[neonixie-l] Re: Manufacturing affordable large, new nixie tubes

2017-04-23 Thread MichaelS
Roddy's response pretty much sums everything up, I'm afraid.  Unless you 
can find a market for inexpensive mass-produced nixie tubes, you will fail. 
 I'd love to buy $25 in18 or larger tubes though and wish you good luck.

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[neonixie-l] Re: Manufacturing affordable large, new nixie tubes

2017-04-23 Thread Roddy Scott


> $0.02 from Dalibor is worth a hell of a lot more when he is giving advice. 
>
 

> His success is documented along with all of the issues that he encountered 
> from his initial idea to his present production method.
>

What others have said here in regards to starting up from scratch is valid 
as to produce a tube of reliable quality for $25:00 is almost an 
impossibility without a fully tried and tested production facility. Russian 
Nixie tubes were made in their millions by state sponsored factories to a 
low price standard that was acceptable to that time of manufacturing. 
European and US factories made Nixies in smaller quantities to a higher 
standard and hence the were a higher price but again they were fully funded 
manufacturing plants with a market for the products made.
To go about producing an IN-18 Nixie for $25:00 with todays labour costs 
would prove to be impossible, to produce a reliable version of an IN-18 
that has a useable life span would entail years of production trials and 
testing and in doing so the cost of an individual unit would rise 
dramatically. Nixie tubes were produced from the 60s onwards until they 
were superceded by other display devices which made them obsolete. It is 
only the rise of clock building that has made a market for the existing 
stocks which, as already stated, are trickled out at high prices by those 
who hold them thus commanding premium prices for items that originally cost 
a fraction of their current cost.

Dalibor produces his excellent tubes at a price that reflects the effort 
and dedication that he has put into his business and those that purchase 
them know that they are receiving a product that has gone through rigorous 
trials, modification and testing before being released. 
Your ambition to enter into mass production and marketing of the Nixies you 
intend to produce is, to say the least, a risky thought as the monies 
required to fund it would far exceed any Kickstarter project yet in 
operation. To obtain and maintain fully operational manufacturing plant and 
the skilled personnel required to operate it would not be a viable 
proposition for the current market that requires Nixie tubes.
I worked in the microprocessor industry fro over 11 years and know the 
costs that are put into a functional production facility, costs that an 
individual could not hope to cover in a business start up from scratch.

Sorry to pour cold water on your idea but it is just not feasible.

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Re: [neonixie-l] Re: Manufacturing affordable large, new nixie tubes

2017-04-22 Thread Terry Kennedy
On Friday, April 21, 2017 at 11:52:37 PM UTC-4, Aiden Koh wrote:

> Anyways, I still believe it's doable to bring the nixie tubes into 
> mainstream society:)
>

There is no point in competing with the Russian sellers, since they have 
the ability to drop their prices below anything you can do - they're 
sitting on a large amount of stock and trickling them out at high prices 
because they can.

Similarly, there are probably enough B7971s out there that the 
sellers could drop below the cost of manufacturing new ones (that is 
probably already the case, actually).

Producing even a single tube of good quality / life is difficult and 
Dalibor has done an amazing job. Rather than producing a tube style to 
compete with him, perhaps try a rather different type. What I'd like to see 
is something unusual, like the F9020.

Even with the equipment and materials, there's a steep learning curve. 
Large portions of an original IN-18 production line, components, and 
work-in-progress were listed on eBay a few years back. Yet all IN-18s are 
still old stock. Something to consider.

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Re: [neonixie-l] Re: Manufacturing affordable large, new nixie tubes

2017-04-22 Thread Instrument Resources of America
You forgot the one most important thing for ANY product (or service), 
and that is a 'LARGE' enough base of buyers to support the endeavor. I'm 
pleasantly surprised that Dalibor can make it work, on what is most 
likely the buyers in this 'clock hobby' market place. I very seriously 
doubt that he has very many commercial/industrial, military, government, 
or consumer based, customers. And those four that I just listed is where 
most of the demand and therefore money comes from for any product or 
service. I do agree with the points you made though. And here is 
something else to think about. Assume for the moment that someone else 
is indeed successful at doing what Dalibor does. They also make Nixies, 
that are just as good as Dalibors in every respect. What has happened 
now is that TWO entities are now fighting for 'market share' of an 
infinitesimally small market place. The results would 
be,,,???Ira.



On 4/22/2017 10:07 AM, Jeff Walton wrote:


Any entrepreneur has to start with a passion for what they are trying 
to accomplish.  Without this, the only guarantee is failure.


The second hurdle is to develop a reliable, functional product that 
someone would want to purchase.


If you are lucky enough to get this far, then you can work on 
manufacturability and achieving a price point that will be supported 
by demand, and cover the cost of production, overhead and profit.


Each of these steps are difficult and can take years of effort and 
subsidy but that is how products are born…  I give a lot of credit to 
those that make it to product launch and eventual profitability.


*From:*neonixie-l@googlegroups.com 
[mailto:neonixie-l@googlegroups.com] *On Behalf Of *Instrument 
Resources of America

*Sent:* Saturday, April 22, 2017 9:42 AM
*To:* neonixie-l@googlegroups.com
*Subject:* Re: [neonixie-l] Re: Manufacturing affordable large, new 
nixie tubes


My statement was made with no disrespect, but you are free to 
interpret it any way that you see fit. Much is often lost in the 
printed word rather than the spoken word, which is why I always prefer 
to have an actual conversation. It was meant to be emphatic.  I still 
stick by it. These wannabe's should watch Dalibors' movie, more than 
once, perhaps if possible visit with Dalibor and see what it actually 
takes to do what he has accomplished. And accomplished he has, with a 
huge amount of success. But as already stated by others he has given 
YEARS of his life and GOBS of money to do what he has done, and I wish 
him much continued success as he certainly deserves it. IIRC he did 
not make a profit until February of this year. As for the wannabes, 
I'm not at all against anyone trying, so long as they know ahead of 
time what is realistic, and what is not. If Dalibor had not tried we 
wound not have his excellent tubes today. Who knows perhaps they will 
be able to produce a better product than Dalibor, but in my opinion 
probably not. Time will tell.  Ira.


On 4/22/2017 5:18 AM, Dylan Distasio wrote:

I was thinking the same thing.  If he's not asking for funding and
is open about the risks, let everyone have a shot.  It should be
encouraged.

That aside, I am anxiously awaiting my single tube clock using one
of Dalibors beautiful tubes.  I had to settle for one tube for
now.  I just got a Kickstarter update that the tubes have arrived!

On Apr 21, 2017 11:39 PM, "jb-electronics"
mailto:webmas...@jb-electronics.de>>
wrote:

Wow, now we did it. Is that really the message we want to send to
a person who is looking into making Nixie tubes?

I admire Dalibor for what he has achieved. Perhaps some of you
remember that I tried the same and did not get far, this is my
best "Nixie tube" I ever made:



But all of this aside, I ask you if these comments are really
helpful? Calling somebody a "wannabe" in a disrespectful manner?
I, for one, like people who "want to" achieve something. Don't you?

Cheers
Jens




On 4/21/2017 7:01 PM, Instrument Resources of America wrote:

There are a LOT of WANNABE's out there that do NOT have the
slightest clue as to what is involved in such a venture!!!   Ira.


