Jump to content

Recognizing and celebrating a win

spectre6000
 Share

Recommended Posts

spectre6000 Distinguished Member

spectre6000

Posted
Posted

My career has spanned several startups and nearly as many industries and areas of expertise. Previous business ventures have had varying degrees of success and failure, and more often than not failure boils down to one or more partners dropping a ball in a big way. Similarly, I've had to answer to investors and big money types, and while it's nice to have the funds, I'd prefer to not have to answer to them either if I can avoid it (also, I get to keep all the money I make, so that's better too).

For the past two and a half years, I've been working on a new technology that is lightyears ahead of everything else on the market. At the most simplified level, it beats the best competition by a factor of 20, and that ignores the vast majority what makes my tech superior. On top of that, the prototype cost is on par with or less than the off the shelf cost of the status quo, AND it's tiny in comparison in an application where size matters (less than 1% by volume, rough guess). When I initially had the idea, I was talking to the CFO of a major equipment supplier in the industry, and he told me on the spot that if I could solve the problem they were interested; I've done that, and so much more. I've still got a long way to go, but I just pushed the last commit before I'm ready to move to beta. I'm sure I'll find all manner of shortcomings between my simulations and real life, but that's to be expected.

Next is installation and beta. Then do the patent dance. Then extended beta (find some willing testers). Then I call up that CFO, and we have a chat. If he falls through, there are many more that would happily take his place. It's not a huge market, but with a shop of one, it doesn't take much to make a meaningful dent.

For now, I just scored a major win. At least in this project, and possibly in life if it goes in the right direction longer term. Normally, today would be a day that the team would call it early, crack some beers, order pizza, and have a big celebration of some sort. There's a pandemic, and I'm a shop of one, and the baby is asleep, and my wife is in a Zoom meeting, so... I cracked a beer and I'm sharing my success with you all. Cheers!

  • Like 4
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
LittleWatchShop Distinguished Member

LittleWatchShop

Posted
Posted
3 hours ago, spectre6000 said:

My career has spanned several startups and nearly as many industries and areas of expertise. Previous business ventures have had varying degrees of success and failure, and more often than not failure boils down to one or more partners dropping a ball in a big way. Similarly, I've had to answer to investors and big money types, and while it's nice to have the funds, I'd prefer to not have to answer to them either if I can avoid it (also, I get to keep all the money I make, so that's better too).

For the past two and a half years, I've been working on a new technology that is lightyears ahead of everything else on the market. At the most simplified level, it beats the best competition by a factor of 20, and that ignores the vast majority what makes my tech superior. On top of that, the prototype cost is on par with or less than the off the shelf cost of the status quo, AND it's tiny in comparison in an application where size matters (less than 1% by volume, rough guess). When I initially had the idea, I was talking to the CFO of a major equipment supplier in the industry, and he told me on the spot that if I could solve the problem they were interested; I've done that, and so much more. I've still got a long way to go, but I just pushed the last commit before I'm ready to move to beta. I'm sure I'll find all manner of shortcomings between my simulations and real life, but that's to be expected.

Next is installation and beta. Then do the patent dance. Then extended beta (find some willing testers). Then I call up that CFO, and we have a chat. If he falls through, there are many more that would happily take his place. It's not a huge market, but with a shop of one, it doesn't take much to make a meaningful dent.

For now, I just scored a major win. At least in this project, and possibly in life if it goes in the right direction longer term. Normally, today would be a day that the team would call it early, crack some beers, order pizza, and have a big celebration of some sort. There's a pandemic, and I'm a shop of one, and the baby is asleep, and my wife is in a Zoom meeting, so... I cracked a beer and I'm sharing my success with you all. Cheers!

I have felt your pain and your joy.  I started two companies (semiconductor companies).  The second one paid off royally and I was able to take control of my life (kinda retire...consulting...canoeing...watchmaking) years ago.  It is a real pain to have to suck up to the vulture capitalists but at the end of the day, it worked out for me.  GOOD LUCK!!!!  BTW...when I am not on my tractor or at the watch bench (or playing my guitar), I am a patent consultant (expert witness...etc.)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
 Share
Go to topic listing


  • Recently Browsing

    • No registered users viewing this page.

  • Topics

  • Posts

    • Hawaiikook808
      Balance spring fell out of regulator pin.

      By Hawaiikook808 · Posted

      Thank you so much, Hector and CJ. I appreciate the tech sheet and the video. Gasp, I think I will make the attempt. What's the worst that can happen? I think there may be a new balance complete in my future, though.  I'll update the post and let you know the result. R, Frank  
    • Waggy
      Movement holder made with 3D printer

      By Waggy · Posted

      So here is the new base (v 2.1), I made it so that the base will fit over and swallow the stump of the hand pusher tool (or at least my clone of the tool), I also reduced the OD of the bottom skirt a little as it looked/felt a little large, here are a few pictures and the fake .pdf file which you need to convert to .zip once downloaded.   The cut-out seen on the below image on the bottom of the base should swallow the OD (40 mm, +0.1 mm tolerance) of the stump and the height of the stump 9.5mm (measured to 9.1mm, but rounded to 9.5mm) - let me know if this works for your tool.   Note, I think you may need to print supports for the new internal shelf created? Here is the fake .pdf for just the FreeCAD base file and 3mf files Modular Movement Holder.pdf Here is the fake pdf for complete set of the new base and ring FreeCAD/3mf files: Modular Movement Holder base and ring v 2.1.pdf However, I'm wondering how often you could use this feature, adding the dial usually increases the OD of the movement, so you would need a new (larger) adapter ring tuned to the OD of the dial and I wouldn't like to grip the dial in any kind of movement holder if It could be avoided for fear of damaging it. Maybe I'm misunderstanding you?
    • HectorLooi
      Balance spring fell out of regulator pin.

      By HectorLooi · Posted

      Hi Frank, you have dived headlong into the deep end. Hairspring work has to be the scariest thing a newbie has to tackle. Your hairspring appears to be bent and just putting it back into the regulator would not allow the balance to work properly. It might start oscillating but the performance would not be good. The proper thing to do is to unstud the hairspring, remove the hairspring from the balance, reinstall the hairspring on the stud carrier, reshape the endcurve and centre the collet to the balance jewel hole. This challenge would either make you or break you. Hope that you will be able to fix your watch. Welcome to the world of watchmaking.  Watch this video. It think it'll give you an idea of the task ahead. From your 1st photo, I think you have a etachron type stud. Let me see if I can find a video on how to remove it from the arm.
    • Curare
      Balance spring fell out of regulator pin.

      By Curare · Posted

      Have read of the Tech Sheet attached on the balance section page 12. It may be bent but until you reposition it back in the regulator pins you'll never know. Cheers CJ 4R35B_4R36A.pdf
    • Hawaiikook808
      Balance spring fell out of regulator pin.

      By Hawaiikook808 · Posted

      Aloha All, My Seiko 4R35B movement stopped working today. Upon closer inspection, it looks like the balance spring came out of the regulator pin. This is my first time working on a balance. Any advice on how to get this spring repositioned (back to normal)? I'm pretty sure that while adjusting the beat error on this movement, I must have turned the stud (I didn't even know they turned), and the spring eventually fell out.  Will the spring go back to even spacing when it's back in the pin, or does it look bent? Thanks, Frank  
×
×
  • Create New...