[Elecraft] K2 100 Tuner question

[Edward R Cole]

Have to agree, in principle, with Don.

Many of you may never had done a small volume production.  I have.
I cannot afford to purchase CNC tooling, metal brakes, etc. for a 
project of twelve copies.  Vendors are all out of state with added 
shipping costs.

So I chose a good quality commercial chassis from Hammond and built 
an aluminum jig to hold it in a vise for drilling.  Square holes 
required hand filing.  Stick-on labeling.  I used a pcb made by a 
reputable small production house (W6PQL).  Those that bought the 80w 
2m amp got a pretty good product but no confusion that it was hand 
made.  Costs were hard to get competitive with commercial amp mfrs 
but I think the reliability might have been better.

You would have to survey my customers who all read this list and most 
have Elecraft radios that were used with the amp (majority had the KX3-2M).

I had an opportunity to buy out a popular line of transverters and 
recently a popular preamp maker.  Cost/labor time were decisive 
against them (mostly at my age).  Had a hard time convincing my self 
that working for under $10/hour was a good deal.  Each amp took about 
18 hours each  and my net was under $100.  So I considered it 
learning experience and labor of "love".

In manufacturing there is a concept called "economy of scale" which 
Wayne and Eric are probably very conversant.

73, Ed - KL7UW
   http://www.kl7uw.com
Dubus-NA Business mail:
   dubususa at gmail.com