=20
>=20
> Gosh I hate to add more, but here it is...
>=20
> Its EASY to make ONE prototype work. With a little luck, you=20
> MIGHT get two to work. But the proof is whether you can=20
> manufacture 100 without any fallouts.
>=20

Well, I wouldn't say it is easy to make one prototype work.  It depends
upon what you are trying to do.  I agree that making one work and making
something that is "manufacturable" are too different things entirely.

I will say that in my limited experience the very first board is the
hardest because you have to figure out all the things that didn't make
the transition from breadboard to real circuit.  Then you fix those and
make number 2, which has fewer problems.  Then number 3 might only have
one.  And then after that the next 3 are pretty straigtforwad.  That's
the limits of my production runs, though.=20

> We don't consider a design as working until 100 units pass=20
> the production line and into the field without hands being held.
>=20

And that is perfectly sensible for a production product.  At the risk of
being redundant, this is a *research proof of concept*.  If it works for
the duration of a demo, I'm ecstatic.  If the funding agency is
interested, then they will take the device and send it off to someone
else for real "productization," which could conceivably (probably
likely) involve a complete redesign.    I'm a researcher, and don't get
involved in production issues.  I agree they are very important, just
not to what I am trying to do.  And personally, I enjoy making the first
few; after that I am not interested.

I don't know if anyone else here is in a similar role, but it doesn't
sound like there are a whole lot.  I think that my priorities are often
different from what someone who is designing a commercial project.

Alex

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