--- Dieter Doepfer < hardware@... > wrote:

> From: "Dieter Doepfer" < hardware@... >
> To: "Bakis Sirros" < synth_freak_2000@... >
> Subject: AW: 1 yes to Blank paneRe: The
> most advancedAttenuator yet
> Date: Tue, 1 Apr 2003 13:11:19 +0200
>
> ----> Please forward to the group
>
> > I don't see why Doepfer shouldn't be able to sell
> pre drilled plates and
> > kits if they wanted to. They have all the
> components and all they have to do
> > is NOT mount them ;) That would be very useful.
>
> There are some remarks to this messages (and similar
> ones):
>
> It is not that easy as suggested in this message to
> offer plates and parts.
> Normally we do only the development in our company.
> The production of the
> modules is made by a external production company.
> This includes manufacturing pc
> boards, front panels, cable assembly and all
> standard electronic parts (like
> resistors, capacitors, diodes, transistors, standard
> integrated circuits, pin
> headers and so on). We only deliver special parts to
> the production company
> (e.g. the jack sockets, potentiometers, knobs and
> special integrated circuits
> like CEM or SSM).
>
> And I have to emphasize that we made some very bad
> experiences with kits (we
> offered kits until about ~ 1998) and selling single
> special parts like front
> panels or cases:
> 1. Many customers overestimated themselves and
> converted "kits to garbage". E.g.
> wrong soldering iron were used so that the pcb
> tracks removed, wrong assembly of
> parts, and many many mistakes we never would have
> imagined (one customer
> soldered all parts without shortening the legs of
> resistors, capacitors, diodes
> and so on - it looked like an "electronic" garden,
> but of course it did not
> work).
>
> But the main problem was another one: We received
> many second-hand devices for
> repair. After checking out the device we found that
> it was a kit built very
> unprofessional. The second-hand customers were
> surprised very unpleasantly as
> they assumed to have purchased a regular Doepfer
> product. When they were told
> that they purchased an unprofessional assembled kit
> many were very angry even
> against and insisted on a repair free of charge.
> They were of the opinion that
> we were guilty for this affair as they were not able
> to distinguish between a
> regular product and an unprofessional assembled kit.
>
> So we will definitely not offer kits or single front
> panels or cases to avoid
> such problems.
>
> But in one of the messages there was another idea
> that I would approve, i.e. to
> develop an universal front panel and pc board for
> DIY applications. The problem
> is the layout of the front panel (e.g. 8HP, 5 rotary
> knobs with 5 jack sockets
> as many of the modules) and the features of the pcb
> I see a lot of new
> discussion ....
> We could offer such a neutral front panel (e.g. only
> scales for rotary knobs, no
> DOEPFER logo) and pc board only for DIY applictions.
> No confusions could occur
> as we will not offer a ready built module based on
> this front panel/pcb.
>
> If there is an agreement in the group concerning the
> front panel and pcb design
> we could offer these parts. The main problem is that
> to get a acceptable price
> we have to order at least 100 (better 250 or 500) of
> these parts. So pre-orders
> of a minimum of about 50 pcs would be necessary for
> us. I think the price for
> the front panel (stamped and printed) and pcb would
> be approximately in the 25
> Euro range. We also could publish the pcb layout
> file (Eagle format) and the
> front panel file (Corel Draw format) so that
> customers could do modifications if
> desired. A basic version of Eagle is available as
> freeware in the internet
> (www.cadsoft.de).
>
> Best wishes
> Dieter Doepfer
>

=====
synthfreak(parallel worlds)
athens-greece
1 group owner-moderator

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