On 4/21/2017 9:41 AM, chuck richards wrote:

Dalibor,

Thanks again for all that you do.

You obviously have devoted your whole life for the past several
years to the manufacturing of high-quality brand new large nixie
tubes.

There will always be some folks on the side-lines who want to
talk about and to theorize about "better" and "cheaper" methods
of tube production.

Not bloody likely!!

What you have accomplished is most remarkable!

I especially like reading the part where you explain that
computers and automa

RE: [neonixie-l] Re: Manufacturing affordable large, new nixie tubes

2017-04-22 Thread Jeff Walton
Any entrepreneur has to start with a passion for what they are trying to 
accomplish.  Without this, the only guarantee is failure.

 

The second hurdle is to develop a reliable, functional product that someone 
would want to purchase.

 

If you are lucky enough to get this far, then you can work on manufacturability 
and achieving a price point that will be supported by demand, and cover the 
cost of production, overhead and profit.  

 

Each of these steps are difficult and can take years of effort and subsidy but 
that is how products are born…  I give a lot of credit to those that make it to 
product launch and eventual profitability.

 

 

From: neonixie-l@googlegroups.com [mailto:neonixie-l@googlegroups.com] On 
Behalf Of Instrument Resources of America
Sent: Saturday, April 22, 2017 9:42 AM
To: neonixie-l@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: [neonixie-l] Re: Manufacturing affordable large, new nixie tubes

 

My statement was made with no disrespect, but you are free to interpret it any 
way that you see fit. Much is often lost in the printed word rather than the 
spoken word, which is why I always prefer to have an actual conversation. It 
was meant to be emphatic.  I still stick by it. These wannabe's should watch 
Dalibors' movie, more than once, perhaps if possible visit with Dalibor and see 
what it actually takes to do what he has accomplished. And accomplished he has, 
with a huge amount of success. But as already stated by others he has given 
YEARS of his life and GOBS of money to do what he has done, and I wish him much 
continued success as he certainly deserves it. IIRC he did not make a profit 
until February of this year. As for the wannabes, I'm not at all against anyone 
trying, so long as they know ahead of time what is realistic, and what is not. 
If Dalibor had not tried we wound not have his excellent tubes today. Who knows 
perhaps they will be able to produce a better product than Dalibor, but in my 
opinion probably not. Time will tell.  Ira.

 

On 4/22/2017 5:18 AM, Dylan Distasio wrote:

I was thinking the same thing.  If he's not asking for funding and is open 
about the risks, let everyone have a shot.  It should be encouraged.  

 

That aside, I am anxiously awaiting my single tube clock using one of Dalibors 
beautiful tubes.  I had to settle for one tube for now.  I just got a 
Kickstarter update that the tubes have arrived!

 

 

On Apr 21, 2017 11:39 PM, "jb-electronics"  wrote:

Wow, now we did it. Is that really the message we want to send to a person who 
is looking into making Nixie tubes?

I admire Dalibor for what he has achieved. Perhaps some of you remember that I 
tried the same and did not get far, this is my best "Nixie tube" I ever made:



But all of this aside, I ask you if these comments are really helpful? Calling 
somebody a "wannabe" in a disrespectful manner? I, for one, like people who 
"want to" achieve something. Don't you?

Cheers
Jens 




On 4/21/2017 7:01 PM, Instrument Resources of America wrote:

There are a LOT of WANNABE's out there that do NOT have the slightest clue as 
to what is involved in such a venture!!!   Ira. 


On 4/21/2017 9:41 AM, chuck richards wrote: 



Dalibor, 

Thanks again for all that you do. 

You obviously have devoted your whole life for the past several 
years to the manufacturing of high-quality brand new large nixie 
tubes. 

There will always be some folks on the side-lines who want to 
talk about and to theorize about "better" and "cheaper" methods 
of tube production. 

Not bloody likely!! 

What you have accomplished is most remarkable! 

I especially like reading the part where you explain that 
computers and automation don't help much. 

That is a fact that people who have never tried any production 
methods will argue with.  But, as you point out, once one actually 
does their experiments and starts learning how to get it done, one 
will find that computers and automation just can't cope with the 
entire situation very well at all. 

Again, congratulations to you and your entire team of dedicated 
people! 

Chuck 







 Original Message  
From: dali...@farny.cz 
To: neonixie-l@googlegroups.com 
Subject: RE: [neonixie-l] Re: Manufacturing affordable large, new 
nixie tubes 
Date: Thu, 20 Apr 2017 12:16:33 -0700 (PDT) 




Hello! 

I am sending few notes to this topic, from a perspective of someone 

who 



spent last 5 years exclusively in nixie tubes manufacture ;-) 

IMHO, $25 nixie tube is not possible. Nixie tubes were never so 

cheap, even 



in 60s, the less expensive tube from Burroughs was for $8 (equal to 

today's 



$64) when bought in a quantity of 1000pcs, type B-5016, no mercury. 

Large 



tube (B-7094) were for $30 (today's $240). In this time, the nixie 

tubes 



were cutting edge technology with generous budget, hoard of R&D 

engineers 



and whole 

Re: [neonixie-l] Re: Manufacturing affordable large, new nixie tubes

2017-04-22 Thread Paul Andrews
I would buy that!

