Custom Bats Cricket Forum
Companies => B3 Cricket => Custom companies => B3 Cricket => Topic started by: junter97 on August 29, 2012, 09:21:10 PM
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Just seen on twitter that B3 cricket (when all set up etc.) will have a feature on their website where you can design your own bat and then a cnc machine will make it for you. Is this the start of a big change of custom cricket bats or just a variation on how to get a custom made bat? Does this kind of thing appeal to people? I also wonder what the prices will be like because a cnc is not cheap that's for sure.
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Very interested indeed and if they kept my formula I may purchase more than 1
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The site is cool. And prices are from about £170ish from memory.
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just subscribed to there subscription list,i'm very interested to see what comes out of it
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When they coming online Tom
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£170 is very reasonable!
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And what do you mean by your formula Dave? An old bat design on a cnc or something?
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When they coming online Tom
Don't know exactly, but their website was nearly finished when I saw it so wouldn't think very long.
£170 is very reasonable!
I should say FROM £170 - you can specify grades and the cheapest was around that price.
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Ahh that changes it all then. I suspect we'll be looking at around £280. Which, to be fair, is still reasonable seeing the comments from Paul about Gray Nicolls' top range prices and looking at other brands top models.
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It'll be interesting how they get on, but to be honest you can't beat a hand made bat ;)
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The set up all looks good and the idea is very good but lets hope there is a good bat maker on board and I hope to visit when its all open
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A good finisher is all I want
No got a laver pb here had it nearly 5 years and no every measurement but could send them my bat that is my ultimate profile
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An interesting USP, but surely a recipe for disaster? If it's CNC'd, how will the Master Bat Maker balance it/make sure it feels right? I always thought the only reason CNC'ing worlks for "those that do" is that the profiles are tested within an inch of their lives to be balance-able (within a certain reason).
And I can imagine all of the bespoke/bespokeish makers/suppliers on here are dying to tell you they'll do the same simply if you send them an MS Paint sketch of your design ;)
Would love to see some of the requests...And whinges when their 'low middle/cut off shoulder" bat doesn't pick up like their mates Amplus :lol:
Though (despite the above, really!) I do wish all involved really well, nice to see someone doing something different ;)
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And you get to watch B1 and B2 making them
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Think I will sit on the fence till a few examples have been made and a few reviews are up... But in all honesty hand made is the way its ment to be.. :D
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what would be clever is if the design software made the calculations on weight and pickup index itself.
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what would be clever is if the design software made the calculations on weight and pickup index itself.
That would be tough I guess, as I presume you have to calculate how dense each cleft is and then all of the other calculations that go with that.
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Website is up, looks good http://www.b3cricket.com
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yes they do a academy sized things for midgets yes
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Decent looking website, easy to navigate etc...
More expensive then what I imagined though..
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Profile:P3
Edge:E1
Spine:S3
my spec
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no distinction profile, expected more of Streaky :D
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Profile:P3
Edge:E1
Spine:S3
my spec
Mine is P2, E6 and S6
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do they have their own press? or will gm be pressing the bats?
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Decent looking website, easy to navigate etc...
More expensive then what I imagined though..
Just my opinion though but this is where i feel it is let down. I guess with such a cool idea of online ordering of your own customisable bat that the whole thing would be wrapped in an amazing finish.
Whilst its not "bad", its not really "wow" either. It doesn't look like a designer has touch on it more someone that understands the applications as there are few things a good designer wouldn't do. The About Us page has a lot of them in one place, it's just so busy.
It seems like a massive "gripe" but I really wish Streaky well as he's helped me out personally with a few charitable things but i just can't help feel underwhelmed by the whole "look and feel" and that it deserved more effort.
As for the things that really matter, i'm guessing that the bats will look stunning i just can't see that lad sending out anything less than a great looking bat. But it's also nice to see someone use cnc as a positive.
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I said the same to Streaky. I think it's the typography which feels most off.
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One thing that isn't too clear, is when you're choosing your shape - the little picture of the bat is a bit too small and doesn't show enough detail to be honest. There are a few words in there that may confuse the novice customer as well I feel.
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All this said though, I haven't been this excited by a new cricket brand in a long time. I'm really tempted to order one.
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I suspect i might order one tonight
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All this said though, I haven't been this excited by a new cricket brand in a long time. I'm really tempted to order one.
Agreed, I am tempted the concept looks excellent. Website is cluttered, overly detailed
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have they got private equity backing? If so does anyone know who?
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All this said though, I haven't been this excited by a new cricket brand in a long time. I'm really tempted to order one.
True. its really good to see someone embrace the machine and add value to it by opening up selection features via the web.
I said the same to Streaky. I think it's the typography which feels most off.
