If I was the owner, what would I do?

Doesn't castle have a stake in military stuff somewhat? I coulda swore they built some heavy duty controllers for military electric motor applications or something. Maybe I'm thinking Medusa though.

Anyways, if I owned CC, I would take an approach not unlike azjc's. Becoming the Traxxas of the ESC industry would mean tons of money, and more money means more potential to expand into other ventures. So once the company because something of that caliber, I would expand into Electric Vehicle controllers (1:1) and induction motors (1:1). I'd also continue to keep producing new and great stuff for RC cars, boats, and planes, and also possibly venture into some battery technology if possible.

[lutach]

Originally Posted by Five-oh-joe

Doesn't castle have a stake in military stuff somewhat? I coulda swore they built some heavy duty controllers for military electric motor applications or something. Maybe I'm thinking Medusa though.

Anyways, if I owned CC, I would take an approach not unlike azjc's. Becoming the Traxxas of the ESC industry would mean tons of money, and more money means more potential to expand into other ventures. So once the company because something of that caliber, I would expand into Electric Vehicle controllers (1:1) and induction motors (1:1). I'd also continue to keep producing new and great stuff for RC cars, boats, and planes, and also possibly venture into some battery technology if possible.

You might be thinking of Aveox. Now would be a great time for them to make a comeback. I think Castle had more sales then Traxxas did in 2007 so they aren't as small as we think. New and great stuff is what I'm looking for. Great ideas.

[Pdelcast]

Originally Posted by lutach

You might be thinking of Aveox. Now would be a great time for them to make a comeback. I think Castle had more sales then Traxxas did in 2007 so they aren't as small as we think. New and great stuff is what I'm looking for. Great ideas.

I don't know if we had more sales than Traxxas -- just don't know how much Traxxas did.

Between our Industrial, Hobby, and Military controllers we build between 20,000 and 30,000 controllers a month. Hobby is about 85% of our business (but industrial and military are growing.)

My biggest issue is getting time to work on hobby controllers and projects -- too much other stuff always taking my time...

[lutach]

Originally Posted by Pdelcast

I don't know if we had more sales than Traxxas -- just don't know how much Traxxas did.

Between our Industrial, Hobby, and Military controllers we build between 20,000 and 30,000 controllers a month. Hobby is about 85% of our business (but industrial and military are growing.)

My biggest issue is getting time to work on hobby controllers and projects -- too much other stuff always taking my time...

Traxxas had $3.5mil in sales for 2007 and Castle had $7mil. and that not bad at all. I know how it is. I'm not making much money now because my time is mostly for my daughter. I just started this to geather ideas and see what people would do. It's been a dream of my, but I'm not an engineer so I'll keep dreaming. Your company sure beats the hell out of Schulze when it comes to service and customer support.

[Pdelcast]

Originally Posted by lutach

Traxxas had $3.5mil in sales for 2007 and Castle had $7mil. and that not bad at all.

Hmmmmm... how do you know that?

[Pdelcast]

Also, pretty much everyone reuses PCBs. The power board that was originally designed for the Phoenix-80 is also used for the Phoenix-60, Phx-125, Phx-180, Phx-45HV, Phx-85HV, Phx-110HV, Phx-160HV, Hydra-120, 240, 60HV, 120HV, 180HV, 240HV, etc.

That board is a 6oz / layer, 6 layer board -- for approx .060" copper -- VERY EXPENSIVE circuit board. The next heaviest board I've seen in the industry uses 3oz copper, eight layers -- 24oz vrs 36oz for our power board.

[lutach]

Originally Posted by Pdelcast

Also, pretty much everyone reuses PCBs. The power board that was originally designed for the Phoenix-80 is also used for the Phoenix-60, Phx-125, Phx-180, Phx-45HV, Phx-85HV, Phx-110HV, Phx-160HV, Hydra-120, 240, 60HV, 120HV, 180HV, 240HV, etc.

That board is a 6oz / layer, 6 layer board -- for approx .060" copper -- VERY EXPENSIVE circuit board. The next heaviest board I've seen in the industry uses 3oz copper, eight layers -- 24oz vrs 36oz for our power board.

Patrick, help me understand one thing. You have mentioned the the hardware from the controllers mentioned above are not compatible with the Mamba software right? Please explain to me in terms that a non engineer guy can understand? I see other companies transform their aircraft controllers into car controllers and I would love to get my HV110 and possibly a SHV with a car software, not the Mamba, but something simple that would allow me to use a pistol radio and be able to use a car brake as I don't have many cars with mechanical brakes. I always thought it was just as simple as changing the software.

Originally Posted by Pdelcast

I don't know if we had more sales than Traxxas -- just don't know how much Traxxas did.

Between our Industrial, Hobby, and Military controllers we build between 20,000 and 30,000 controllers a month. Hobby is about 85% of our business (but industrial and military are growing.)

My biggest issue is getting time to work on hobby controllers and projects -- too much other stuff always taking my time...

I win!!! I win!!!



Patrick, why go to Jamaica when you got that cute little Lotus you can drive all over the place? C'mon....that's GOTTA be a fun little car! (I dare you to throw a supercharger or turbo on it.....)

And DAMN. You had double the amount of sales as Traxxas did if Lutach's numbers are even somewhat close! Whew! Looks like I should take that part out of my post now huh? Haha!

So Patrick; ever thought about getting into the Electric Vehicle market? I bet you could make a pretty kickass controller for the next gen Tesla Roadster eh?

[Pdelcast]

Originally Posted by Five-oh-joe

I win!!! I win!!!



Patrick, why go to Jamaica when you got that cute little Lotus you can drive all over the place? C'mon....that's GOTTA be a fun little car! (I dare you to throw a supercharger or turbo on it.....)

