I didn't want to sell them retail, I just want to sell direct to consumer via my web site. Are you thinking that the import duties are going to cost a lot? I figured someone could still get good bang for the buck using a welder without pulse features along with my device, then spending nearly double for a welder with pulse features.You wont sell it in the UK after tax and exchange rates etc. then just based on the fact that it generally changes US retail by dollars to sterling plus some £350--£400 to upgrade a cheap TIG ? I don't think you will get people queuing up. Just my opinion mind
Maker, these devices cost a lot more than you think. I have a small profit margin on these at the moment, as my goal is to get some of them out there for people to check out. Take a look at my circuit board that is inside the device:Woah, $350, I missed that part. How on earth can you justify that? What μC are you using?
You must be making an huge mark-up on that. It can't cost more than $50 for the components. Using SMD components will be cheaper and can be reflow soldered to reduce your labour (Assuming you don't already do this). I'm guessing the alu case cost's a fair bit but that could easily be downgraded to plastic and still function as well.
Someone could easily build their own using an ATtiny, AD5171 (digital pot) and a display like this (which could be swapped for 7 seg displays and indicator LEDs) and it would come in at less than £50.
You might have some luck selling it as a kit to solder yourself and starting it on Kickstarter but I have to agree with Kent and Richard, I can'e see it selling as-is, sorry.
Most of the components are SMD, and everything about the TIG Perfect is high quality. It also had to be designed specifically to withstand the huge amount of interference a TIG welder puts off. The end plates are CNC'ed, there is labor cost to assemble (even down to assembling the wires, and running circuit boards through a testing jig), and all of it adds up quickly. Sure, I could save a little money and use a cheap display and a cheap plastic case...but I take pride in my work, and I want it to be as robust & reliable as possible, and I want it to be nice and have a high quality feel to it. I also wanted an intuitive interface so that is why I am using a nice screen. If the community really wanted this thing to be as cheap as possible, it could be done, I just don't know if that's a reasonable thing to do.