BUTTSHOCK! THE OPENING UP OF AN ET-312

Ideas and instructions how you can make your own bondage toys.
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Dvo
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BUTTSHOCK! THE OPENING UP OF AN ET-312

Post by Dvo »

I am working with a group of others on opening up the ET 312 and subsequently other electrostim toys. Details here https://adultblogz.co.uk/buttshock-the- ... an-et-312/
lj
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Re: BUTTSHOCK! THE OPENING UP OF AN ET-312

Post by lj »

Please note this is a PERSONAL comment, and not in any way related to my role as a Moderator on this site.

I deplore the attempts at reverse engineering a product.

Yes, the parts may only cost £60 and the sale price may seem to be include very large markup, BUT >>>

as an Electronics Engineer working for my living designing and manufacturing specialist electronic equipment, I think you need to be aware of a few things before you rip off someone's design (otherwise known as stealing)

I know from personal experience that it takes hours (well days and weeks) of time to code a complex product, Design of the hardware - circuitry, mechanical, aesthetic - add a few more days. Of course you need the background knowledge to design the thing in the first place.

Then, you have a sales route - internet is fairly cheap but you still have to develop and pay for the website, bandwidth. And support a guarantee and returns method - I usually reckon this adds 10% to the costs. Then there's the packaging, instruction books. Perhaps paying commission to sales outlets or selling at a wholesale rate. You might have to think about standards testing like the CE Mark, or meeting the US standards. Product liability insurance isn't cheap.

And finally, there is that dirty word. PROFIT !

Why go to all the trouble of designing and manufacturing a product and not make a decent income from your efforts? We Engineers do actually need to earn money. This isn't a hobby for us - it might be fun, but it has to pay the bills.

So if you think you can do a better job than the Erostek guys then put your money and your brains into developing a better product and let the market decide.
be a switch, double the fun :-)
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Gregovic
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Re: BUTTSHOCK! THE OPENING UP OF AN ET-312

Post by Gregovic »

So long as its only reverse engineering the firmware and making it do more I say have at it! Giving more options to an existing product usually just helps drive sales up. Keep in mind though you are working with a device that is designed to do something that could be potentially dangerous. Running an electrical current through the human body is not something to be taken lightly. And I for one sure as hell am NEVER going to try custom firmware by someone who claims to know what he's doing on the internet on a device like this.

If the goal is to manufacture one yourself cheaper and sell it then keep in mind you'd not only be an asshat for stealing the work of a manufacturer, you are actually breaking the law. And the cost of getting sued for infringement on designs WILL end with you bankrupt!

When it comes to the sales price lj pretty much has it correct. 10x markup from Cost of Goods (basic price of component parts) to final retail price is actually quite cheap for specialist hardware. They are not selling 1000s of these every year (I highly doubt it anyway) so this is low quantity manufacture.

As an engineer I have a simple rule of thumb to give me a pretty good idea of final retail price from base material price. If you are making more than a 1 million per year, MSRP is 3x to 5x material cost (3x for cheap trinkets, 5x for anything with a material cost over $10). If making more than 10k per year, MSRP is 5x to 7x material cost. Anything under that amount and you get 10x to 20x markup. If we are talking single piece production the skies the limit. If it's something that most companies can manufacture its usually between 15 to 50 times base material cost. If it's something only a single company can make, well... let's just say you'll have to really desperately need the part and be prepared to spend through the nose. Because 100x markup is not uncommon. (this rule of thumb only holds up on European and American manufacture. Let's just say the Chinese aren't exactly playing fair when it comes to economics. For Made in China electronic trinkets 1.5x or even lower markups are not uncommon)
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Dvo
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Re: BUTTSHOCK! THE OPENING UP OF AN ET-312

Post by Dvo »

There is no assperation to take anything to market.
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bound_jenny
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Re: BUTTSHOCK! THE OPENING UP OF AN ET-312

Post by bound_jenny »

Dvo wrote:assperation
Is that a really horrible (but hilarious) pun or just a typo (which would be equally hilarious)?

:rofl:

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Dvo
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Re: BUTTSHOCK! THE OPENING UP OF AN ET-312

Post by Dvo »

bound_jenny wrote:
Dvo wrote:assperation
Is that a really horrible (but hilarious) pun or just a typo (which would be equally hilarious)?
Just a typo. however things are progressing nicely with the software and hardware opening up.

We now have a good understanding of how it all works, and are looking at using what we have learnt to make an Arduino sheild that offers isolation (my day job - https://adultblogz.co.uk/i-have-made-a- ... ool-thing/) for use in making your own shocking device.
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