Yep... this happens periodically, as I do design/prototyping for people=20
once in a while.  I've learned to get a high-level ballpark to the=20
customer right at the start and ask if it's in their budget. If not, I=20
walk.  Quite often they'll use the work "partnering" meaning they expect=20
me to design/develop and sometimes even build for them for free and when=20
they make money I would expectedly get it back.  I don't get into those=20
either.

Cheers,
-Neil.


On 7/27/2015 4:26 PM, Jesse Lackey wrote:
> Your customer is having an entrepreneurial fantasy, be careful.  I drop
> projects like this, or, require a per-hour for doing the research for
> showing that this is not possible.
>
> I would point him to alibaba and have him do the legwork to find (if
> possible) the factory that produces the BTLE controlled (whatever) that
> is similar to what he wants, and have them quote a custom build.
>
> You'll never reach even close to china volume prices based on anything
> non china sourced.
>
> Good luck, and don't spend too much unpaid time on this.  Your role will
> be a EE consultant on a china manufacturing QA adventure.
>
> J
>
> (Designed qty 1000 BTLE non-module, FCC approved, body-worn motion
> tracker for a startup in san francisco 2 years ago)
>
>
> Neil wrote:
>> Hi all,
>>
>> I've been asked to create a small piece of electronics and associated
>> mobile app with which he can turn on/off other devices using bluetooth
>> low-energy.  The switch can be a simple transistor switch for relatively
>> low current (less than 1A), and it's one way only.  For now he wants a
>> low quantity (up to a few thousand), but is expecting to go big with
>> this (hundreds of thousands or more).
>>
>> Designing/developing this is relatively simple, but his target price of
>> $1 in the larger quantities seems very unrealistic.  I've not done
>> anything in such high volumes, so not sure what pricing trend to expect
>> when it gets that high.  So far all I have is this high-level info on
>> the project, and before I get into a detailed conversation with him I'm
>> wondering what a realistic target price should be.  The BLE chips alone
>> are in the $2+ range from Mouser/Digikey, and I can probably get that
>> down a bit in large quantities by going straight to the manufacturer,
>> but I still can't see the chips alone going below $1.  I've also checked
>> Ali* etc to see if I can BLE modules lower cost, but so far nothing.
>> Then I have to add a PCB, switching components, battery (which he
>> expects to be in the budget), and possibly even a small processor if the
>> BLE chip has not direct I/O pins.  FWIW, I'm only aware of TI's CC and
>> Nordic's nrf8001 type chips for this.
>>
>> Anyone who has done high-volume manufacturing care to share some
>> experiences on high-volume pricing.
>>
>> Thanks.
>>

--=20
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