Jim
How long before we can drop some cash and have the kit sent? You still working out the price? - I would love black or a dark blue
Quote from earlier:
Of course, buyers could always arrange to swap colored parts with each other if they really wanted to.
Hmmm, gold body with red legsā¦
Lynxmotion could possibly offer the kit of each color and then also offer the parts separately so if a user wanted toā¦ they could make a rainbow phoenixā¦
Is there a ETA for this kit? I wont be able to get one by Xmas anyways but if it was released by the end of January that would be super. Will this kit be available with out electronics(except servos) unlike the CHR-3?
Read the thread.
The ETA is aimed for xmas. If not then, it might be a bit late. Jim is working very hard getting the kit ready for under the tree.
If I were to offer the parts individually I would inevitably end up with odd parts left over with no way to sell them. This project will be offered as a kit of parts for full kits only. I am already thinking of changes for the next run of parts. lol 
I canāt argue with Jimās assessment of the business model and wouldnāt try even if I had a reason to as it is his business.
I think the solution is realitively simple, we start a swap thread and see who would be interested in exchanging parts. If yāall would be willing to trust me, Iād be willing to serve as the middleman for the swaps.
The process would work as follows:
Customer A posts that he would like to swap his red legs for some gold legs
Customer B replies that he will take that swap.
Both Customer A and B mail their legs ( 
) to me
When I have received both sets I send the legs on to the right person.
If Customer A sends his legs to me but Customer B doesnāt, I return Customer Aās legs to him.
Would this work?
Might work, except Iām not sure most people know where āIn duh 'kotasā is
Just a thoughtā¦
The parts that are left over can be used to make kitsā¦ So say you have a bunch of green parts left over that no one wants to buyā¦ Simply use them in a green full kit instead of ordering a new batch of green parts.
The best way to go 'bout this I think is to get the same amount of each color. Except more black and silver as they would probably most popular. Then see which sells out first and order more based on the demand.
I like the idea, but I mean, this has to be hard on Jimās part. Im sure having a certain number of different SES instock would be hard to manage, especially when some sell at different rates, especially iregular rates.
Like I said, I like the idea a lot, but I wouldnāt put so much pressure on LM to do it. 
Anodizing is pretty cheap if you know where to look. Maybe they will sell a kit that has no finish.
Um, what?.. 
The reply I wrote was to explain why I canāt break up legs and bodies and sell them individually. What insures the legs and bodies will still be equal in quantity in your scenario.
The parts are in production so I need to get the anodizer sorted out soon. I have requested quotes from two places in the Chicago area. I have only received one reply so far. You know of any good places?
I know a few near me in southeast Michigan but not in the chicago area. Have you ever thought of anodizing the parts in house? There a few nasty chemicals involved if you clean the material but the process itself is pretty simple. Some people do it as a hobby.
I know two places in San Jose, CA. Iāve been thinking about trying them.
Iāve also found a kit for a little over $100. Canāt find the URL, must be in my other computer. Mabe split the kit with someone?
Alan KM6VV
The real process of anodizing requires current to run thru the piece as it sits in the chemical bath. This gives you the best coating. These kits might work nicely but for another hundered bucks you could have some local shop do it professionally. I got a price for a Hex I custom built for about $185 at the most and less depending on the color. About 60 pieces. As long as it fits on there tray. The color would most likly look brighter and not sure on this but might be more scratch resist since it might be a thicker coating. Thicker anodizing layer. Most of the cost was setup fees.
Paul
Hi Paul,
Have you done anything with CNC? Just curious. Good comments on anodizing, from what Iāve read. Iāve got a pair of battery chargers, or I can wire up a simple DC power supply as needed. Add a VARIAC on the front end of the PS, and that should be sufficient for anodizing OR plating. But both are messy! Maybe Iāll get brave and get a quote from the SJ shops I mentioned.
Yes, Iād expect that they could do a better job! But if a kit was divided among a few experimenters, it could be useful.
Alan KM6VV
I do have a benchtop CNC mill that I made in the shop. And all my parts are milled on it. I just picked up a 20ton press about 2ft by 2ft by 5ft in size that i plan to use the mill to make rough dies or the edm to make more precise dies. Mostly for complicated brackets and such.
If there several of you guys I wouldnt even mess with the kit. Depending on the size of your pieces they might not be as costly as you would think. I guess it doesnt matter per piece but what can fit in the bin when they anodize. The smaller the pieces the more they fit. Sure it might take more time to get the smaller pieces ready hooking them up and such but only one bath. Compared to larger pieces and more setups. Take it I have never seen how they do this just been told so I might be wrong on this. Plus doing it your self just sounds like a pain in the ass. Then theres the clean up.
Paul
Hello All,
The Lynxmotion Phoenix has been put on hold. The new place I was working with has jacked up the prices beyond a reasonable amount just for adding the brushed finish. I have another place I am going to work with to try and get reasonable prices.
Itās not all bad news though. I was rushing this through and I didnāt have time to finish the design properly. There is no micro servo hole for a pan and tilt head, and the feet have no ground detection switches. My final decision was based on prices, but the bot REALLY needs ground contact switches on the feet, and it was the final straw that killed the current project. Note, the switch kit doesnāt necessarily have to be part of the kit, it can be an option. So there has to be some sort of mounting hole in place as a minimumā¦
Iām really sorry for the bad news. I have been trying to resolve all of the issues to no avail and my sanity has to be worth something. I just need more timeā¦
I have found my anodizer of choice. So when I get the parts we are ready to go with them. They have a good quality control and provide samples so there are no worries as to the color depth issue.
If anyone wants to chime in on how to create a reliable ground detection switch for a leg made from 0.125" aluminum plate I am all ears. I have a pretty good idea what I want to do, but would like to hear of any ideas from you guys. The foot switch has some pretty difficult design criteria though. It has to have a small deadband, for lack of a better term. I mean there canāt be a lot of slop between touching the ground and when the switch actually engages. It has to detect contact from different angles. It has to engage with as little a weight applied as possible. Not a lot to go on I know. I will post some sketches of my ideas as soon as I can.
I will promise that the delay in creating Phoenix will result in a cheaper and much better bot. Sorry guys!
Iāve gotā¦ ā¦$2.64. That enough?