Ep. 19 - Cost Downs (Reducing Costs in Your Supply Chain)

Open Hardware Manufacturing Podcast · 2 May 2024 · 1h 09m

What this episode covers

Lucian Shapar and Stephen Hawes from Opulo discuss the process of reducing supply chain costs without compromising product quality, using their Lumen BMB 3D printer as a primary example. They cover strategies such as second-sourcing components like Nema 17 motors and EEPROMs, negotiating with existing vendors, and manufacturing custom parts like nozzle holders in-house to bypass high markups. The hosts also share lessons from failed cost-downs, such as using abrasive filament, and emphasize the importance of rigorous validation and maintaining healthy vendor relationships.

Mentioned

Companies
Opulo, Formlabs, Mouser, Analog Devices, Markforged, Rivian, Apple, Alibaba, Google, TSMC
Products
Lumen BMB, Maslow CNC
Chips
STM32, Nema 17

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