Is it viable?

So I've been working on my own arduino compatible platform, and was wondering if you guys think it would be financially viable to even do.

Pretty much is a basic arduino system with FTDI, but also has a 5v regulator on it, with my own PCB design. It'd be on a 2inx1in board with the regulator either sticking straight up, or off the side of the board (by bending the pins at a 90 degree angle). It will have an automatic reset through FTDI as well. The only thing I've removed is a reset button. The reason being, this isn't really for development as much as for a final product. It's not breadboard compatible (though, I don't see it being hard to make an adapter for it to work with a breadboard), unless you just run wires like many circuits.

Also, it'd be a wire wrap setup (male headers for all pins). This wouldn't be for development, and the main idea is to have it be for lighting kits for models and rc vehicles (like rc airplanes with marker lights). Anyway, as far as price, I was thinking $12usd for a kit, and $15 put together. Biggest plus over other cheap arduinos being the voltage regulator and diode (to stop reverse polarity to the circuit).

Anyway, what do you guys think? (I already have the circuit designed, and I'll probably be getting a prototype pcb made soon, so it's not too far off from being in production, but it costs money to make PCB's, and you pretty much have to buy in bulk to be financially viable.)

So you're going to make your own verion of the Nano, that sells for $29.74 in 100-lot qtys (with pins), but without the reset switch, for $12-15?

Sounds like a fine goal. Are the FTDI chips that inexpensive?

CrossRoads:
So you're going to make your own verion of the Nano, that sells for $29.74 in 100-lot qtys (with pins), but without the reset switch, for $12-15?

http://arduino.cc/en/Main/ArduinoBoardNano
Arduino Nano 3.0 with ATMEGA328

Sounds like a fine goal. Are the FTDI chips that inexpensive?

O-o I think I said something wrong. I meant FTDI Pin headers, for the USB/FTDI Setups, like this

Sorry for the confusion.

Ok, price seems more achievable now.
What will set it apart from these aside from the reset switch?
the 3.3V & 5V Promini,
Arduino Pro Mini - 5V/16MHz $17
the ardweeny,
http://www.solarbotics.com/products/kardw $10
the RBBB,
http://shop.moderndevice.com/products/rbbb-kit $13
the Boardino
DC Boarduino (Arduino compatible) Kit (w/ATmega328) [v1.0] : ID 72 : $17.50 : Adafruit Industries, Unique & fun DIY electronics and kits $17.50
and others, such as
the no longer procurable iduino clone
http://spiffie.org/kits/iduino/

or this list?
http://www.arduino.cc/playground/Main/SimilarBoards

I doubt it's ever viable on a $ basis to do your own version of a simple arduino.

However, if you have a special need or just want to try making your own version then go for it.

but it costs money to make PCB's,

Not much these days. Easy < $100 for a few boards even from a normal fab house. Probably less from one of the batch people.


Rob

Might look into these folks
https://www.internationalcircuits.com/layer_grid.php?cat_id=13
100 square inches for $95.

CrossRoads:
Ok, price seems more achievable now.
What will set it apart from these aside from the reset switch?
the 3.3V & 5V Promini,
Arduino Pro Mini - 5V/16MHz $17
the ardweeny,
http://www.solarbotics.com/products/kardw $10
the RBBB,
http://shop.moderndevice.com/products/rbbb-kit $13
the Boardino
DC Boarduino (Arduino compatible) Kit (w/ATmega328) [v1.0] : ID 72 : $17.50 : Adafruit Industries, Unique & fun DIY electronics and kits $17.50
and others, such as
the no longer procurable iduino clone
http://spiffie.org/kits/iduino/

or this list?
Arduino Playground - SimilarBoards

@CrossRoads: O-o... if that's accurate, then I could get 5000 circuits for $95 (assuming + shipping as well) That's amazing!

Well, the ones at or lower the same cost, 5v regulator, the ones above, it's cheaper for practically the same thing. besides that, I made a ground for every i/o pin. Like I said, my main idea for it is for models and rc vehicles, so it makes it easier to just attach the signal from one pin and the ground to another. Effectively for people who don't want to solder. Because you can buy it pre-soldered with the pin headers and everything, you don't have to know electronics, you can just use a wire wrapper. (I was also intending on selling LED's with a resistor in line, and either pre-program it, or make a program in VB to set up the lights and such... but that's more down the line.

Pretty much the only major differences is that it does have the 5v regulator, will come with or solder on male headers, and doesn't have the reset button (mainly due to all of my grounds taking up the space XD) You could still add in a reset switch by attaching a button between the 5v, and reset pins of the FTDI connectors, so if you needed a reset button, it's still easy enough to add one.

Not too manyboards come without the 5v regulator, of one type or another.
The ground per I/O pin could come in handy.
100 square inches divided by 2 square inches, so just 50 boards for $95.
Prices come down with quantity, like all things.

Prices come down with quantity, like all things.

Except maybe for divorces?

Lefty

Well, all things electronic anyways :slight_smile:

XD Now I feel silly. XD I was doing 100 squared divided by two. O-o... Talk about a major mistake.