.

Kit Hannah said:
I personally have a Manfrotto tripod with a QR plate for my Canon DSLR that slides off the tripod and allows me to access the battery compartment rapidly without removing the plate. I think it's a 501 or 503 head (I know, not a professional head). Are you thinking something to where you don't even have to take the QR plate off of the tripod? Do you have a larger QR plate that covers the battery compartment?

As far as the "universal" QR plate, are you thinking a QR plate that adapts to your current tripod's QR plate? Because there are so many different flavors of tripods with their own sized plates. I guess a bit of clarification is in order, or maybe I'm missing something?

Aluminum will have to be the material, unless you prefer plastic, because my router won't do steel....
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Some more ideas. No time to sketch them out in detail...

1. DSLR Shoe Mount to "Swiss Cheese" Cube

See the J-Cube
http://www.amazon.com/J-Cube-Camera-Accessory-Cameras-J-Rod/dp/B003GW9B2M

Take the principle of a shoe mounted cube, but make all the sides cheeseplates, covered in 1/4"-20 screw taps. Now you can mount anything anywhere on it. The sides all come off for screwing items in from the "inside" of the cube. Sell your own 1/4"-20 to cold shoe adapters, and a hot shoe mount that can hold the swiss cheese cube with 2 external sync cords coming out of it, so external flashes mounted on the cheeseplates can sync with the hot shoe, and you have a DSLR shooter's best friend.

2. DSLR Front Box -
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/440223-REG/OConnor_MFB100_MFB100_Assistant_s_Front_Box.html

Pro ACs use a camera front box like the one above for keeping their tools organized and accessible near the camera. In today's DSLR world with smaller crews and tighter schedules this kind of organization is more valuable than ever. I just worked on a low budget feature film shot on a 5d mk2- I. I spent cumulative hours walking back and forth from the DP's backpack to him with kimwipes, lens caps, air blowers, etc. Make a compact, lightweight shoe mounted box that perfectly fits an air blower, a small air can, kimwipes, a few SD / CF card cases, spare batteries, a camels hair brush, chamois, lens tape, lens caps, a stubby screwdriver, allen key, etc etc. Sell a 2" snap on belt loop adapter for it so someone can easily carry it off the camera too. I know my DP and I would pay a couple hundred $$$ to have this on our next shoot... and I'm pretty sure we're not the only guys in the world who are shooting this way and who would find this useful...

More ideas to come, just no time right now.
 
Ehhhhhh, camera stuff. I want prop gun stuff. I asked first, lol. 24" is very do-able for what I need.

Max length is 21".

PM me with an email, Kit. I need some 3/8" aluminum cut. I will send the plot, give me a price per piece.
 
BTW, regarding the issue of not being able to access the battery with the tripod plate attached... I no longer have that problem since buying a battery-grip for my T2i. The tray slides out from the side, so I have slide it out and replace the batteries with fresh ones very quickly, without even taking the camera off the tripod. Also, I got a third-party grip which comes with a tray that lets me use AA batteries in a pinch (which I've had to do twice now) and they work great.
 
DigitalBard said:
I wish someone would come up with a cheaper quick release system:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/241139-REG/Manfrotto_577_577_Rapid_Connect_Adapter.html

At $50+ each, they're too expensive when you need several.
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We just came out with a QR unit thats compatible with the 501PL. We just put up a bundled package of three QR bases and 1 QR plate. Breaks down to a little less then 25.00 per QR plate. Initial feedback has been extremely positive.

Steve

http://www.cpmfilmtools.com/Carbon_Handle_p/bndl_qr-1.htm
 
How much did you pay for your router, do you anticipate that it will be expensive to operate? Sounds like a great new tool!

rod system accessories are always so over-priced, you should go ahead and mock up a zacut-style gunstock rig based on schedule-40 aluminum pipe, and then reel and the shocking inexpense of the thing. Once you're recivered, sell if for +1000% !
 
Whatever you make, even if you are just having fun making one-offs, stick to the rules of manufacturing or you will go broke trying to keep dinner on everyone else s plate but yours. You will wake up one day cursing the day you bought it.

It is something like: add your material/labor/consumable totals per product, plus a sliding scale of your R&D, times 10 = final cost to the end user.

If you make a good product, and strive to always go well beyond what most consider "acceptable" performance and quality , price wont matter anyway.

Arguably, Zacuto products are a classic example of this mindset. Overpriced? maybe yes or maybe no. Fact is, no one complains spending a gagillion dollars for a simple monitor arm from them, but they are quick to hop on a dozen forums and tell the world about the thrifty one that let their 1500 dollar HD monitor hit the pavement.

