Funny NYPD wrote: > The price is a killer. > If my memory wasn't wrong, I am curious how far-east factory can make it > so fast, so cheap but with a decent quality. > > Here is what I have learned from one of my clients in CT: > A custom made mold and sample in own factory at CT USA: time: 7 weeks > after CAD drawing is done. All in-house. Internal cost/quote: US$7K-15K; >>From a Factory in Guangdong China: time: quoted 7 days after CAD drawing >>send out via email, samples were actually delivered in the 5th business >>day to CT USA. cost: >year, 3~5K/2nd year, 30K maximum. Unit price (including shipping) after >>model cost is about 1/10 of in-house made price. And that quantity doesn't >>sounds a lot to me. > > I met the gentleman from New York city, who cooperates my clients and the > factory in China. He visited the factory who made the mold and enclosures. > and I was told all he saw were modern equipment, nice building, > well-trained staff. > > Is outsource the only way to get custom designed enclosure/box done in a > reasonable price? > Can Mexico be a good alternative instead of sending orders out of this > continent? If you can get a quick turnaround at a decent price, who cares whether you buy the enclosures in China or in the US? I believe the way they can achieve quick turnarounds is by building a prototype mold out of aluminum. Its lifetime is limited, but it's much faster to build than a hardened steel mold. Often times for shorter runs they would then go to soft steel, and then finally to hard steel. Vitaliy -- http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist