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by Scene_Cast2 1847 days ago
This multiplier (800x2.5) seems much lower than I'd expect.

For prototype quantities (<100), I have consistently seen a multiplier of 8 or so, for the exact same spec (and verified within-spec after receiving the parts).

3 comments

That actually seems about right to me, at least for the type of mfg I'm used to. Compare low-run CNC quotes from Hubs (China) and Xometry (USA) - Xometry is usually ~2-3x the price. I've seen similar for IM prices although I have less experience there. One caveat is that in China it's relatively cheap to move stuff between factories (Say the part is made in factory 1, then painted in factory 2, then laser-etched in factory 3), whereas in the US as soon as you try to do that setup and freight gets really expensive really fast.

I don't know anything about PCBs or components, so I can't really comment there - maybe the multiplier is worse in that case.

One additional thing to consider is there are often grants or tax breaks for US or in-state manufacturing that can be VERY appealing depending on where you are and what you need done.

Can you recommend some other Xometry/Hubs competitors for hobby use?
Your multiplier looks about right if you compare the Librem USA Phone with a PinePhone.

The $800 price point is already inflated so that it can be made in the US.

Now compare the cost of individual parts between a PinePhone and a Librem 5.

These devices are nowhere near similar.

It’s so cheap it angers me.

Given the ultra-integrated supply chain over in China for high-tech parts & the comparatively low economies of scale here, this is almost a worst-case scenario - and the multiplier is 2.5? Surely that isn’t worth all of the deleterious consequences outsourcing has wrought.