Hi Vellerman,
Maybe consider these things to improve the K8200 build options (and make some more money :P)
-
Full exclosure addon, a package that coinage extra aluminum frames to make the system a ‘cube’ and 30 extra mount screw’s to mount up plexiglas on the sides with the top glas either perforated or with a ‘hole’ for a FAN for ventilation of the ABS ‘gasses’
-
A webshop for ordering extra parts as backup. Maybe you could explain your RMA policy’s (mainly duration) and what kinda warrenty you are giving on e.g. modules and motors. In my case the controller was DoA, but what happens when a controller dies after a year, do we still get a replacement?
As the controller is the only part that you cannot really get outside of Vellerman, it would be great if you could offer a spare in the shop for us to buy. Same for extra parts for mods (like the above frame). -
Fast replacement option for RMA, Western Digital has this option on their harddisks. You enter your credit card with the RMA and the new disk is shipping directly. If your RMA board does not arrive within 14 days the credit card gets billed (or refund it whatever works for you). This way people doesnt have to wait for 2/3 weeks for a dealer to have the replacement parts to continue using your fine product.
-
Move the documentation to Wiki pages, this isnt a really big change cause the documentation is pretty good (i am a electrical n00b and i still get it to work probebly) however it would allow you guys to give you access to some die-hard K8200-users and add extra documentation to help others.
It also gives us a changelog, if stuff has been redesigned current users might wanna update their printer too. With wiki page changes they can be notified even. -
Move ‘connecting to the printer’ building stuff onto the ‘build’ documentation into a new chaptor. Its VERY strange to find out your done building and never connected the PSU. I thought i skipped something. Plus all these changes in tuning the motors is deffo a building chapter.
-
For easy offline access, provide a ZIP file with all the documentation, files, firmware, etc as a complete bundle including the wanted Orduino, apps, etc. At some point development will stop and its more static (and a CD will be included in the box). Its not that hard to create a ‘daily build’ of the complete stuff.
My ideas so far, i will add as i continue to build the printer and publish the paper on it.