You get what you pay for, and you should get paid for what they get.
 
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Eric Ferguson said:
How much did you pay for your router, do you anticipate that it will be expensive to operate? Sounds like a great new tool!

rod system accessories are always so over-priced, you should go ahead and mock up a zacut-style gunstock rig based on schedule-40 aluminum pipe, and then reel and the shocking inexpense of the thing. Once you're recivered, sell if for +1000% !
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The router itself was about $1600, + control box + computer & software. There was actually a problem with it that I have been trying to get resolved, luckily the guy is close by. But it's going to be a little bit before I can start making much because of a couple reasons...

#1, There is some sort of control box problem that I need to have addressed.
#2, Other Workload with projects
#3, I decided the router was not going to be big enough for what I want to do with it. So when I had the problem, I talked my guy into making me a much larger router (50x100) so I can do the other things I need. 24x24 would be fine for smaller stuff, little projects, but I also have a custom furniture business and it will be more useful to have a larger one. Can still do small stuff on it, but it's going to take a couple more months to manufacture.

These are all great ideas (lord knows I have a million of them myself and even more that people are suggesting), but I will let everyone know when I can officially start making stuff.
 
photonashville said:
Kit,

What happened to the LCDs and website? Did it never take off?
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Well, I had a few prototypes finished, working beautifully. The website sucked (I'm no web designer, that's for sure) and I didn't want to pay thousands of dollars to have a decent one made.

I think the LCDs were going to be revolutionary. But with the specific LCD panel I was using, there was a VERY limited supply of them. Turns out all of the bigger companies came in and stole up my stock, including monitor companies and some big name automotive companies (not sure exactly who though). There were also a lot of little issues like getting the specialty cables I needed, etc. etc. Just didn't work out like I had originally planned and couldn't afford to sink any more time or money into the project if the supply wasn't going to be there to make the money back. Basically boiled down to a smart business decision to NOT pursue it any longer. Looks like a few companies have announced since then they are coming out with a similar product. The SmallHD unilt looks amazing and they have much deeper pockets, more manpower, R&D, more industry pull for the products they want. I'm sure their monitor will do well. I'm the type of guy who has to fufill my promises to people and not have a million people on my back about everything. The first 50 customers would have been VERY satisfied, everyone else pissed that they couldn't get one. Was a nightmare waiting to happen. Thanks for remembering though :)
 
MagicCat said:
Whatever you make, even if you are just having fun making one-offs, stick to the rules of manufacturing or you will go broke trying to keep dinner on everyone else s plate but yours. You will wake up one day cursing the day you bought it.

It is something like: add your material/labor/consumable totals per product, plus a sliding scale of your R&D, times 10 = final cost to the end user.

If you make a good product, and strive to always go well beyond what most consider "acceptable" performance and quality , price wont matter anyway.

Arguably, Zacuto products are a classic example of this mindset. Overpriced? maybe yes or maybe no. Fact is, no one complains spending a gagillion dollars for a simple monitor arm from them, but they are quick to hop on a dozen forums and tell the world about the thrifty one that let their 1500 dollar HD monitor hit the pavement.

You get what you pay for, and you should get paid for what they get.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the sound advice. I understand the manufacturing process and what it costs to make things and what I need to charge to make sure I make a profit and stay in busines. My other business is manufacturing custom furniture and interior accessories and doing upholstery. Although they don't translate exactly, it's still a (cost + overhead+ r&d + time + profit = Price we charge) manufacturing business.

I personally think Zacuto makes some amazing products. But the fact is that they do charge a bit much for certain things. Higher than the competition. But for them (and this is pure speculation), but they probably found the fine balance between supply and demand. Lowering their price further would potentially cause a surge in orders meaning they have to hire more people, expand facilities, etc, where it may not be worth it unless they doubled their business. But the people that are buying their products will most likely buy them anyways, so they got that going for them. But high prices + small staff + decent orders = big profits. Good business strategy if you ask me.

Same thing with Redrock Micro. A bit higher priced than some, but great products that look impressive and work really well.

It's kind of a double edged sword whichever way you go. If you can produce quantity, go cheaper so everyone and their mom can buy 2. If you can't spend a bit more time perfecting the product and charge more, find a good median price that will allow you to keep your staffing costs down and not fall behind on supply. If your way ahead on supply, offer specials on in-stock inventory. Econ 101 yo...
 
I used to have a 3 axis cnc router. If I had been interested in filming at that time I think I might have simply taken the router off of it, fitted my cam to it instead and programmed in a movement to shoot. Mine was a "Shopbot" brand
 
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