I have previously discussed the Product Development Process here and even when I've been through that so many times in my professional life, it is always exciting to start something. It is like a wish list for Santa, except that you are both the kid *and* Santa. After printing a few prototypes and testing them with the FDM, it is time to think about the Development/Prototyping/Manufacturing stages. The product might be doable on a limited scale, but, will it replicate easily? Will the manufacturer understand what you are trying to achieve, what you are trying to avoid? Will the workers?

So it is important to understand that each stage does not necessarily "transports" itself to the next.

I am saying this because I got so caught up in the manufacturing planning that I was just fixated about buying a stainless steel sheet and having it cut with laser or waterjet just for a couple prototypes I'm working on. After calling a few places in and around, I just couldn't get the price lower than $200 USD for a few of these lousy pieces of metal. Two hundred dollars??? Who do you think you have, Chelsea Stainless Steel Clinton???

Ideas started to build up, I started talking to people around the DesignLab, Dan suggested buying metal strips instead, and I suddenly remembered one of the tools that got me through my university days:

Ups, no, not that. My bad.

I meant this:

The wonderful Dremel!

I am telling you: There are a zillion things you can do with one of these. I will cut the strips with the discs, and grind and polish them with different stones. I don;t know why I did not think of this before. You NEED one of these if you make things. There are a lot of cheaper brands if you do not want to spend on these, but Dremel is not that expensive actually. And very reliable.

This next week is going to be about the final models and hopefully we will start taking pictures. Can't wait!