I've been lurking on this list for years, reading and learning, and now it's time to stick my head out.
I'm interested in starting a web-based custom sundial business. My idea, briefly, is that people would come to my site, select a sundial design, choose a motto and other decoration, enter their location and other pertinent info, and leave a credit card number. I will have some software that creates the sundial and sends it to a manufacturer. The complete dial is shipped to the customer. I will limit my choice of dials to vertical or horizontal flat models with simple gnomons. A little more detail: I want to etch the dial face into stone, slate, or ceramic tiles using a laser etching process. Since these machines are expensive I hope to find a service that will accept a DXF or other digital format and do the etching. I provide a gnomon, package the thing and ship it. I can write the software myself or use one of the many programs available. A few of the many, many questions.... Is this feasible at all? What success have others had with this type of business? Can zonwvlak be used for commercial purposes? Is laser etching suitable for this application? Anyone have any experience with it? How do I insure that I don't violate any patents? Thanks -
