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Ultimarc Spinner details...

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HaRuMaN:

 :jerry

RoomTenONine:


--- Quote from: RandyT on July 21, 2008, 02:04:40 pm ---
--- Quote from: RoomTenONine on July 21, 2008, 01:47:47 pm ---If you understand IP so well, why are you complaining about your idea being stolen when you could have protected it?

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I'm not exactly sure why you believe it is not protected?  Not currently against competition, but we both know that.  That is why it is being brought up here, and not in an attorney's office, in order to point out that doing such a thing is an unsavory business practice that sets the stage for future interaction between vendors.  I have taken note of this and will, sadly, adjust my practices accordingly.

In any event, there's nothing more I can add here, so I will bow out.  They say time heals all wounds, so I'll let the process begin.

RandyT

--- End quote ---

Legally speaking you have little recourse at this point because you do not have a patent.  What's not to understand about that.  You could have waited for the patent to go through, release the product and then (legally speaking) you'd have a valid complaint.  Otherwise your argument is really weak.  Like I said I understand your frustration, but to say that it is 100% unsavory for a company to emulate a good design that isn't patented puts a bad taste in my mouth and comes off as finger pointing and whiny.  By your rationale any company making flat panel plasma TV is unsavory for "stealing" the idea from the guys at U. of Illinois who came up with it in the 60's!  The same rationale would damn any company making modern rubber tires the likes of which Charles Goodyear invented.  Going even further, those people actually invented the technology as a whole.  You've streamlined an already established device that you did not invent.  Not to say that the change wasn't amazing (it is), but you are acting as if some horrible wrong has befallen you simply for having your un-patented idea used by a direct competitor.

Edit: The more I think about this the more I realize I am being too quick to say "You should have had the patent first, Randy".  Yes that process would have protected him, but the length and cost of such things are very prohibitive for small businesses.  In addition Randy pushed something to market that benefits our niche community before his legal rear was covered.  Some may see that as foolish whim as I initially implied, but the more I think about it, the more I see this as Randy making a sacrifice to help the BYOAC enthisiasts.  I apologize to Randy if I came across as callous or speaking out without fully understanding the situation between GGG and Ultimarc and who brought different innovations to market first.

Shoegazer:


--- Quote from: AndyWarne on July 21, 2008, 01:53:00 pm ---
--- Quote from: Shoegazer on July 21, 2008, 01:05:49 pm ---Hey Andy,

1) Will there be a wheel add-on option?  If so, will it pivot on an axis via gear and stand?  My spinner is close to the monitor glass so a wheel larger than say 4" would not be possible, plus it's nice to have a wheel actually facing you of course.. :-) If this is not possible I'd still be interested in a small wheel top if you'll make one available.


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We will not be making available a wheel option unfortunately because I believe the 6mm shaft is too thin to reliably support a relatively large wheel without the risk of getting bent.

--- End quote ---
That's unfortunate.  I may actually need to buy the TT2 spinner since a wheel option is very important to me.  Anyone know if the TT2 spinner will work in a SlikStik classic panel easily (Randy)?  Are there any issues with the KeyWiz harness I should be aware of?


--- Quote from: Shoegazer on July 21, 2008, 01:05:49 pm ---
2) From the pictures, it looks like the SpinTrak uses a standard Happ button mount rather than the Tornado's pinhole mount - am I right?  If so, I assume I'll need to create a larger hole in my SlikStik classic panel?

It requires a 28mm hole.


--- Quote from: Shoegazer on July 21, 2008, 01:05:49 pm ---3) Will the SpinTrak work with Vista through a USB hub?  My old Tornado will work through a hub in XP, but not Vista.

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Strange that the Tornado did not work in Vista. It will be fine in Vista.

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It does work in Vista, just not through a hub.  I assumed this was some flaw in the Tornado driver, but then, since the Tornado was not designed at a time when Vista was around, it's completely forgivable.  Also I'm not using any special drivers, just whatever is installed when you plug in the spinner in - is there an option to update?


RandyT:


--- Quote from: Shoegazer on July 21, 2008, 02:30:16 pm ---Anyone know if the TT2 spinner will work in a SlikStik classic panel easily (Randy)?

--- End quote ---

PM sent.

AndyWarne:


--- Quote from: RandyT on July 21, 2008, 01:49:54 pm ---
--- Quote from: AndyWarne on July 21, 2008, 01:34:50 pm ---
--- Quote from: KevSteele on July 21, 2008, 01:10:57 pm ---Then how did he blatantly rip off RandyT's design? Sounds like someone else already has a spinner similar to Randy's out there...

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Indeed. The entire unit is a DIN-standard encoder. The manufacturers part number is ENC 33/6DS-300AB/5V

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Let me get this straight:  The shaft, bearings, nut, threaded body of the same size and length as an arcade pushbutton is something that you are purchasing, "off the shelf", with no input of specifications by you to the company or being manufactured specifically for you?

Can you provide me with details of the manufacturer?

RandyT

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Any manufacturer who is designing a compact encoder using the Avago SMT reflective sensor chip will follow the Avago spec in terms of the diameter of the optical wheel and this would dictate the minimum overall diameter of the unit so any design using this technology would end up being approximately this size.
Although incremental encoders have many applications there was one main usage which this unit was aimed at, which was monitoring production line motion, having a rubber wheel attached to it, and mounted on a spring-loaded arm so needing to be compact and light.
We did specify the resolution and they were able to produce higher than their standard.
We also beat them up on price...

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