Captain,
I'm not sure what your referring to. It sounds like you have something specific in mind. I'll clarify a little bit with an example. I have an individual right now discussing an XLS-encore projects with me, and they are wanting to have a cabinet with a specific veneer and finish built for them. XLS-encore cabinet dimensions have long been published and available. If somebody can cut an XLS baffle at home, than they can also pay someone to cut one for them. My initial response to that inquiries was to first find out if anybody was offering front baffles for sale. It's not something I want to do. If there is an option available for purchase than that would be my preference. I can't find any available and nor could the person inquiring. If someone offers them for sale as baffle only, than please share that resource, I simply couldn't find it.
I've had multiple people express their preference to buy a baffle only. If a person doesn't want to pay a price that is possibly out of there comfort for a compete flat pack, but they want to buy a set of baffles only, I don't see the conflict. Many people build cabinets on their own. This forum is full of build threads. Im sure many people pay for help finishing, or painting, and if they want to pay for help cutting a baffle, I don't see how that is an intellectual property theft. Cutting circles to dimensions that are published, or to match a driver's physical dimensions seems like a pretty open source task.
Perhaps you are referring with your comments about prototype and development, to something a little more complex or more proprietary like the NX-Studio baffle. I agree with you that you have time invested into your specific design and to the coding for the cnc operations required. Those are yours and nobody is trying to take that from you. I am not trying to compete with that or undersell you in any way. However, in a moment of truth, the reality is that if somebody were to ask me or anyone else to provide them a pair of front baffles at a certain thickness, width, and height, and that a round opening was centered a certain height from bottom to accommodate a certain driver dimension, and that an opening was cut to match a certain tweeter, centered a certain height from top, and then chamfered at approximately 45 degrees in front, leading up and starting a short distance above the tweeter mount with some rounding on the front edge, and then providing a slight recess for mounting the tweeter in the rear, all of that could be performed with no knowledge or concern for your methods or your product. Personally, for me that would be a lot of work. I dont own a cnc machine so I'd cut that manually with the help of some power tools and jigs. It wouldn't be the same as yours, and it wouldn't be as nice as yours. If I fulfill that request did I actually steal your design? Is nobody ever able to make their own baffle for an NX-Studio? What if I want to make one for myself? What if I want to make one out of solid maple? Would you be willing to provide that service for me? Is nobody allowed to make their own baffles or their own cabinets?
I'm not sure why you would make so many assumptions, and specifically try to call me out in some public way, with some kind of insinuation that I would steal Danny's designs or anyone elses, and offer to sell kits or assemblies on my own, as if somehow I was here just trying to make a quick buck. People have asked me if I can do an assembly for them directly and I have sent them all to Danny and quickly rejected even the suggestion that I would steal or profit off of someone else's design. I hate thieves and I would never conduct myself that way. I've done nothing but go out of my way to provide a service to a small amount of customers who want that service, and have done so at a ridiculously low labor rate, below market rates and often times even below a minimum hourly wage. This isn't a profitable business, this is just me, part time, when I'm not working my full time day job, enjoying a hobby that I love, and offering myself in a service to those who want it.
If my goal was to try to make a quick buck, I certainly wouldn't be here offering assembly services at a ridiculously low rate. It would be much more efficient to go work at Starbucks and make more money, or I could just start selling flat packs for less than anyone else, which is certainly more profitable, but which I specifically stated I wasn't going to do.
I'm sorry that you felt threatened or felt cause for alarm. I have no desire to take anything from anyone. If you want to talk about anything or provide me with some correction than please send me an email or direct message. We can talk on the phone and I will discuss anything with you that you want, but I'm not going to get into a forum debate and start attacking or fighting with anyone over this.
Regarding baffles, I'm still on the fence. I deliberately am going out of my way to avoid conflicting with or trying to undercut anyone else. It would be very easy, when someone asks me about xls-encore cabinets which in my opinion is a published and non-proprietary item, to offer them a flat pack for less than the competition, but I haven't. If someone wants an XLS flat pack, they are available on the GR-research website for $150 plus shipping. That's my recommendation. However, I fail to see how someone who wants to build their own cabinet, but just wants help with the baffle, or perhaps wants a dimension slightly different, or wants it built from a different material, can not be offered that assistance.
I'll discuss the issue with Danny. If Danny tells me he doesn't want me to offer baffles, I won't. Simple as that. I'm not here to cause any harm. I'm a very small fish, and I'm sorry if the thought of me making a handful of baffles caused distress. If anyone else besides the Captain is bothered please reach out to me directly. I'm a very reasonable person and am willing to have that discussion with anyone. If I'm wrong somehow I will apologize and correct myself.
Elon