The first physical prototype OpenRPN enclosure design is in progress, but I've hit an annoying snag. Sourcing samples of deep drawn shells, which are planned for the back of the case design, has proven difficult. It may be a simple matter of actually registering a business to be taken seriously, but some vendors fail to reply and others are sending back some ugly looking quotes. The most recent quote I received for a design that supposedly requires no tooling costs the wholesale price per unit at quantities of 500+ was nearly $20. If need be, I will have the part machined for the prototype.
Does anyone have a good source for such parts?
Most of the work right now is revolving around negotiating with component manufacturers. Realistically, what started as a crazy idea appears to turning into a business. We have definite needs for a hardware designer, potentially a few dedicated programmers, and someone familiar with production logistics. If anyone is interested in getting involved please contact me. I have a strong preference for bringing people into this small group who are truly passionate about making a new breed of high end calculators. Crowd sourcing hardware doesn't seem to be a great approach. The goal is to create a great platform, and build great calculators on to of it.