On Friday, April 21, 2017 at 11:39:29 PM UTC-4, Jens Boos wrote:
>
> Wow, now we did it. Is that really the message we want to send to a person 
> who is looking into making Nixie tubes?
>
> I admire Dalibor for what he has achieved. Perhaps some of you remember 
> that I tried the same and did not get far, this is my best "Nixie tube" I 
> ever made:
>
>
>
> But all of this aside, I ask you if these comments are really helpful? 
> Calling somebody a "wannabe" in a disrespectful manner? I, for one, like 
> people who "want to" achieve something. Don't you?
>
> Cheers
> Jens
>
>
> On 4/21/2017 7:01 PM, Instrument Resources of America wrote:
>
> There are a LOT of WANNABE's out there that do NOT have the slightest clue 
> as to what is involved in such a venture!!!   Ira. 
>
>
> On 4/21/2017 9:41 AM, chuck richards wrote: 
>
> Dalibor, 
>
> Thanks again for all that you do. 
>
> You obviously have devoted your whole life for the past several 
> years to the manufacturing of high-quality brand new large nixie 
> tubes. 
>
> There will always be some folks on the side-lines who want to 
> talk about and to theorize about "better" and "cheaper" methods 
> of tube production. 
>
> Not bloody likely!! 
>
> What you have accomplished is most remarkable! 
>
> I especially like reading the part where you explain that 
> computers and automation don't help much. 
>
> That is a fact that people who have never tried any production 
> methods will argue with.  But, as you point out, once one actually 
> does their experiments and starts learning how to get it done, one 
> will find that computers and automation just can't cope with the 
> entire situation very well at all. 
>
> Again, congratulations to you and your entire team of dedicated 
> people! 
>
> Chuck 
>
>
>
>
>  Original Message  
> From: dal...@farny.cz  
> To: neoni...@googlegroups.com  
> Subject: RE: [neonixie-l] Re: Manufacturing affordable large, new 
> nixie tubes 
> Date: Thu, 20 Apr 2017 12:16:33 -0700 (PDT) 
>
> Hello! 
>
> I am sending few notes to this topic, from a perspective of someone 
>
> who 
>
> spent last 5 years exclusively in nixie tubes manufacture ;-) 
>
> IMHO, $25 nixie tube is not possible. Nixie tubes were never so 
>
> cheap, even 
>
> in 60s, the less expensive tube from Burroughs was for $8 (equal to 
>
> today's 
>
> $64) when bought in a quantity of 1000pcs, type B-5016, no mercury. 
>
> Large 
>
> tube (B-7094) were for $30 (today's $240). In this time, the nixie 
>
> tubes 
>
> were cutting edge technology with generous budget, hoard of R&D 
>
> engineers 
>
> and whole tube backing industry. They were produced in large 
>
> quantities for 
>
> lot of equipment, mostly measuring devices - almost never for 
>
> digital 
>
> clocks, they were simply expensive for consumer market. 
> You can now find small tubes on eBay for around $5, mostly russian 
>
> tubes - 
>
> their price is now determined by market (what are hobbyists willing 
>
> to pay 
>
> for it), not manufacturing costs. They were produced in large 
>
> volumes in 
>
> soviet central planned economy, even when the demand was decreasing 
>
> - this 
>
> is why there are still full stocks of them in former soviet 
>
> countries. 
>
> You mention "current manufacturing methods", we actually dont have 
>
> much new 
>
> technologies which could simplify the nixie tube manufacture. The 
>
> use of 
>
> computers is very limited and doesnt help much. Also new 
>
> technologies like 
>
> laser cutting etc. doesnt help (only for machinery construction, 
>
> jigs..). 
>
> There are tens of operations involved in the 
>
> assembly/sealing/pumping 
>
> procedures - the quantity of machines needed for automated line 
>
> would be 
>
> big and their price very high. As NeonJohn suggested - few $M would 
>
> be 
>
> necessary just for the machinery. You would also soon find that 
>
> automation 
>
> make demands on supplier's tolerances ( e.g. glass thickness, 
>
> diameter) 
>
> which is beyond their standard production capabilities = back to 
>
> hand 
>
> processing.. This is one of the reason why large factories like 
>
> Blackburn 
>
> had own facilities for production of all the raw materials/prefabs. 
> Last year, I had a meeting with people from german company producing 
> glassworking machines - simple semiautomated machine just for 
>

Re: [neonixie-l] Re: Manufacturing affordable large, new nixie tubes

2017-04-22 Thread Instrument Resources of America
My statement was made with no disrespect, but you are free to interpret 
it any way that you see fit. Much is often lost in the printed word 
rather than the spoken word, which is why I always prefer to have an 
actual conversation. It was meant to be emphatic.  I still stick by it. 
These wannabe's should watch Dalibors' movie, more than once, perhaps if 
possible visit with Dalibor and see what it actually takes to do what he 
has accomplished. And accomplished he has, with a huge amount of 
success. But as already stated by others he has given YEARS of his life 
and GOBS of money to do what he has done, and I wish him much continued 
success as he certainly deserves it. IIRC he did not make a profit until 
February of this year. As for the wannabes, I'm not at all against 
anyone trying, so long as they know ahead of time what is realistic, and 
what is not. If Dalibor had not tried we wound not have his excellent 
tubes today. Who knows perhaps they will be able to produce a better 
product than Dalibor, but in my opinion probably not. Time will tell.  Ira.



On 4/22/2017 5:18 AM, Dylan Distasio wrote:
I was thinking the same thing.  If he's not asking for funding and is 
open about the risks, let everyone have a shot.  It should be encouraged.


That aside, I am anxiously awaiting my single tube clock using one of 
Dalibors beautiful tubes.  I had to settle for one tube for now.  I 
just got a Kickstarter update that the tubes have arrived!



On Apr 21, 2017 11:39 PM, "jb-electronics" 
mailto:webmas...@jb-electronics.de>> wrote:


Wow, now we did it. Is that really the message we want to send to
a person who is looking into making Nixie tubes?

I admire Dalibor for what he has achieved. Perhaps some of you
remember that I tried the same and did not get far, this is my
best "Nixie tube" I ever made:



But all of this aside, I ask you if these comments are really
helpful? Calling somebody a "wannabe" in a disrespectful manner?
I, for one, like people who "want to" achieve something. Don't you?

Cheers
Jens



On 4/21/2017 7:01 PM, Instrument Resources of America wrote:

There are a LOT of WANNABE's out there that do NOT have the
slightest clue as to what is involved in such a venture!!!   Ira.


On 4/21/2017 9:41 AM, chuck richards wrote:

Dalibor,

Thanks again for all that you do.

You obviously have devoted your whole life for the past several
years to the manufacturing of high-quality brand new large nixie
tubes.

There will always be some folks on the side-lines who want to
talk about and to theorize about "better" and "cheaper" methods
of tube production.

Not bloody likely!!

What you have accomplished is most remarkable!

I especially like reading the part where you explain that
computers and automation don't help much.

That is a fact that people who have never tried any production
methods will argue with.  But, as you point out, once one actually
does their experiments and starts learning how to get it done, one
will find that computers and automation just can't cope with the
entire situation very well at all.

Again, congratulations to you and your entire team of dedicated
people!

Chuck





 Original Message 
From: dali...@farny.cz <mailto:dali...@farny.cz>
To: neonixie-l@googlegroups.com
    <mailto:neonixie-l@googlegroups.com>
Subject: RE: [neonixie-l] Re: Manufacturing affordable large, new
nixie tubes
Date: Thu, 20 Apr 2017 12:16:33 -0700 (PDT)


Hello!

I am sending few notes to this topic, from a perspective of
someone

who

spent last 5 years exclusively in nixie tubes manufacture ;-)

IMHO, $25 nixie tube is not possible. Nixie tubes were never so

cheap, even

in 60s, the less expensive tube from Burroughs was for $8
(equal to

today's

$64) when bought in a quantity of 1000pcs, type B-5016, no
mercury.

Large

tube (B-7094) were for $30 (today's $240). In this time, the
nixie

tubes

were cutting edge technology with generous budget, hoard of R&D

engineers

and whole tube backing industry. They were produced in large

quantities for

lot of equipment, mostly measuring devices - almost never for

digital

clocks, they were simply expensive for consumer market.
You can now find small tubes on eBay for around $5, mostly
russian

tubes -

their price is now determined by market (what are hobbyists
willing

to pay

for it), not manufacturing costs. They were produced in large

volumes in

soviet central planned economy, even when the demand was
decreasing

- this

is why there are still full stocks of them in former soviet

countries.

Y

Re: [neonixie-l] Re: Manufacturing affordable large, new nixie tubes

2017-04-22 Thread Paul Andrews
Quite. Thankyou for saying this. Life is full of people saying why you can't do 
something. Achievements happen despite that and not because of it.

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Re: [neonixie-l] Re: Manufacturing affordable large, new nixie tubes

2017-04-21 Thread Aiden Koh
Hi all:)
first of all, thank you so much Dalibor, what you do is truly amazing; much
like everyone that has heard of you and your work, I'm really grateful for
what you have brought to this great community. I hope in time to come, you
can successfully expand this market and attract many more customers. There
are definitely potential markets waiting for you in the emerging countries,
especially when the "age of analog" is picking up pace in the new
generation. Think turntables, instant cameras, Moleskine notebooks. (On
this topic this bestselling book called " the revenge of analog" by David
Sax, is great).

