The Versatile Frag Plug Project.
- Thread starter spinycheek
- Start date
Any plans to produce them on a larger scale?
The main discs are the most expensive part due to the internal threads which require a fairly complicated mold, so depending on how large of scale they are being produced, I would have to charge around $1 per disc to cover overhead. The production mold and the initial part order are several thousand dollars. The other parts are less expensive to make. So, one can look at around $1.20-1.70 for an accessorized plug (disc+post+coral clip). The coral clip/holders are reusable however. In the future, it is my goal to get the price to around 50 cents, but I can't do that until I start ordering these by the 100s of thousands.
What would be a realistic price point here?
What would be a realistic price point here?
So, I've been making small runs of the discs in black polypropylene. I've been charging around $0.70 per disc. In the next couple of weeks, I should be able to add the rock anchor posts to the mix.
I'm working on some other pieces like a natural looking mount, a better rock anchor, magnetic mount (all compatible with each other) and some other concept ideas. Takes about 2-3 weeks to get new prototypes in the mail though, so the long wait continues...
I'm working on some other pieces like a natural looking mount, a better rock anchor, magnetic mount (all compatible with each other) and some other concept ideas. Takes about 2-3 weeks to get new prototypes in the mail though, so the long wait continues...
As an inventor myself, here are some ideas I'd have for you.
Can you swirl the color of the plugs to make it look closer to live rock? Like brown and tan. Or just make a brown/tan plug color in general?
Also can you make spiked frag plugs? That way you can drill a hole in a rock, insert said spiked plug, and it won't go anywhere. Here's a quick 1 minute sketch on my phone of what I'm talking about lol.
Just some ideas haha.
Can you swirl the color of the plugs to make it look closer to live rock? Like brown and tan. Or just make a brown/tan plug color in general?
Also can you make spiked frag plugs? That way you can drill a hole in a rock, insert said spiked plug, and it won't go anywhere. Here's a quick 1 minute sketch on my phone of what I'm talking about lol.
Just some ideas haha.
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Yes-ish, I am working on some natural looking plugs that are shaped and colored like live rock. However, I am having trouble finding ways to make them compatible with the various accessories without losing the natural look. In production, I can probably have swirly colors, but for now I'm stuck with black. I tried swirling two colors on my little injection molder, but it made the process really difficult and inconsistent, partly because I don't have access the commercial variety of resins, so I was trying to use 2 plastics with slightly different melting points and viscosity.
The idea with the rock anchor post is that it fits into many of the holes naturally found in live rock without the need to drill. However, I understand that you may want more specific placement within the rock. The Rock Anchor I'm working on now is a hybrid barbed/threaded piece that should screw in pretty well and stay put, either in a natural hole or in a drilled hole. It compresses slightly, so it conforms to the rock. When running trials, I was able to lift up a 2 pound rock using just the Rock Anchor. The disc and post are separate pieces that screw together, so one can change their mind about placement really easily.
Additionally, I'm making inserts, similar to dry wall anchors, that will allow you to turn your own pieces of rubble into a compatible mount that can accept any of the post varieties.
The idea with the rock anchor post is that it fits into many of the holes naturally found in live rock without the need to drill. However, I understand that you may want more specific placement within the rock. The Rock Anchor I'm working on now is a hybrid barbed/threaded piece that should screw in pretty well and stay put, either in a natural hole or in a drilled hole. It compresses slightly, so it conforms to the rock. When running trials, I was able to lift up a 2 pound rock using just the Rock Anchor. The disc and post are separate pieces that screw together, so one can change their mind about placement really easily.
Additionally, I'm making inserts, similar to dry wall anchors, that will allow you to turn your own pieces of rubble into a compatible mount that can accept any of the post varieties.