Comments on: Parts Nebula: a parts-tracking inventory system for makers

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cool idea, but the first part I searched for, a DPDT mini toggle switch, wasn’t in the database. Neither was the second part, a 2N3904 transistor (extremely common transistor, even sold at radio shack).

When they expand the database I’ll try it again.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

@lasttide this isn’t intended to be a compehensive database of components. there are plenty of those: see octopart.com, mcmaster.com, etc.

what it is intended to be is a way for people to easily list their parts, and share those list with other people. this is a collaborative, community based part lister that happens to have a parts database. :) of course since you looked at it on day #1 there are going to be a few parts missing as we only added the ones that we personally use.

cheers,
Zach Hoeken
thingiverse dev guy

By: Jason Olshefsky

Jason Olshefsky — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

This is approaching what I’d like to see: a database of parts makers can share. Why should you have to buy a 1/4 HP AC induction motor when I have one in their basement?

The unsolvable problems appear to be: (1) Wouldn’t other pack rats just take all my most expensive stuff?, (2) What’s the benefit of me inventorying all my treasure?, and (3) How the heck do you measure parts such that someone can find “a DC motor around 12 volts, or maybe 24 is okay too, that could power a bicycle”?

Internally, I already have an inventory management system and it’s a hassle, but I stick with it because I want to control it for backup purposes, customization, and privacy.

—Jason Olshefsky

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

The thingiverse and makerbot guys are great examples of good open source ideas and business in the OS hardware age. They’re smart enough to know that when everyone is doing their thing well, then everyone’s happy(their business is selling a reprap derivative/distro so it’s not surprising).

By: webmonkees

webmonkees — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

@Jason

1) the ‘abuse’ factor could be mitigated maybe maker points; Components are assigned value points; You give away 10 working 12v wall-warts, get 10 points toward that switching supply someone else is offering.

2) If I knew what I had, I’d never go to radio shack again. I know I have more than a radio shack, especially nowadays.

Don’t quite know how to take care of 3) though. The inventory system can’t quite share our imagination as a cross-reference guide.

Nearest I’ve had to this kind of trade-equity is swapping old arcade machine parts. Lots of durable, universal components, such as monitor brackets and metal control panels.

Always a need, and always an extra.

By: lasttide

lasttide — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Neat idea, but the database seems extremely limited. Neither of the first 2 parts I searched for, a DPDT toggle switch or a 2N3904 transistor, were there, and those are both common, standard parts.

By: jonathan_v

jonathan_v — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

no flux capacitors. boo.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Also see inventiondb.com

By: Drhaggis

Drhaggis — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Now makers, hobbyists and tinkerers can experience the joys of MRP database maintenance, bill of materials creation, and documentation control.

“Ceci n’est pas un BOM”?

By: friendpuppy

friendpuppy — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

@Haggis

Yep, that shit sucks. Done it.

By: Jason Olshefsky

Jason Olshefsky — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

@webmonkees,

I’m not really talking about “abuse” when I say pack rats will tend to take all they can. What I mean is that I — as a pack rat / collector — seek things that may be valuable to me in the future and that I fear will be not available in the future.

Here’s a specific example: I saw an adjustable bed on the curbside a few years ago. I spent 20 minutes stripping off the electronics: especially the electric linear actuators that made the thing work. I have no present use for them, although obviously they’re really cool. If I saw them on Craigslist under threat of being thrown away, I would go and get them.

Because people throw things away so much, how could someone be sure I won’t throw those actuators away? The solution: _they_ should be the guardian of the actuators. And if I were to put up a database for sharing, I fear it will cause a flurry of hoarding that really isn’t necessary.

I am considering a “requirement” that if you claim something from the collection of another, you can “hold” it for a certain amount of time until you are ready to use it, and you need to convince the current owner that you’re actually going to make something out of it and not just hoard it yourself.

What I don’t want is what you suggest: a sort of barter currency for parts. The problem with that system is that it requires the non-pack-rat to become one to join the club. I prefer the “my attic is your attic” model, even if it requires a bit more finesse.

As for what you say about 2, “if I knew what I had, I’d never go to radio shack again.” There are databases available, many for cheap or free. So why have you not inventoried what you have? That’s the rub. I haven’t inventoried everything I have because it’s _hard_ and I believe I know where things are (even though I don’t). Because I’m setting up a business building a couple specific products, I developed an inventory system, but — like most inventory control systems — it works great for when you have 200 widgets and want to be warned when you get down to 50, but it’s terrible when you have exactly 1 of 200 different kinds of things.

That said, I’m hoping my ReSassy Project will help me get one step closer to my dream. (That project is to take apart my old Civic and figure out where all the parts go.)

—Jason Olshefsky