Also to JohnK and neonjohn, I must thank you for opening me to the
realities of real world manufacturing. I never really understood the
difficulties that come with such manufacturing feats. I really do have a
lot of ground to cover:D From what you guys have said, I understand that my
approach is fundamentally flawed. (doing market research first before
thinking about manufacturing feasibility.)

Anyways, I still believe it's doable to bring the nixie tubes into
mainstream society:)





On Sat, Apr 22, 2017 at 12:41 AM, chuck richards 
wrote:

> Dalibor,
>
> Thanks again for all that you do.
>
> You obviously have devoted your whole life for the past several
> years to the manufacturing of high-quality brand new large nixie
> tubes.
>
> There will always be some folks on the side-lines who want to
> talk about and to theorize about "better" and "cheaper" methods
> of tube production.
>
> Not bloody likely!!
>
> What you have accomplished is most remarkable!
>
> I especially like reading the part where you explain that
> computers and automation don't help much.
>
> That is a fact that people who have never tried any production
> methods will argue with.  But, as you point out, once one actually
> does their experiments and starts learning how to get it done, one
> will find that computers and automation just can't cope with the
> entire situation very well at all.
>
> Again, congratulations to you and your entire team of dedicated
> people!
>
> Chuck
>
>
>
> >
> >
> > Original Message 
> >From: dali...@farny.cz
> >To: neonixie-l@googlegroups.com
> >Subject: RE: [neonixie-l] Re: Manufacturing affordable large, new
> >nixie tubes
> >Date: Thu, 20 Apr 2017 12:16:33 -0700 (PDT)
> >
> >>Hello!
> >>
> >>I am sending few notes to this topic, from a perspective of someone
> >who
> >>spent last 5 years exclusively in nixie tubes manufacture ;-)
> >>
> >>IMHO, $25 nixie tube is not possible. Nixie tubes were never so
> >cheap, even
> >>in 60s, the less expensive tube from Burroughs was for $8 (equal to
> >today's
> >>$64) when bought in a quantity of 1000pcs, type B-5016, no mercury.
> >Large
> >>tube (B-7094) were for $30 (today's $240). In this time, the nixie
> >tubes
> >>were cutting edge technology with generous budget, hoard of R&D
> >engineers
> >>and whole tube backing industry. They were produced in large
> >quantities for
> >>lot of equipment, mostly measuring devices - almost never for
> >digital
> >>clocks, they were simply expensive for consumer market.
> >>You can now find small tubes on eBay for around $5, mostly russian
> >tubes -
> >>their price is now determined by market (what are hobbyists willing
> >to pay
> >>for it), not manufacturing costs. They were produced in large
> >volumes in
> >>soviet central planned economy, even when the demand was decreasing
> >- this
> >>is why there are still full stocks of them in former soviet
> >countries.
> >>
> >>You mention "current manufacturing methods", we actually dont have
> >much new
> >>technologies which could simplify the nixie tube manufacture. The
> >use of
> >>computers is very limited and doesnt help much. Also new
> >technologies like
> >>laser cutting etc. doesnt help (only for machinery construction,
> >jigs..).
> >>There are tens of operations involved in the
> >assembly/sealing/pumping
> >>procedures - the quantity of machines needed for automated line
> >would be
> >>big and their price very high. As NeonJohn suggested - few $M would
> >be
> >>necessary just for the machinery. You would also soon find that
> >automation
> >>make demands on supplier's tolerances ( e.g. glass thickness,
> >diameter)
> >>which is beyond their standard production capabilities = back to
> >hand
> >>processing.. T

Re: [neonixie-l] Re: Manufacturing affordable large, new nixie tubes

2017-04-21 Thread Instrument Resources of America
There are a LOT of WANNABE's out there that do NOT have the slightest 
clue as to what is involved in such a venture!!!   Ira.



On 4/21/2017 9:41 AM, chuck richards wrote:

Dalibor,

Thanks again for all that you do.

You obviously have devoted your whole life for the past several
years to the manufacturing of high-quality brand new large nixie
tubes.

There will always be some folks on the side-lines who want to
talk about and to theorize about "better" and "cheaper" methods
of tube production.

Not bloody likely!!

What you have accomplished is most remarkable!

I especially like reading the part where you explain that
computers and automation don't help much.

That is a fact that people who have never tried any production
methods will argue with.  But, as you point out, once one actually
does their experiments and starts learning how to get it done, one
will find that computers and automation just can't cope with the
entire situation very well at all.

Again, congratulations to you and your entire team of dedicated
people!

Chuck





 Original Message 
From: dali...@farny.cz
To: neonixie-l@googlegroups.com
Subject: RE: [neonixie-l] Re: Manufacturing affordable large, new
nixie tubes
Date: Thu, 20 Apr 2017 12:16:33 -0700 (PDT)


Hello!

I am sending few notes to this topic, from a perspective of someone

who

spent last 5 years exclusively in nixie tubes manufacture ;-)

IMHO, $25 nixie tube is not possible. Nixie tubes were never so

cheap, even

in 60s, the less expensive tube from Burroughs was for $8 (equal to

today's

$64) when bought in a quantity of 1000pcs, type B-5016, no mercury.

Large

tube (B-7094) were for $30 (today's $240). In this time, the nixie

tubes

were cutting edge technology with generous budget, hoard of R&D

engineers

and whole tube backing industry. They were produced in large

quantities for

lot of equipment, mostly measuring devices - almost never for

digital

clocks, they were simply expensive for consumer market.
You can now find small tubes on eBay for around $5, mostly russian

tubes -

their price is now determined by market (what are hobbyists willing

to pay

for it), not manufacturing costs. They were produced in large

volumes in

soviet central planned economy, even when the demand was decreasing

- this

is why there are still full stocks of them in former soviet

countries.

You mention "current manufacturing methods", we actually dont have

much new

technologies which could simplify the nixie tube manufacture. The

use of

computers is very limited and doesnt help much. Also new

technologies like

laser cutting etc. doesnt help (only for machinery construction,

jigs..).

There are tens of operations involved in the

assembly/sealing/pumping

procedures - the quantity of machines needed for automated line

would be

big and their price very high. As NeonJohn suggested - few $M would

be

necessary just for the machinery. You would also soon find that

automation

make demands on supplier's tolerances ( e.g. glass thickness,

diameter)

which is beyond their standard production capabilities = back to

hand

processing.. This is one of the reason why large factories like

Blackburn

had own facilities for production of all the raw materials/prefabs.
Last year, I had a meeting with people from german company producing
glassworking machines - simple semiautomated machine just for

sealing

operation (stem/envelope) which still needs operator starts at

$250.000 and

its production capacity is not so high (my estimation was 30

tubes/hour).

And this is one of very few pieces of equipment you can purchase,

the rest

is necessary to develop - according to your specifications and

process

description.

But even if you had a fully equiped factory now, it would take you

long

time to get to working nixie tubes. It is not about machines, but

about the

operator/R&D - you need to know when the tube is sufficiently

degassed

before filling, what purity of the raw material is necessary, purity

of the

gases, time for aging etc.. Many factors, each of them can make your

tube

prone to failure. Not immediately, but after year of operation for

instance

- your backers will not wait years until you come up with working
combination..

