Re: New project...PCI based servo control board

[Jon Elson <elson-at-pico-systems.com>]

Craig Edwards wrote:

>Well, sure I hope so...:) 
>
>Honestly, I really can't comment intelligently on "price" at this stage,
>because I'm not even sure that I can afford to offer this as a "product".
>
>I will say that I think it has to priced under $500.... and perhaps much
>lower.  Actually, if anyone has input as to a key target price or
>competitive product I'd much appreciate it.
>
Well, here's some data that you may find unpleasant.  I have had the PPMC on
the market at US $650 for the 4 axis setup with 16 opto-isolated digital 
inputs
and place for 8 SSRs to mount right on the board, so you don't need an 
Opto-22
board, too.  This has 4 16-bit DACs, 4 24-bit encoder counters with index
channel.  For $30 extra, you get differential receivers for the encoder 
inputs.
And, it has all the E-stop logic, with a watchdog timer, built in, too.
This has been on the market for over a year, and I've sold SIX units!  I 
haven't
even managed to use up the run of 10 prototype boards!

I have had the Universal Stepper Controller out for nearly a year (I demoed
it at the last NAMES show) at $200, and Ive sold FIVE!  I'm basically
giving these away at this price, at this volume.  The FPGA on this product
costs $30.  But, it has 4 24-bit encoder counters (with index) and 4 digital
step rate generators with 24-bit rate selection, so you can get step pulse
rates from .625 Hz to 1 MHz or so, with 100 nS timing resolution.
(Essentially same digital I/O as above product, too.)

So, here I have developed these products, no one wants them, and yet you
guys are STILL arguing over what would be the all-time BEST CNC
interface.

All I can tell you, is unless you want to invest several thousand $ a MONTH
into advertising, you won't sell more than 10 of them a year.

Note that I have NO IP charges to amortize, either, other than what I
created for the project.

Jon