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Post by Rick in NWArk on Dec 3, 2015 14:45:50 GMT
I have been thinking about an idea for quite a while now and I think I'm about ready to give it a go.
I think there is a need for temporary observatory / dome that could be setup in 20 minutes and taken down even faster.
I know there have been some products out there for a few years and they can be quite expensive.
I think that I could engineer one that is not expensive at all. But I'm not sure what the demand might be; I'm not even sure how to find that out.
So I'm torn between developing it and trying to sell it as a kit... or... just post DYI instructions and let people just go out and make it themselves.
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Post by Dragon Man on Dec 3, 2015 14:57:35 GMT
Make it easy on yourself Rick. Sell the DYI instructions for some nominal fee like $9.00 and hope no-one simply re-posts the instructions elsewhere for others to use for free. $9.00 is affordable to everyone and you get a small bit of pocket money for your efforts. In this way you don't have to make everyones kit but you still get paid for your work. I thought of doing something similar but in a tent fashion, and it was cheap per item for me to get made in China and for the retail price. But the problem was that the Chinese factory's minimum order was 1000
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Post by davy on Dec 3, 2015 19:37:36 GMT
Would a pop up gazebo kind of set up be an option put on a rotatable base. Clear panels for the roof with a detatchable panel for scope to point through. only an idea
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Post by Rick in NWArk on Dec 3, 2015 21:23:55 GMT
Make it easy on yourself Rick. Sell the DYI instructions for some nominal fee like $9.00 and hope no-one simply re-posts the instructions elsewhere for others to use for free. $9.00 is affordable to everyone and you get a small bit of pocket money for your efforts. In this way you don't have to make everyones kit but you still get paid for your work. I thought of doing something similar but in a tent fashion, and it was cheap per item for me to get made in China and for the retail price. But the problem was that the Chinese factory's minimum order was 1000 Thanks, Ken, that is where I was leading. I can always post a copyright on the plans; naturally people can change it and try to resell, but hey. Like you, I am doubtful that this kind of idea would generate 1000 sales.
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Post by Rick in NWArk on Dec 3, 2015 21:25:57 GMT
Would a pop up gazebo kind of set up be an option put on a rotatable base. Clear panels for the roof with a detatchable panel for scope to point through. only an idea A bit more complicated than I have architected, Davy, but I love where you're going. I've come up with a rotating dome design and a removable roof type of design.
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Post by davy on Dec 3, 2015 22:59:10 GMT
just trying to make you a load of money... very workable.. pop up frame for quickness .. way to go lol
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Post by Dragon Man on Dec 4, 2015 1:46:23 GMT
This is the type of thing I was going to do. Fits in a small bag and could be put up in a few minutes. I didn't get to work out how to rotate it because the bottom needs to be pegged down or it could blow away Maybe the dome half could be separate.
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Post by Rick in NWArk on Dec 4, 2015 16:59:22 GMT
Very similar to my design, Ken, I even looked at getting the name Hexadome!
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Post by davy on Dec 4, 2015 18:22:10 GMT
Good stuff guys..ken my thoughts were same as what you have..top clear so you can track the sky and an opening so there is a clear view,no reflections..
Base was a two part idea.. it was a one piece idea for at your back yard round circle of wood that can be leveled and pegged, rotation would be done via skate board trucks and wheels attatched to a top wooden circle with guide rails or edges,, the tent section would then be fitted to poles on base track and held in place by lock pins.
Type 2.. same idea as above but base made into quarter sections and clipped together to make above..like an oval train set track.. this would be better for star camp's ect..easier transported
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