Some data from our business:
- Our price for a tube is now set to $145.
- We make around 130 tubes per month (+ handful of clocks) with

monthly

revenue of around 20.000 USD.
- We are now a team of 5 people and this production volume makes us

really

busy (I work 7 days a week, all day long).
- We need 250 square meters (2700sqft) of space for our current

equipment.

- As for the "butique price" - my monthly net salary is $384, I get

paid

since February 2017 ;-) But my people's salary is above average (for

a

given profession and our region).
- I invested around $80.000 from my personal savings on the

beginning

I know that if I want t

RE: [neonixie-l] Re: Manufacturing affordable large, new nixie tubes

2017-04-21 Thread chuck richards
Dalibor,

Thanks again for all that you do.

You obviously have devoted your whole life for the past several
years to the manufacturing of high-quality brand new large nixie
tubes.

There will always be some folks on the side-lines who want to
talk about and to theorize about "better" and "cheaper" methods
of tube production.

Not bloody likely!!

What you have accomplished is most remarkable!

I especially like reading the part where you explain that
computers and automation don't help much.

That is a fact that people who have never tried any production
methods will argue with.  But, as you point out, once one actually
does their experiments and starts learning how to get it done, one
will find that computers and automation just can't cope with the
entire situation very well at all.

Again, congratulations to you and your entire team of dedicated
people!

Chuck



>
>
> Original Message 
>From: dali...@farny.cz
>To: neonixie-l@googlegroups.com
>Subject: RE: [neonixie-l] Re: Manufacturing affordable large, new
>nixie tubes
>Date: Thu, 20 Apr 2017 12:16:33 -0700 (PDT)
>
>>Hello!
>>
>>I am sending few notes to this topic, from a perspective of someone
>who 
>>spent last 5 years exclusively in nixie tubes manufacture ;-)
>>
>>IMHO, $25 nixie tube is not possible. Nixie tubes were never so
>cheap, even 
>>in 60s, the less expensive tube from Burroughs was for $8 (equal to
>today's 
>>$64) when bought in a quantity of 1000pcs, type B-5016, no mercury.
>Large 
>>tube (B-7094) were for $30 (today's $240). In this time, the nixie
>tubes 
>>were cutting edge technology with generous budget, hoard of R&D
>engineers 
>>and whole tube backing industry. They were produced in large
>quantities for 
>>lot of equipment, mostly measuring devices - almost never for
>digital 
>>clocks, they were simply expensive for consumer market.
>>You can now find small tubes on eBay for around $5, mostly russian
>tubes - 
>>their price is now determined by market (what are hobbyists willing
>to pay 
>>for it), not manufacturing costs. They were produced in large
>volumes in 
>>soviet central planned economy, even when the demand was decreasing
>- this 
>>is why there are still full stocks of them in former soviet
>countries.
>>
>>You mention "current manufacturing methods", we actually dont have
>much new 
>>technologies which could simplify the nixie tube manufacture. The
>use of 
>>computers is very limited and doesnt help much. Also new
>technologies like 
>>laser cutting etc. doesnt help (only for machinery construction,
>jigs..). 
>>There are tens of operations involved in the
>assembly/sealing/pumping 
>>procedures - the quantity of machines needed for automated line
>would be 
>>big and their price very high. As NeonJohn suggested - few $M would
>be 
>>necessary just for the machinery. You would also soon find that
>automation 
>>make demands on supplier's tolerances ( e.g. glass thickness,
>diameter) 
>>which is beyond their standard production capabilities = back to
>hand 
>>processing.. This is one of the reason why large factories like
>Blackburn 
>>had own facilities for production of all the raw materials/prefabs.
>>Last year, I had a meeting with people from german company producing
>
>>glassworking machines - simple semiautomated machine just for
>sealing 
>>operation (stem/envelope) which still needs operator starts at
>$250.000 and 
>>its production capacity is not so high (my estimation was 30
>tubes/hour). 
>>And this is one of very few pieces of equipment you can purchase,
>the rest 
>>is necessary to develop - according to your specifications and
>process 
>>description.
>>
>>But even if you had a fully equiped factory now, it would take you
>long 
>>time to get to working nixie tubes. It is not about machines, but
>about the 
>>operator/R&D - you need to know when the tube is sufficiently
>degassed 
>>before filling, what purity of the raw material is necessary, purity
>of the 
>>gases, time for aging etc.. Many factors, each of them can make your
>tube 
>>prone to failure. Not immediately, but after year of operation for
>instance 
>>- your backers will not wait years until you come up with working 
>>combination..
>>
>>Some data from our business:
>>- Our price for a tube is now set to $145.
>>- We make around 130 tubes per month (+ handful of clocks) with
>monthly 
>>revenue of around 20.000 USD.
>>- We are now a team of 5 people and this production volume makes us
>really 
>>bus

Re: [neonixie-l] Re: Manufacturing affordable large, new nixie tubes

2017-04-21 Thread JohnK
Yep, wonderful stuff and I was aware of it.  By Dalibor's work I meant more 
than the production -sorry, me being language-lazy. The tantalizing stills 
at the start and of the move to the castle are more the thing I meant. A 
complete "life of..." I guess :-))   The everyday things that don't get 
recorded but are treasured later [and not just for their rarity].
It brings to mind bugs in an archaeology show we are getting at present. It 
often uses "dig cam", that is the self filming by the teams. The vid is 
fine, the audio is often atrocious. Seems they don't know about muffling 
wind noise  :-( What a missed opportunity!


John K



- Original Message - 
From: "Malcolm Miles" 

To: 
Sent: Friday, April 21, 2017 9:22 PM
Subject: RE: [neonixie-l] Re: Manufacturing affordable large, new nixie 
tubes





I know that there have been video snippets of Dalibor's work,
but it warrants a full documentary.


The Art of Making a Nixie Tube
37 minutes of sheer amazement at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxL4ElboiuA

--
Best wishes,
Malcolm

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RE: [neonixie-l] Re: Manufacturing affordable large, new nixie tubes

2017-04-21 Thread Malcolm Miles

> I know that there have been video snippets of Dalibor's work, 
> but it warrants a full documentary. 

The Art of Making a Nixie Tube
37 minutes of sheer amazement at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxL4ElboiuA

-- 
Best wishes,
Malcolm

-- 
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To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email 
to neonixie-l+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send an email to neonixie-l@googlegroups.com.
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For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.


Re: [neonixie-l] Re: Manufacturing affordable large, new nixie tubes

2017-04-20 Thread JohnK
I do not know how to properly applaud Dalibor. It seems such an empty thing 
coming from myself. I am just an observer.
However, I am so absolutely impressed with what he has done. It quite goes 
beyond the obsessive amateur radio guys filling a room with gear, the amateur 
scale-railroad enthusiasts who fill a workshop and make ride-on trains. We have 
all seen TV docos and interviews with such people.
Dalibor seems to have had an idea and made it into a dream and then is well on 
the way to realising that potential. He seems to have kept his feet on the 
ground.
Perhaps I feel this way because my wife and I have 10 minutes ago  [together] 
read the book "What do you do with an IDEA?", Kobi Yamada, illus Mae Besom, 
2014. [Don't overlook another one by the pair - "What do you do with a 
problem?" and perhaps "The most Magnificent Thing", Ashely Spires.]