It just lacks any natural sophistication that you'd want to align with such a proposition. Most people early on wont give a monkeys its just more of a personal want to see something that would really challenge others at the top of the tree. And its an area of where you can always add a certain amount of control to how you want people to view you.
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have they got private equity backing? If so does anyone know who?
I'm sure a cheeky pm to Tom would answer your question lol.
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It just lacks any natural sophistication that you'd want to align with such a proposition. Most people early on wont give a monkeys its just more of a personal want to see something that would really challenge others at the top of the tree. And its an area of where you can always add a certain amount of control to how you want people to view you.
I sense you're angling for work lol
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Honestly the pricing is a bit of a letdown. £225 for the "stock shape bats" with their level 2 willow (minimum 6 grains only) is pretty underwhelming. This becomes £250 for a custom shape. And add on another £70 if you want top shelf willow.
So what benefits am I getting from the CNC process, that warrant the premium over what the other forum sponsors charge for their hand crafted bats?
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i thought their angle was to produce trade price bats to the public, I'm struggling to see the angle here ?
is it a case of our cnc is considerably better than yours :)
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Prefer my MH or BB bat at a fraction of the cost.
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I sense you're angling for work lol
Ha ha ha, i have offered! But seriously its such a cool idea i guess i just expected more or something really cool. But i'd offer a bit of my time if they wanted it for NOTHING just to put my money where my mouth is. And that doesnt happen very often ;)
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"super competitive prices." Come on! Really? Super competitive? I sense a tad of hyperbole.
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it does not mention bows in the blade or have i missed it
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About to order a bugger this is to get it just right I keep changing
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1, 2 or 3 stripe?
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1 strip proberbly custom all I can afford
Wife has another Florida planned
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P3
E4
S4
Looks interesting. £165 isn't bad for a degree of customisation.
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It bloody would not let me order went to pay then nothing
Order it tomorrow I guess
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I like the site actually
specially it has the robotic/computerized feel with the Font styles - kind of promoting the machine part of your process
You and crictech make a perfect combo ;)
The Shipping is toooooooooo much though
Max i have paid is 35 gbp but the site is asking for 60 gbp - pls fix that
(http://i1063.photobucket.com/albums/t518/i12breakfree/b3Defect.jpg)
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I don't see what the difference is with this and with a bat bought from a brand on here who use Tim Keeley's cnc.
you speak to them agree a shape the bat is machined and presto...
sorry you get better deals on this forum than off that website and for me it isn't all that exciting.
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Totally agree Buzzard, I couldn't have put it better myself
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I would bet I've ordered more TK bats than anyone on this forum, but still get excited by the prospect of a buyer being able to 3d model a bat. Now whilst the execution can be improved, the concept I feel is vastly different to ringing up a forum sponsor who may/may not use Tim Keeley and asking for a shape down the telephone and hoping they understand.
The ability to play with edges, profiles and shapes is fun. Anyone who's used Nike ID can testify, it's fun to create the wildest and wackiest looking product. And the prospect of seeing and know what you're going to get before placing the order thanks to the 3d modelling, means there's no mis-understandings.
Aask anyone who's tried to order a 'Symonds' shape bat from TK, it's a shape which is on the machine 'somewhere' but he can't remember which one. With this tool, a buyer will have their profile and exact weight saved, and they can ring up or order and expect an almost exact copy of the bat they ordered last year. You can also speak directly to the men behind the machining, rather can going through a company, who will pass on the message to Nick, who will pass on the message to Tim.
And Jnr bats getting the same service too. Even TK doesn't do that, Newbery outsouce their production to SA and India.
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I agree with Tom, it cuts out the middle man effectively. I was disappointed by prices though - I guess a fully bespoke service for less than £200 might appeal, but the idea of their 3rd tier of willow does not.
I guess it might depend on how much input you have to picking your cleft.
Is there a guide to their willow grading on the site? I looked at the site briefly the other day.
Look forward to the CI boys doing some in depth coverage of the end to end process
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All I know is I can not pay for one it just will not let me
I love the idea yes some fine tuning and I guess there onto a winner
Maybe I am a bit of a bat nerd but this feeds that and is different indeed I fully expect to receive what I order.
What a refreshing way to do things for a person like me who can not just travel to mainland it gives me a chance to get what I want in a profile I want in a weight
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Right, here's the tricky bit of this one for me. Cadcam systems are not cheap, so you need volume to cover cost, and finishing will still be difficult without doing some by hand. This leads me to believe that you won't get any real price differentials and you them have to ask who does I it better? A podshaver you visit and who makes it in front of you our the cnc that makes it to your specs?
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....so why not design you bat using B3, then print out the designs and take to the podshaver of your choice to make the design in grade 1 willow for £100 cheaper? :o
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Plus one thing has been missed here. Judge them on cost once you have the finished product in your hand.
You never know it could be something worth the money...
