Where to get a custom BCD made?

[Bennno]

Hi folks,
does anyone know a company that could make wings/inner bladders? It's seems there are hardly any manufacturers left in the US and I only know of one OEM.
There are a few in eastern Europe and I already spoke to a couple... they either don't wanna make it (donno why, I assume it's bcause they have a deal with their customers or they already have too much money) or the communication is very difficult. Flying to Asia is not an option as this is just a small project.
Any advice would be appriciated.
If this is the wrong forum please move the thread. I didn't really know where to post the question.

 

[RainPilot]

What in particular are you looking to customise? That might help pinpoint a solution for you.

 

[tbone1004]

sidemount rig...

 

[TravisD]

@cool_hardware52 (Tobin, Deep Sea Supply) manufactures Wings/bladders in California...

 

[RainPilot]

I am curious as to the reason, there are so many options for various bladder and wing configurations out there that seem to cover every requirement. Is it a question of fit for an unusual body morphology or do you have a specific application that requires a unique wing?

 

[cool_hardware52]

Hi folks,
does anyone know a company that could make wings/inner bladders? It's seems there are hardly any manufacturers left in the US and I only know of one OEM.
There are a few in eastern Europe and I already spoke to a couple... they either don't wanna make it (donno why, I assume it's bcause they have a deal with their customers or they already have too much money) or the communication is very difficult. Flying to Asia is not an option as this is just a small project.
Any advice would be appriciated.
If this is the wrong forum please move the thread. I didn't really know where to post the question.

Inflatables typically require patterns for both the bladder and the shell, and welding dies for the bladder. All of this requires a **LOT** of time and money. The cost of going from a sketch to a finished, tested, reliable product is weeks of time, generally several prototypes of each part, and perhaps $1000-$2000 in non reoccurring expenses.

Very few people seeking a "one off" are ready to pay wha it actually costs.

Tobin

 

[Bennno]

@RainPilot
I have a design that I'm looking to get manufactured. I made it from scratch and I already have the 8th version or so. As Ton said, it's a sidemount rig.

@cool_hardware52
I already have spend a lot of time and money.
I will need to get an electrode made and I'm aware of the cost of it. I'm not looking for somebody to do the design work for me. I've been looking for OEMs since I thought It would be a conflict of interest for people like you to make stuff for somebody else.

 

[cool_hardware52]

@RainPilot
I have a design that I'm looking to get manufactured. I made it from scratch and I already have the 8th version or so. As Ton said, it's a sidemount rig.

@cool_hardware52
I already have spend a lot of time and money.
I will need to get an electrode made and I'm aware of the cost of it. I'm not looking for somebody to do the design work for me. I've been looking for OEMs since I thought It would be a conflict of interest for people like you to make stuff for somebody else.

Trust me the path between a "personal use" prototype and something ready to be offered to the general public is neither short or inexpensive.

The fact remains that product development is very expensive, and few are willing to pay the real costs associated with that.

Those with the resources, i.e. the cad systems and the machine tools and the RF welders and the inventory of materials have typically been approached *far too* many times by somebody with no appreciation of the efforts and costs associated with real live product development. These "dreamers" typically want *ME* to shoulder nearly all of the cost and risk in exchange for the chance to manufacturer goods that 1) May never be a commercial success, 2) For which there is very likely *zero* marketing budget.

This is why it's fairly easy to get 500-1000 of some finished design produced, and next to impossible to get "one offs" made.

I too faced these problems when I was starting out. My solution was to buy / build / master the many processes required to create what I wanted without having to try and convince jaded manufacturers that they should interrupt their production line, and direct their most qualified people to solving my problem, which very likely they would never be adequately compensated for.

I don't own 9 CNC machines, ~30 other major machine tools, RF welding Equipment, 3 injection Molding Machines, an injection mold shop, sewing shop, Waterjet cutting Machine etc. etc.etc. because it's easy to get prototypes made. I have this stuff (and get to maintain it, pay taxes on it, and keep it out of the rain) precisely because I wanted to have the fewest possible impediments between my ideas and tangible goods.

Sorry I don't have an easy answer to your problem, but that's because there is *no* easy answer. If you wish to see your project produced bring money, lots of it.

Tobin

 

[Bennno]

As I said I already have the product, I need someone to make the bladder. All these machines you have are not nessassary for the rig I have.
I used to work in R&D documentation/prototype manufactoring for the wind/solar industry and I'm well aware what it entails. Documentation and testing of dive gear is much more complex and expensive in Europe than in the US. The taxes and utilities are also much higher. Lucky you.

Who says when a design is finished anyways? There are a lot of crappy rigs on the market, apparently they got it made, so I don't get what you trying to say.

If you wish to see your project produced bring money, lots of it.

I asked if someone knows a company, I didn't asked for free stuff. So let's assume you build rig, how is this better or more production worthy than mine? I can have stuff sewn and welded as much as you can.

 

[diver 85]

@cool_hardware52 (Tobin, Deep Sea Supply) manufactures Wings/bladders in California...

If anyone here------ie SB---would know, he would..........