I know that there have been video snippets of Dalibor's work, but it warrants a 
full documentary.  I hope that there is someone in the loop who can do some 
Life Writing (to use the more modern term for a bio and auto-bio etc). And it 
needs to be done now, progressively, not in 20 years.

I think that the Japanese concept of "Living National Treasure" applies to 
Dalibor. "Well done, that man!" as the Brits might say.
His staff and family deserve some accolades too of course.


John Kaesehagen
Australia.





  - Original Message - 
  From: Dalibor 
  To: neonixie-l 
  Sent: Friday, April 21, 2017 4:46 AM
  Subject: [neonixie-l] Re: Manufacturing affordable large, new nixie tubes


  Hello!


  I am sending few notes to this topic, from a perspective of someone who spent 
last 5 years exclusively in nixie tubes manufacture ;-)


  IMHO, $25 nixie tube is not possible. Nixie tubes were never so cheap, even 
in 60s, the less expensive tube from Burroughs was for $8 (equal to today's 
$64) when bought in a quantity of 1000pcs, type B-5016, no mercury. Large tube 
(B-7094) were for $30 (today's $240). In this time, the nixie tubes were 
cutting edge technology with generous budget, hoard of R&D engineers and whole 
tube backing industry. They were produced in large quantities for lot of 
equipment, mostly measuring devices - almost never for digital clocks, they 
were simply expensive for consumer market.
  You can now find small tubes on eBay for around $5, mostly russian tubes - 
their price is now determined by market (what are hobbyists willing to pay for 
it), not manufacturing costs. They were produced in large volumes in soviet 
central planned economy, even when the demand was decreasing - this is why 
there are still full stocks of them in former soviet countries.


  You mention "current manufacturing methods", we actually dont have much new 
technologies which could simplify the nixie tube manufacture. The use of 
computers is very limited and doesnt help much. Also new technologies like 
laser cutting etc. doesnt help (only for machinery construction, jigs..). There 
are tens of operations involved in the assembly/sealing/pumping procedures - 
the quantity of machines needed for automated line would be big and their price 
very high. As NeonJohn suggested - few $M would be necessary just for the 
machinery. You would also soon find that automation make demands on supplier's 
tolerances ( e.g. glass thickness, diameter) which is beyond their standard 
production capabilities = back to hand processing.. This is one of the reason 
why large factories like Blackburn had own facilities for production of all the 
raw materials/prefabs.
  Last year, I had a meeting with people from german company producing 
glassworking machines - simple semiautomated machine just for sealing operation 
(stem/envelope) which still needs operator starts at $250.000 and its 
production capacity is not so high (my estimation was 30 tubes/hour). And this 
is one of very few pieces of equipment you can purchase, the rest is necessary 
to develop - according to your specifications and process description.


  But even if you had a fully equiped factory now, it would take you long time 
to get to working nixie tubes. It is not about machines, but about the 
operator/R&D - you need to know when the tube is sufficiently degassed before 
filling, what purity of the raw material is necessary, purity of the gases, 
time for aging etc.. Many factors, each of them can make your tube prone to 
failure. Not immediately, but after year of operation for instance - your 
backers will not wait years until you come up with working combination..


  Some data from our business:
  - Our price for a tube is now set to $145.
  - We make around 130 tubes per month (+ handful of clocks) with monthly 
revenue of around 20.000 USD.
  - We are now a team of 5 people and this production volume makes us really 
busy (I work 7 days a week, all day long).
  - We need 250 square meters (2700sqft) of sp

RE: [neonixie-l] Re: Manufacturing affordable large, new nixie tubes

2017-04-20 Thread Jeff Walton
Dalibor’s information is surprisingly candid.  He is also quite correct that 
there are many operations such as this which are extremely labor intensive.  
His videos are very educational and tell you a lot about what it will take to 
even begin to make Nixies.  The investment to justify more automation is based 
on volume production and the ability to reach a “critical mass” where 
production volumes and demand at a market price will generate sufficient 
capital to purchase machinery and support the overhead of a highly specialized 
operation.  The economics of such a market do not exist (IMHO) for anything 
beyond a “boutique” or “cottage” industry, as we call them.  There is certainly 
sufficient economy to support small operations such as Dalibor’s but I think 
that mass producing tubes simply does not have the demand that it would take to 
get the price down to the price levels suggested.

 

Forgetting about the economics, it has taken Dalibor 5 years of hard work to 
learn some of the lost art of producing a product which actually requires a 
great deal of expertise in materials, gasses and a level of cleanliness that he 
is just discovering. 

 

I come from the semiconductor industry where I learned that the electrical 
design of the chip is actually only a very small fraction of what it takes to 
make a viable product.  The physics of the materials and the manufacturing 
skills required to maintain such an operation demand that there be a market for 
billions of parts.  For reliability, one will never get past very low 
production and yield without the knowledge and ability to control the 
cleanliness of the manufacturing environment and material content.  It is very 
surprising that Dalibor has been able to achieve as much as he has demonstrated 
in such a short time.

 

If you study any high tech product, you either stay small and specialized or 
you get big and produce a incredible quantities for a market that is demanding 
it.  The reason that nixies were displaced in the first place is because there 
was market demand for a much more efficient, mass producible product such as 
the LED display.  Those did not happen overnight, either.  I was selling low 
performance LED displays in the 70’s which were still succeeding against nixies 
on reliability, but mostly on the ease of use in designs.  Nixies are a 
specialty that is for a niche market that is consuming them based on the look 
and is willing to pay a higher price for something unique.  In other words, I 
don’t see a mass market because I can’t name enough advantages for a Nixie 
display over another technology.  Business decisions are not made just because 
a product looks cool.  There are too many cons for use of Nixies in modern day 
commercial products.

 

There will, however, be a good market for Nixies among the hobby builders and 
retro aficionados.   The market could support a few operations like Dalibor’s.  

 

So, when someone comes up with a RELIABLE $25 nixie tube that looks good, I 
will buy a bunch.  And I would do it quickly because at that price, I know that 
the seller will run out of money very fast…

 

Jeff

 

From: neonixie-l@googlegroups.com [mailto:neonixie-l@googlegroups.com] On 
Behalf Of Dalibor
Sent: Thursday, April 20, 2017 2:17 PM
To: neonixie-l
Subject: [neonixie-l] Re: Manufacturing affordable large, new nixie tubes

 

Hello!

 

I am sending few notes to this topic, from a perspective of someone who spent 
last 5 years exclusively in nixie tubes manufacture ;-)

 

IMHO, $25 nixie tube is not possible. Nixie tubes were never so cheap, even in 
60s, the less expensive tube from Burroughs was for $8 (equal to today's $64) 
when bought in a quantity of 1000pcs, type B-5016, no mercury. Large tube 
(B-7094) were for $30 (today's $240). In this time, the nixie tubes were 
cutting edge technology with generous budget, hoard of R&D engineers and whole 
tube backing industry. They were produced in large quantities for lot of 
equipment, mostly measuring devices - almost never for digital clocks, they 
were simply expensive for consumer market.

You can now find small tubes on eBay for around $5, mostly russian tubes - 
their price is now determined by market (what are hobbyists willing to pay for 
it), not manufacturing costs. They were produced in large volumes in soviet 
central planned economy, even when the demand was decreasing - this is why 
there are still full stocks of them in former soviet countries.

