We finished writing instructions for the assembly of the Sienci Mill One.
You can now learn how to assemble the Sienci Mill One here at http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Assemble-the-Sienci-Mill-One/
From customer discovery to Kickstarter: Sienci Labs in Enterprise Co-op
Written by: Andy Lee
Edited by: Lindsay Kroes
Andy Lee’s Enterprise Co-op term is coming to an end this month, but he and his co-founders at Sienci Labs are busier than ever with the launch of their Kickstarter campaign. The campaign aims to bring the Sienci Mill One, an affordable and user-friendly desktop CNC milling machine, into the hands of creative makers across the world.
Over the course of the term, the Sienci Mill One has undergone eight iterations of design, with continuous improvements for performance, affordability, and ease-of-use. In this blog, Andy describes how getting outside the building and talking to customers has helped the team create a better product — one that people can’t wait to use!
When my co-founders and I started Sienci Labs, we began with the purpose of making mechanical systems in rapid prototyping and fabrication tools (such as 3D printers, laser cutters, and CNC milling machines) more affordable and easier to use in consumer applications. Over time, the team decided to create our own machines using the systems that we had developed. As a proof of concept and first product, we developed a desktop sized CNC milling machine.
During our Enterprise Co-op term, we headed out the door with our early prototype machines to answer the two questions that all startups need to ask themselves: “Who are our customers?” and “what do they want to buy?”
Find your customers where they hang out
At first, we planned to market the product to low budget makers, hobbyists, and artists who want to turn their digital 3D models into real objects in materials like wood, plastic, and metal at a touch of a button. Events like Hamilton Maker Faire and Toronto Maker Festival put us in front of hundreds of interested people in our target demographic and helped us to develop customer archetypes and figure out what type of people needed our products.
At these events, we showed off our newly-developed desktop CNC machine to people who do everything from leatherworking, to electronics, to 3D printing, and woodworking. The purpose was to connect directly to our target market and get their thoughts and feedback as well as garner interest in the company.
Our initial method of testing customer interest was to mill examples of some of the things our customers were looking for. Whether it was Teflon sensor holders or model cars, we were able to focus on the features that were key in making what they needed.
Be flexible to feedback
After several of these events, we discovered that our users were mostly small businesses who wanted to make custom parts for themselves to save substantial amounts of money, or wanted to create products to sell.
While we had initially believed that makers and hobbyists would purchase this machine for personal use, we discovered that businesses and organizations were more willing to put the money down to get one of our machines. This is not to say there weren’t a lot of makers and hobbyists who were interested, but we realized that marketing to small businesses would yield the most traction.
Solve customers’ problems
With all of the people wanting to purchase and distribute the Sienci Mill One, we knew that we had figured out who our customers would be and that what we had created fit their needs.
If you’re starting a business, go out and see what people want to pay for! Ask them what they need. Help them solve their problems, and create something new that can make their lives better. Keep iterating!
Check out Sienci Labs’ Kickstarter campaign, and keep up with them through their mailing list!
Tight nuts, better precision, nicer PCBs
PCB milling is a really useful thing to do on a CNC machine because you can build really nice, complicated electric circuits. And unlike chemical etching, which only makes the traces, a CNC machine drill holes for through hole components and cut and trim the copper clad board. Quite a few people asked about whether or not the Sienci Mill One was able to do PCB milling. So we gave it a shot.
Our first few tries were not great, since we had traces of varying sizes, even though they were all supposed to be the same. While milling large objects, a high degree of precision is not needed. But for milling PCBs with features that are fractions of a millimetre, high precision is critical.
Then we found the issue that was causing us to have sub-par boards. The nuts for the lead screws were coming loose from the gantry, and that extra bit of wiggle was causing the positioning of the machine to be off. So we tightened those screws and made sure that they wouldn’t come loose over time.
And that made a huge huge impact on the quality of our traces! Check it out:
The Story of Kiri:Moto
Today, I emailed Stewart Allen, creator of Kiri:Moto to tell me his story.
Kiri:Moto: A Unique, Multi-Modal, Cloud-based Slicer
Here’s his response:
| Hi Andy,
I’ve been a life-long maker and also started programming at a very young age. A few years ago, I started using 3D printing in earnest to prototype modular construction concepts. I was printing hundreds of parts in which I needed a high strength-to-weight ratio as well as high precision. The slicers I was using (commercial and open source) were not consistently yielding results that I was happy with. As a result, I spent a lot of my design time altering parts in an attempt to get the slicers to produce usable output. After about 18 months, frustrated and wasting a lot of time, I decided to take a shot at making my own slicer. From inception, I wanted to take a slightly different approach. I wanted the core engine to one-day handle CNC and other output types (like laser & SLA). I also wanted to use Javascript as the native language so that I could run all in-browser as well as host the same code in the cloud. One of the great benefits of this approach is the simplification of the toolchain from design to output, especially when using design tools like Onshape. There is no software to install, it starts instantly, and you’re always on the latest version. The goal is a free tool that handles most maker needs simply and elegantly. I have a long todo list which I’m chipping away at slowly. CNC work is at the top of my queue for the next few months, so expect to see a lot of progress there.
Stewart
|
Writing documentation and instructions for the Sienci Mill One
Chris and I are hard at work putting together documentation for the Sienci Mill One. You should see a new tab on our website with instructions on using software and putting together the hardware for the Sienci Mill One soon.
We will also use Instructables, an awesome platform for DIY people and makers, to share instructions on building their projects and ideas online!
Enterprise Co-op students awarded $2,000 in Product Video Showcase: Sienci Labs wins $1000
Each term, the Conrad Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology Centre invites Enterprise Co-op students to develop a 90-second video displaying the products or services they have developed during their E Co-op term.
