[Robotgroup] Printing PCBs

[Clendon Gibson]

Hi Ed,

As to your first point, I appreciate that everyone is concerned about the appropriate use of their hard earned dollar. Certainly I cannot provide the warm fuzzy of knowing your buying from an experienced vendor, complete with refund policies etc... I hope that everyone understands that by giving me money they are essentially underwriting an opportunity for me to play around with chemicals. There is necessarily some risk involved in that. I hope that I have been clear about what I want to do, why I want to do it, and how I intend to go about it. What I hope to bring to the table for your hard earned dollar is another resource in the group for PCBs and also to further the sense of community that this group already enjoys. Am I getting something out of it? Certainly. Is the group going to get something out of it? That is my hope.

As for your second point, there have been some things which might be seen as discouraging words, but there have been many voices of encouragement. I will proceed in the way that makes the most sense for me and those most immediately concerned.

Gray has already volunteered his help, and I will speak with Paul as well. Help to make sure the boards my fellow RGers want are a good product is appreciated and welcome.

----- Original Message ----
From: Ed Xavier Gonzalez <ohlaser at swbell.net>
To: The Robot Group Mailing List <robotgroup at puremagic.com>
Sent: Tuesday, May 8, 2007 4:23:13 PM
Subject: Re: [Robotgroup] Printing PCBs



To Clendon,

First, please do not be offended if I (and others) look at yours or 
any other offers made on the list with a crowbar wedged tightly in 
the wallet.  Unfortunately, money is tight all around for 
everyone.  Why else would you be trying to spread the costs of custom 
PCB boards among your associates?

Second, please do not let others try to convince you directly or 
indirectly that a goal is not worthwhile.  As long as a person learns 
something and enjoys the process or the finished results, the costs 
associated with the collection of that knowledge or experience should 
be looked at as a normal course of growing and life.

Third, just because some people view a particular 'kit' as a more 
cost effective method, because of the advantage of someone else's 
experience and testing, it doesn't mean that pursuing a new skill is 
not a worthwhile or valid exercise.  I can remember being told many 
years ago that trying to repeat what others have already done is a 
true waste of time.  How wrong that person was!  If I (or anyone, for 
that matter) wants to learn to do something and tries to spread their 
cost and risk out by using their head and not their wallet to think 
with, then poo on the person that thinks it's a waste of time.

Finally, even though I've owned my own business for twelve years 
doesn't mean that I'm ready to play golf with Mike Dell, Bill Gates 
or Don Trump.  Having experience in a particular field isn't always 
the end goal unto itself, unless the journey there was enjoyable and 
deemed satisfying.

I applaud your desire to learn about custom PCB's.  I would caution 
you, however, to take advantage of all the local resources available, 
including Paul, Gray and others.  It sounds as though they have quite 
a bit of experience that might be significantly useful in preventing 
loss of costly materials and chemicals.  I'm quite certain both of 
them would be willing to spend a little time chatting about the 
pitfalls and the shortcuts.  I know both Paul and Gray as helpful and 
willing people, anxious to offer what they've learned and 
tried.  Just ask Gray about protection diodes and fuses.

It never hurts to say "I don't know", unless it's disingenuous.

<The right to Free Speech does not diminish the value of remaining silent>

Ed Xavier Gonzalez
Oak Hill Laser
ohlaser at swbell.net
(512) 288-5243

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