Great thought Jim, I agree.
Does the increase in use of 3D printing help at all here? I see that GE
and Boing are moving to doing that for aircraft parts in titanium but
that is isn't ready for high volume production because of the speeds.
Does 3D printing in resins and plastics work faster so they could do
higher volume? Or isn't the volume of most S items enough to worry about
speed?
Carey
Carey Probst
Member, M.I.T. Educational Council
S Scale, Sn3 and S High Rail/AF
A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State,
the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.
On 1/15/2012 12:35 PM, SMMW wrote:
>
> The RTR mfrs are in a pickle simply because China has been their
> primary source, if not sole source, for products for a LONG time. A
> comment made farther down Jason’s blog re: offering kits has merit but
> the RTR momentum, particularly if we’re trying to entice younger
> modelers to “join us”, will be difficult to slow down or redirect.
>
> I’ve been a design engineer in the manufacturing world all of my
> professional life (since 1981). I’ve been privileged to have worked in
> many industries, ranging from Navy Nuclear subcontractor, to
> industrial thermometers, to making jet engine parts, pneumatic pumps,
> injection molding, sheet metal, foundries and rapid prototyping. They
> all have 1 common threat: everything was made in the US. Granted, none
> of these industries cater to the fickle hobby world (not JUST model
> railroading is included here), but each of my employers were committed
> to stay with Made in the USA as long as possible. Nearly all of those
> employers are still in business although I’m sure a few have
> contracted more expensive parts of their processes to offshore sources.
>
> I have been a firm believer that there IS a way to continue making
> model RR parts solely in the US at a price that will not cause
> “sticker shock”. America has the greatest manufacturing and design
> diversity and potential on Earth but corporate greed has led many
> CEO’s and stockholders to look for the easy way to make a buck instead
> of keeping jobs here. It takes hard work to continually come up with
> better ways to build the proverbial mouse trap but many companies
> would rather sell out to a Communist country then try to resolve
> difficult problems.
>
> I’m not going on a rant here; this list is NOT the place for that. I’m
> simply stating my position as a model RR manufacturer since 1994.
> Here’s the “model RR content” portion: Given that costs to produce
> anything in China that’s labor- or petroleum-related will continue to
> rise for at least several years, the playing field between the US and
> China continues to get more level every day. If more US mfrs would
> take the time to develop highly-efficient processes that can produce a
> better quality product for even a little more money than China, I
> think we will start seeing model RR goodies made here. Think about
> just the money saved in shipping containers halfway around world!
> Kadee and many others have been doing it for a long time. It won’t
> happen overnight but it CAN be done. If it means we will see more
> semi-RTR or kits, that’s fine too. That helps the detail parts guys
> even more.
>
> I’m proud to state on my web site that all of my products are Made in
> The USA, including raw materials. It’s way past time for others to
> bring this stuff back to the US even if it costs (for now) a little
> more on sticker price.
>
> Jim King
>
> Smoky Mountain Model Works, Inc.
>
> Ph. (828) 777-5619
>
> _<www.smokymountainmodelworks.com>_
>
>
------------------------------------
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
[email protected]
[email protected]
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
[email protected]
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