Two students have been awarded $1,000 each for their submissions. Check out their videos below!
Christina Tan, Eloquent Speaking
Andy Lee, Sienci Labs
Congrats to the Product Video Showcase winners!
Wrapping up the first day of Kickstarter, 15% funded!
Thank you to our first set of backers! With your support we’ve raised over $9000 over the first 24 hours! That’s pretty awesome.
We still need your support though. Please share our project with your friends and family!
Our Kickstarter has launched!
Check it out here:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/sienci/sienci-mill-one-simple-and-affordable-desktop-cnc/
Meet 3D Printing’s Big Brother: CNC Milling
AS FEATURED ON 3DPC.co
http://3dpc.co/meet-3d-printings-big-brother-cnc-milling-3442/
While CNC milling machines come in all shapes and sizes, there is one thing they all have in common: computer numerical control. Yes, CNC stands for computer numerical control. These machines implement mechanical and electrical systems to control a milling tool in three dimensional space. Unlike a 3D printer, which is a “additive†manufacturing process that involves stacking layers and layers of plastic, CNC milling is a “subtractive manufacturing process that starts from a base material and carves away at it until you are left with a finalized part.
These machines are used to manufacture everything from the furniture you’re sitting on to the injection molding forms that make up a huge number of the things you use every day. And since they can shape virtually any material, the applications are endless.
3D printing has gone from expensive industrial machines to affordable consumer machines that fit on your desktop. So why hasn’t the same happened with CNC milling machines?
Well, there are a few challenges in creating a device suitable for your home, but the biggest challenge has been creating the necessary mechanics to stand the enormous forces CNC machines need to handle. The robust linear motion systems needed to control these machines are expensive and complicated, and that shows on the price tag for current desktop CNC milling machines.
Sienci Labs, a group based in Waterloo, ON, have developed low cost, high performance linear motion systems to finally create the machines that you can afford to put on your desktop. And with partnerships with some of the most innovative CAM and CAD developers, they’ve created the fastest and easiest user experience in desktop CNC milling.
Meet the Sienci Mill One.
The Sienci Mill One is a $399 desktop CNC milling machine that creates 2D and 3D models from materials like wood, plastic, brass, aluminum, and foam.
Specifications:
Working area: 250mm x 200mm x 100mm
Working materials: Wood, foam, aluminum, brass, leather, PVC, acrylic, ABS, PCB boards, and more
Precision: The Sienci Mill One comes with anti backlash leadscrews with a thread pitch of 2mm/revolution, as well as stepper motors with a resolution of 200 steps/revolution. The Sienci Mill One can accurately reproduce details within 0.001″.
Speeds: Recommended speeds are between 250mm/min to 1500mm/min
Firmware: GRBL
Software:
While the Sienci Mill One can handle gcode generated by virtually all modern CAM software, we’ve partnered with Onshape to bring fun, fast, and free CAM and CAD programs to help you draw 3D models and create the code that controls the Sienci Mill One.
With CAM programs like Kiri:Moto, both beginner and advanced users can create gcode on their browser in mere minutes.
Try it out at www.onshape.com
Kickstarter:
Sienci Labs is sold out of their first batch of machines and will be starting a Kickstarter in the middle of August!
Prices for the Kickstarter are:
$399: Sienci Mill One Kit*
$549: Sienci Mill One Assembled*
$139: 1-¼ HP Router Kit
*does not come with router
Sign up for the mailing list at:
https://sienci-upgrade3.cospark.io/kickstarter/
The struggles of delivering your first set of kits
Over the last couple of weeks, Chris and I have been working hard on building the machines for our first set of orders. We decided to try putting together a few kits so that we would know what steps we would need to take to put them together for our Kickstarter. This also helps us figure out the lead times and what sort of quality our suppliers can provide.
Parts from Shenzhen:
We received our parts from Shenzhen  through a supplier that manufactures 3D printer and CNC parts. We ordered a small number stepper motors, eccentric nuts, and Delrin V wheels through this supplier, and they were kind enough to take our small order and ship it to us through Express Shipping. Even with a 3 day delay after Typhoon Nida slamming the area and people unable to go to work, we got our shipment on time for our first set of deliveries.
Assembly:
Since last week I have brought the kits to two companies in Ontario. There were a couple of hitches but after ironing them out, things went fairly smoothly.
At the first session I found that the M3 screws that hold the NEMA 17 motors to the angle mounts were slightly too long… 2mm too long in fact. This was causing the screws at the other end of the motor to start turning out, and I had to go find the proper screws for the machine. I also discovered that we would need to tolerance the through holes wider to make assembly easier. We didn’t get to complete the assembly of the machine that day, but since then I’ve found the correct screws and will be going back this week to finish up the build.
At the second session with another company, I found that the second issue was that the the front shield of the machine offered too snug of a fit. Luckily I had a shield that was slightly thinner, and was able to replace and complete the assembly. After I left, the customer discovered that without the bed being completely level, the machine had issues cutting out materials from a blank stock. Under typical use, this small discrepancy would not make a difference, but in applications like PCB milling or cutting very thin materials, even cuts can be critical. I am working on this with the customer to provide the documentation needed to level the bed, or issue a refund if things cannot be resolved.
Final thoughts:
I can’t say these past experiences were completely smooth sailing, but with what I learned from these assembly sessions, we know what to watch out for when start mass manufacturing these machines. As Paul Graham  states in his essay “Do Things That Don’t Scale”, this initial step of getting out and putting our machine in an uncontrolled environment is a important step for us to learn what it will be like when we do scale.