 

You mention "current manufacturing methods", we actually dont have much new 
technologies which could simplify the nixie tube manufacture. The use of 
computers is very limited and doesnt help much. Also new technologies like 
laser cutting etc. doesnt help (only for machinery construction, jigs..). There 
are tens of operations involved in the assembly/sealing/pumping procedures - 
the quantity of machines needed for automated line would be big and their price 
very hig

[neonixie-l] Re: Manufacturing affordable large, new nixie tubes

2017-04-20 Thread Dalibor
Hello!

I am sending few notes to this topic, from a perspective of someone who 
spent last 5 years exclusively in nixie tubes manufacture ;-)

IMHO, $25 nixie tube is not possible. Nixie tubes were never so cheap, even 
in 60s, the less expensive tube from Burroughs was for $8 (equal to today's 
$64) when bought in a quantity of 1000pcs, type B-5016, no mercury. Large 
tube (B-7094) were for $30 (today's $240). In this time, the nixie tubes 
were cutting edge technology with generous budget, hoard of R&D engineers 
and whole tube backing industry. They were produced in large quantities for 
lot of equipment, mostly measuring devices - almost never for digital 
clocks, they were simply expensive for consumer market.
You can now find small tubes on eBay for around $5, mostly russian tubes - 
their price is now determined by market (what are hobbyists willing to pay 
for it), not manufacturing costs. They were produced in large volumes in 
soviet central planned economy, even when the demand was decreasing - this 
is why there are still full stocks of them in former soviet countries.

You mention "current manufacturing methods", we actually dont have much new 
technologies which could simplify the nixie tube manufacture. The use of 
computers is very limited and doesnt help much. Also new technologies like 
laser cutting etc. doesnt help (only for machinery construction, jigs..). 
There are tens of operations involved in the assembly/sealing/pumping 
procedures - the quantity of machines needed for automated line would be 
big and their price very high. As NeonJohn suggested - few $M would be 
necessary just for the machinery. You would also soon find that automation 
make demands on supplier's tolerances ( e.g. glass thickness, diameter) 
which is beyond their standard production capabilities = back to hand 
processing.. This is one of the reason why large factories like Blackburn 
had own facilities for production of all the raw materials/prefabs.
Last year, I had a meeting with people from german company producing 
glassworking machines - simple semiautomated machine just for sealing 
operation (stem/envelope) which still needs operator starts at $250.000 and 
its production capacity is not so high (my estimation was 30 tubes/hour). 
And this is one of very few pieces of equipment you can purchase, the rest 
is necessary to develop - according to your specifications and process 
description.

But even if you had a fully equiped factory now, it would take you long 
time to get to working nixie tubes. It is not about machines, but about the 
operator/R&D - you need to know when the tube is sufficiently degassed 
before filling, what purity of the raw material is necessary, purity of the 
gases, time for aging etc.. Many factors, each of them can make your tube 
prone to failure. Not immediately, but after year of operation for instance 
- your backers will not wait years until you come up with working 
combination..

Some data from our business:
- Our price for a tube is now set to $145.
- We make around 130 tubes per month (+ handful of clocks) with monthly 
revenue of around 20.000 USD.
- We are now a team of 5 people and this production volume makes us really 
busy (I work 7 days a week, all day long).
- We need 250 square meters (2700sqft) of space for our current equipment.
- As for the "butique price" - my monthly net salary is $384, I get paid 
since February 2017 ;-) But my people's salary is above average (for a 
given profession and our region).
- I invested around $80.000 from my personal savings on the beginning

I know that if I want to really succeed and earn money, I need to cut down 
the production costs. So I am step by step making our manufacture efficient 
with the intention to make our nixie tubes less expensive one day. I am 
investing our profit back to tooling/equipment, I am for example working on 
a high vacuum rotary manifold for carousel pumping machine with higher 
production capacity. I recently reverse-engineered Philips vacuum locking 
mechanism (tube clamping) for the same machine. But I am not sure if it is 
possible to make nixie tubes for below $60-80 even with high level of 
automation.

I hope it doesnt sound too discouraging ;-) just my $0.02

best regards,

Dalibor Farny
 

On Wednesday, 19 April 2017 11:52:06 UTC+2, Aiden Koh wrote:
>
> I'm a product engineer taking on a new project.
> With current manufacturing methods, I'm able to manufacture In-18/Z568M 
> inspired nixie tubes, at a fraction of their market costs (sub 25 USD/pc). 
> I don't compromise on quality. hence, it will be built with parts mostly 
> sourced from the US, and have the quality management system ISO-certified.
>
> However, due to overhead costs, such a price is only available if the 
> minimum demand for said tubes is reached. Hence I can only commence with 
> the project when I know that there is enough interest.
>
> What are your thoughts? Would it interest you if such tubes exist? show 
> yo

[neonixie-l] Re: Manufacturing affordable large, new nixie tubes

2017-04-20 Thread Tomasz Kowalczyk


W dniu czwartek, 20 kwietnia 2017 11:26:15 UTC+2 użytkownik SWISSNIXIE - 
Jonathan F. napisał:
>
> Dalibors tubes are wonderful and perfect, and the price is very reasonable 
> no boubt about that. 
>
> If there were newly made tubes in size of Z566M or ZM1042 this would be 
> perfect, the Dalibor tubes are rather big, and for a clock to place on your 
> desk or so they are maybe to big. Tubes in size of 30mm digits would be 
> very nice and good looking for projects, if they were affordable. 
>
Making a tube based on Z566M is a great idea.
Firstly, if the B13B socket would be used, the new tubes could be easily 
integrated in existing clocks (or perhaps even still functioning lab 
equipment), as it is most popular for medium sized tubes.
Secondly, Z566M is (in my opinion) the most beauftiful tube existing with 
perfect digits shape and tube diameter/height proportion. Z568M is very 
similar, but looks "fatter", not mentioning the price and avaibility 
difference. 
And I agree that they have a good size for a clock - a Z568M clock can 
easily be wider than 0,5m, which is gigantic!

But still the most important thing is if and when the new tubes would be 
ready including their operating life tests.

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[neonixie-l] Re: Manufacturing affordable large, new nixie tubes

2017-04-20 Thread SWISSNIXIE - Jonathan F.
Dalibors tubes are wonderful and perfect, and the price is very reasonable 
no boubt about that. 

If there were newly made tubes in size of Z566M or ZM1042 this would be 
perfect, the Dalibor tubes are rather big, and for a clock to place on your 
desk or so they are maybe to big. Tubes in size of 30mm digits would be 
very nice and good looking for projects, if they were affordable. 

If you want to producte nixie tubes on a *brand commercial level* be 
prepared to pay a lot of money for licences and so. In the end, the 
question is if the marked of nixie-builders is large enough to be 
*commerical*. If you sell a tube for 25$ and lets say you sell 1000pcs of 
it, you only made 25'000$ of sales so you will not be able to live from the 
nixie production unless you are a one-man-company or not doing it for a 
living.  But if you really would make tubes in size of IN-18 at a good 
price, i would defenitely buy at leas 12-18 for my projects!


P.S. About the russian supplies. 