And DAMN. You had double the amount of sales as Traxxas did if Lutach's numbers are even somewhat close! Whew! Looks like I should take that part out of my post now huh? Haha!

So Patrick; ever thought about getting into the Electric Vehicle market? I bet you could make a pretty kickass controller for the next gen Tesla Roadster eh?

Dude, I live in Kansas --- I don't think there is a curvy piece of road to drive my Lotus on in the entire state. It's sad, but I haven't had the Lotus out since March... :*(

We've been looking at the EV market very closely. There is a lot of potential there. :)

[jhautz]

Originally Posted by Five-oh-joe

Patrick, why go to Jamaica when you got that cute little Lotus you can drive all over the place? C'mon....that's GOTTA be a fun little car! (I dare you to throw a supercharger or turbo on it.....)

Just make it brushless.




If I was the owner of CC Id have someone look into the fans on the Monster Max. I have 2 and they both died in a matter of 30 minutes of track time.

[skellyo]

Originally Posted by Pdelcast

I don't know if we had more sales than Traxxas -- just don't know how much Traxxas did.

Between our Industrial, Hobby, and Military controllers we build between 20,000 and 30,000 controllers a month. Hobby is about 85% of our business (but industrial and military are growing.)

My biggest issue is getting time to work on hobby controllers and projects -- too much other stuff always taking my time...

Patrick,

I'd like some more information on your military controllers. I work in the defense industry (Lockheed Martin) and sometimes have a need for a COTS servo controller/amplifier. I know some of my coworkers would love to have the information as well. Should I e-mail you directly to get this information?

Thanks,
Sean

That's one helluva motor Lutach! What diameter was the motor for it to be able to rev that high? That's one helluva battery pack too... Each cell putting out 750 amps continuos is insane. I can only imagine how big each cell is!

[lutach]

Originally Posted by Five-oh-joe

That's one helluva motor Lutach! What diameter was the motor for it to be able to rev that high? That's one helluva battery pack too... Each cell putting out 750 amps continuos is insane. I can only imagine how big each cell is!

The motor is not big at all for the amount of power it puts out. The size of the motor is around 20 inches in length and 10 inches in diameter and it weighs only 150lbs. The battery is 35mm in diameter and 165mm high.

I was watching a special on the car, and one of the engineers was holding a cell out of the pack. Looked exactly like the A123 cell (even had that dorky white cardboard wrap on it). I think A123 may have it on their site as well. I also remember them saying something about the voltage being 3.3v per cell, and the A123s are the only ones that I know of which that nominal voltage (I do believe there are some chinese rip offs of the a123 chemistry now though).

Edit: can't find anything on the cell used. The more I think about it, it's probably not an A123 cell, as this was before A123 had their 18650 size out IIRC. Still neat though.

I've seen the Eliica, and it is UGLY! Nice power output though. It's definitely a piggy when it comes to weight (about 5000lbs.!). The 0-60 time is impressive for something that weighs as much as that thing, and the 8 wheel drive certainly helps it scoot. The Roadster is about the same 0-60, if not a tad less than a tenth or so of a second faster though...hehehe.

Besides.....the Tesla screams "sexay!!!". The Eliica screams "fugly!".

Nice specs on the motor too Lutach. Definitely not a huge motor by any means. 150lbs. isn't too bad either. If you're relatively fit, you could swap that sucker in yourself.... What kinda transmission, if any, were you looking to mate it to? That's something else that's interesting about electric cars. The ones that I've seen either have wheel hub motors (so direct drive), or only like, two speed trannys due to their torque curves and the fact that they can produce power almost anywhere they need to; area under the curve is massive compared to an ICE. Imagine a CVT or CVP (look up NuVinci) mated to an electric powerplant. That'd be pretty neat. Unnecessary, but neat.

[lutach]

Originally Posted by Five-oh-joe

I was watching a special on the car, and one of the engineers was holding a cell out of the pack. Looked exactly like the A123 cell (even had that dorky white cardboard wrap on it). I think A123 may have it on their site as well. I also remember them saying something about the voltage being 3.3v per cell, and the A123s are the only ones that I know of which that nominal voltage (I do believe there are some chinese rip offs of the a123 chemistry now though).

Edit: can't find anything on the cell used. The more I think about it, it's probably not an A123 cell, as this was before A123 had their 18650 size out IIRC. Still neat though.

I've seen the Eliica, and it is UGLY! Nice power output though. It's definitely a piggy when it comes to weight (about 5000lbs.!). The 0-60 time is impressive for something that weighs as much as that thing, and the 8 wheel drive certainly helps it scoot. The Roadster is about the same 0-60, if not a tad less than a tenth or so of a second faster though...hehehe.

Besides.....the Tesla screams "sexay!!!". The Eliica screams "fugly!".

Nice specs on the motor too Lutach. Definitely not a huge motor by any means. 150lbs. isn't too bad either. If you're relatively fit, you could swap that sucker in yourself.... What kinda transmission, if any, were you looking to mate it to? That's something else that's interesting about electric cars. The ones that I've seen either have wheel hub motors (so direct drive), or only like, two speed trannys due to their torque curves and the fact that they can produce power almost anywhere they need to; area under the curve is massive compared to an ICE. Imagine a CVT or CVP (look up NuVinci) mated to an electric powerplant. That'd be pretty neat. Unnecessary, but neat.

What impressed me the most about the Eliica is the top speed. Tesla doesn't come close to it. The motor that I'm looking at will be capable of speeds close to or faster then the Eliica, but it will all depend on gearing. I kind of gave up on it after the price kept going up, but with that motor I was going to basically try and see if hooking it to a 3:1 IRS rear end would do the trick.