The Pipe Dream: I think it's going to happen
Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 9:08 pm
Well, folks, I think the Pipe Dream is actually going to happen. What makes me think so? Some things have happened in recent days.....
1) A month ago Boss's Boss asked me to make a list of everything I need to buy. This after I told him that I could do it for "Probably $5k-10k excluding labor." He couldn't believe that price until I explained that we already HAD all the major components in our inventory; they just needed assembly. While I've been saying that from the beginning I don't think he'd caught that part. At that point is demeanor really brightened.
2) A week ago Boss has asked me if I've got sabots for a certain projectile designed. I said no and explained that it was because I would have plenty of time to design those details even after construction had started. He asked me how fast the gun could be built. I told him it was a matter of priorities. If it was always at the back of the line, it could take years to pick away at it, but if it was moved to top priority I could probably have it ready for some form of test by late July. I followed that up with a statement along the lines of, "Is the priority changing?" He answered to the effect that there were back-room negotiations discussing it and that it could very well end up being a high priority.
3) Yesterday there was a meeting where in one of our marketing guys pitched the gun to a customer of ours. Basically he was asking for $60k to fund it's construction. The customer would, obviously, benefit from the gun should it work as advertised. I didn't make it to work today (kid was sick) so I don't know the results of that meeting, but the very fact that such a meeting took place is a great sign.
4) I've recently finished up a complete redesign of the major systems of the gun. It is a MUCH cleaner design now that should be easier to build AND use (I'll get some pics up when I can.)
5) And the biggest reason why I think it'll get built? We just hired another welder. That means our backlog of work should get busted out. That means that we'll have time for low priority projects that never before saw the light of day.
1) A month ago Boss's Boss asked me to make a list of everything I need to buy. This after I told him that I could do it for "Probably $5k-10k excluding labor." He couldn't believe that price until I explained that we already HAD all the major components in our inventory; they just needed assembly. While I've been saying that from the beginning I don't think he'd caught that part. At that point is demeanor really brightened.
2) A week ago Boss has asked me if I've got sabots for a certain projectile designed. I said no and explained that it was because I would have plenty of time to design those details even after construction had started. He asked me how fast the gun could be built. I told him it was a matter of priorities. If it was always at the back of the line, it could take years to pick away at it, but if it was moved to top priority I could probably have it ready for some form of test by late July. I followed that up with a statement along the lines of, "Is the priority changing?" He answered to the effect that there were back-room negotiations discussing it and that it could very well end up being a high priority.
3) Yesterday there was a meeting where in one of our marketing guys pitched the gun to a customer of ours. Basically he was asking for $60k to fund it's construction. The customer would, obviously, benefit from the gun should it work as advertised. I didn't make it to work today (kid was sick) so I don't know the results of that meeting, but the very fact that such a meeting took place is a great sign.
4) I've recently finished up a complete redesign of the major systems of the gun. It is a MUCH cleaner design now that should be easier to build AND use (I'll get some pics up when I can.)
5) And the biggest reason why I think it'll get built? We just hired another welder. That means our backlog of work should get busted out. That means that we'll have time for low priority projects that never before saw the light of day.