You know that they say "every tale has a piece of truth in it". 
An ebay seller one day told me, he was interested in buying a old factory 
where they made IN-13 bargraph tubes. He also said parts and machines are 
still there and look in working condition, but the factory remains closed 
since 1990. What if iit is true? OR what if when someone actually bought a 
factory and made tubes - for example IN-12 - there are so many around, i 
actually bought a "live-long" supply of 40, they have a old date code of 
86, but they really look like they came just out of a factory yesterday...

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[neonixie-l] Re: Manufacturing affordable large, new nixie tubes

2017-04-19 Thread barefoot1

I also agree with Terry S. 
Dalibor is making excellent Nixie tubes and I think his quality is 
excellent bar none. Watching Dalibor's video of the complete manufacturing 
process is a thing of beauty.
If you can compete with Dalibor give it a run it would be an interesting 
Nixie to see.
I wish you the best of luck in your endeavour. 

On Wednesday, April 19, 2017 at 8:45:46 AM UTC-4, barefoot1 wrote:
>
>
>
> On Wednesday, April 19, 2017 at 8:26:32 AM UTC-4, Terry S wrote:
>>
>> Dalibor is already making very high quality tubes, and it took him years 
>> to perfect his process. I'm skeptical of your claim of a sub $25 price. But 
>> if you can produce them, you will surely find a ready market.
>>
>> On Wednesday, April 19, 2017 at 4:52:06 AM UTC-5, Aiden Koh wrote:
>>>
>>> I'm a product engineer taking on a new project.
>>> With current manufacturing methods, I'm able to manufacture In-18/Z568M 
>>> inspired nixie tubes, at a fraction of their market costs (sub 25 USD/pc). 
>>> I don't compromise on quality. hence, it will be built with parts mostly 
>>> sourced from the US, and have the quality management system ISO-certified.
>>>
>>> However, due to overhead costs, such a price is only available if the 
>>> minimum demand for said tubes is reached. Hence I can only commence with 
>>> the project when I know that there is enough interest.
>>>
>>> What are your thoughts? Would it interest you if such tubes exist? show 
>>> your support, and large, affordable nixie tubes may finally be within our 
>>> grasp!
>>>
>>
On Wednesday, April 19, 2017 at 8:45:46 AM UTC-4, barefoot1 wrote:
>
>
>
> On Wednesday, April 19, 2017 at 8:26:32 AM UTC-4, Terry S wrote:
>>
>> Dalibor is already making very high quality tubes, and it took him years 
>> to perfect his process. I'm skeptical of your claim of a sub $25 price. But 
>> if you can produce them, you will surely find a ready market.
>>
>> On Wednesday, April 19, 2017 at 4:52:06 AM UTC-5, Aiden Koh wrote:
>>>
>>> I'm a product engineer taking on a new project.
>>> With current manufacturing methods, I'm able to manufacture In-18/Z568M 
>>> inspired nixie tubes, at a fraction of their market costs (sub 25 USD/pc). 
>>> I don't compromise on quality. hence, it will be built with parts mostly 
>>> sourced from the US, and have the quality management system ISO-certified.
>>>
>>> However, due to overhead costs, such a price is only available if the 
>>> minimum demand for said tubes is reached. Hence I can only commence with 
>>> the project when I know that there is enough interest.
>>>
>>> What are your thoughts? Would it interest you if such tubes exist? show 
>>> your support, and large, affordable nixie tubes may finally be within our 
>>> grasp!
>>>
>>

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[neonixie-l] Re: Manufacturing affordable large, new nixie tubes

2017-04-19 Thread Aiden Koh
Hi Terry:) I understand your skepticism, after all, we have been accepting 
high prices for large tubes for so long, honestly we have grown used to it. 
Dalibor does an extremely great job as a "boutique" nixie tube builder; 
think of his method as the Rolls Royce approach, hand-built, limited 
quantity. After accounting for the raw materials and some investigating on 
existing factories that could handle its unique manufacturing process, it 
is possible that it can be produced at said price. With a lot of hard work 
and dedication put into the mix of course!:)

On Wednesday, April 19, 2017 at 8:26:32 PM UTC+8, Terry S wrote:
>
> Dalibor is already making very high quality tubes, and it took him years 
> to perfect his process. I'm skeptical of your claim of a sub $25 price. But 
> if you can produce them, you will surely find a ready market.
>
> On Wednesday, April 19, 2017 at 4:52:06 AM UTC-5, Aiden Koh wrote:
>>
>> I'm a product engineer taking on a new project.
>> With current manufacturing methods, I'm able to manufacture In-18/Z568M 
>> inspired nixie tubes, at a fraction of their market costs (sub 25 USD/pc). 
>> I don't compromise on quality. hence, it will be built with parts mostly 
>> sourced from the US, and have the quality management system ISO-certified.
>>
>> However, due to overhead costs, such a price is only available if the 
>> minimum demand for said tubes is reached. Hence I can only commence with 
>> the project when I know that there is enough interest.
>>
>> What are your thoughts? Would it interest you if such tubes exist? show 
>> your support, and large, affordable nixie tubes may finally be within our 
>> grasp!
>>
>

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[neonixie-l] Re: Manufacturing affordable large, new nixie tubes

2017-04-19 Thread barefoot1


On Wednesday, April 19, 2017 at 8:26:32 AM UTC-4, Terry S wrote:
>
> Dalibor is already making very high quality tubes, and it took him years 
> to perfect his process. I'm skeptical of your claim of a sub $25 price. But 
> if you can produce them, you will surely find a ready market.
>
> On Wednesday, April 19, 2017 at 4:52:06 AM UTC-5, Aiden Koh wrote:
>>
>> I'm a product engineer taking on a new project.
>> With current manufacturing methods, I'm able to manufacture In-18/Z568M 
>> inspired nixie tubes, at a fraction of their market costs (sub 25 USD/pc). 
>> I don't compromise on quality. hence, it will be built with parts mostly 
>> sourced from the US, and have the quality management system ISO-certified.
>>
>> However, due to overhead costs, such a price is only available if the 
>> minimum demand for said tubes is reached. Hence I can only commence with 
>> the project when I know that there is enough interest.
>>
>> What are your thoughts? Would it interest you if such tubes exist? show 
>> your support, and large, affordable nixie tubes may finally be within our 
>> grasp!
>>
>

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[neonixie-l] Re: Manufacturing affordable large, new nixie tubes

2017-04-19 Thread 'Terry S' via neonixie-l
Dalibor is already making very high quality tubes, and it took him years to 
perfect his process. I'm skeptical of your claim of a sub $25 price. But if 
you can produce them, you will surely find a ready market.

On Wednesday, April 19, 2017 at 4:52:06 AM UTC-5, Aiden Koh wrote:
>
> I'm a product engineer taking on a new project.
> With current manufacturing methods, I'm able to manufacture In-18/Z568M 
> inspired nixie tubes, at a fraction of their market costs (sub 25 USD/pc). 
> I don't compromise on quality. hence, it will be built with parts mostly 
> sourced from the US, and have the quality management system ISO-certified.
>
> However, due to overhead costs, such a price is only available if the 
> minimum demand for said tubes is reached. Hence I can only commence with 
> the project when I know that there is enough interest.
>
> What are your thoughts? Would it interest you if such tubes exist? show 
> your support, and large, affordable nixie tubes may finally be within our 
> grasp!
>

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