Hi all,
I just started a job at a rubber plant. We make rubber parts for the oil field industry. It is an interesting job. I'd like to develop a product. I'd like to run off a couple of thousand units and sell them.

Anyone have suggestions as to a product?
The first thing that occurs to me is the couplers for steppers to lead screws. The little rubber part that is inserted between the aluminum parts on each end.

I haven't decided on a product that's why I'm posting here.
What do you all think is the best thing to choose to have made?

Most everyone has moved on to rigid couplers. Personally, I would look for equipment that is no longer supported or built that uses seals and be a source for that marketplace.....

Hi all,
I just started a job at a rubber plant. We make rubber parts for the oil field industry. It is an interesting job. I'd like to develop a product. I'd like to run off a couple of thousand units and sell them.

Anyone have suggestions as to a product?
The first thing that occurs to me is the couplers for steppers to lead screws. The little rubber part that is inserted between the aluminum parts on each end.

I haven't decided on a product that's why I'm posting here.
What do you all think is the best thing to choose to have made?

:)

Well gee....you seem to be hung up on providing the spider for the flexible couplings....usually the biggest whole coupling form sdp-si.com is about $7.50 which basically means that they are buying it for about $3.00 from the manufacturer. Now, I'm guessing that the cost of materials is about $0.60 and the production cost is about $1.20.

Anyway getting back to the cost of materials....that's where you come in.....$0.60 the spider or rubber portion is most likely about $0.05 or less. So, the question is do you want to make thousands of these at $0.02 or less?