And i agree with procricket, i think once they (B3) have had time to catch breath and revisit certain aspects, a little polish and its a good idea with appeal and huge potential too. Especially to people outside this forum.
Yes you maybe able to get TK to make different shapes and alike, but even here who does? Each week there's chatter about a new bat and the next 10 posts comment that its just someone else's with different stickers and that it comes from TK.
They have made a solid and good contribution to keeping on their toes and for that fair play. i have my opinions on certain aspects but until there is a bat in my hands i'll hold judgement on how well priced they are or where they fit in the grand scheme of things.
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Because of this
Hate to say this but I can and do get grade 1 bats made rot my spec for a little less than 200 pound all made in front of me from start to finish the willow of my choice and everything
I see everybody going mad on this forum about certain deals where if you look around there cheaper on other websites without the so called deals
Because there is choice beyond this forum and I want to try something new out something not made by tk enterprise
This is it it may not be 3 stripe for me but I suspect because of the unique way in my eyes of this I guess i willing to give it a go being a bat nerd
Infact johnny not a totally daft idea
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I'm not questioning the product. I suspect it is unlikely to be rubbish. I'm wondering about the process and the cost in the buying decision given the view that people have that automation equates to reduced cost!
More to the point, if there was no mention of cnc, and the b3 pitch was "You design the bat and we make it to the millimetre", would we even be having this conversation?
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Isn't the 'bespoke' option with most companies all a bit smoke and mirrors anyway? Surely they just pick whatever cleft they have in the yard that mostly resembles your request then call it 'made for you'! Seen a few in my time that have not even closely resembled the requested specs of the owner (after all, there's only so many shapes around)...
If this process had some guarantee that it would genuinely be yours (and made only for you) from start to finish (and they get a reputation for doing so) then it could work.
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At least they're honest about their process unlike a lot of companies. The price is a little tasty but, like a few others, I'm going to reserve judgement until I see the finished article.
As I said on another thread and as Tom has mentioned here, I would feel a lot more comfortable ordering a 'bespoke' bat from a company like this who are honest about what they do than a 'brand' who's bespoke service amounts to nothing more than passing on your requirements to someone else who then passes it on to someone else who then taps it into a machine.....that's just chinese whispers....you'll never get exactly what you want however well intentioned the brand is.
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Wasn't there a bat being sold here for 400 odd GBP a short while back? and it did sell...person who got had no say in the design, so in that sense B3 is better...although I do think it would be nice to have the prices come down a little so more ppl can afford it.....
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One thing I dont like about this is that it isn't truly custom. They'll have all the many options possible already made up. Like all that P1 E1 S1 is already done they'll just choose the one that matches what you asked for.
Still interesting to see how they get on though
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Well just had a good chat with B3 and to be honest they are cricket enthusiast like you or aye and i can confirm they know there stuff.
They responded to my bombardment of emails and Facebook and i have gone with custom profile 3, edge 6, spine 1,.
What impressed me most was they were asking for answers from me about what i wanted weight not just dead but pick up and grains heartwood and so on and they talked in depth about what the offer without giving you waffle about how there the best and what not.
I look forward to reviewing the bat and so happy to get the shape i wanted
There was no hard sell either and Michael was a throughly nice bloke and it not often i say that.
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Realistically I thought this process would cut the cost, as the shaping process is done by a machine - however I do understand there are overheads with this and obviously a big cost up front for the machine etc... However after a while, this would paid itself off.
With this, you can't really get the personal touch either. As these are quite rigid with how your bat is shaped - and again it really depends on the density of the cleft - much like the GM bats, to how your bat will pick up etc...
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but i suspect there process is different to gm
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Probs right Dave, a small 3 man company making bats to order compared to an international bat manufacturer making 40,000 bats a year will have different processes.
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Probs right Dave, a small 3 man company making bats to order compared to an international bat manufacturer making 40,000 bats a year will have different processes.
you know what i mean Tom
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but i suspect there process is different to gm
I would have thought so, but as it's machine based - I guess these '1/2/3/4 etc' are programmed into the machine, so I presume these edge/spine sizes will always be the same height/shape etc... - So I would have thought that a denser cleft will be the same size as a lighter cleft and that would be how they differentiate between the weights of their bats.
Don't quote me on this, I am just making an assumption on how GM work with their bats as I presume this is a similiar process as there would be a lot of different codes in the program to work out the size of cleft and then change the spine heigh/edge size accordingly.
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Think on a CNC you can alter the cutting path for a programmed shape so it shaves a mm more off the whole bat whilst retaining the same profile.
If you know the raw cleft weight then you can make an informed opinion onto how much to shave off, very broadly speaking 1mm = 1oz.
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Your right Tom you can alter cutting path even easier when using cad cam software as just click image and shrink by a mm
Depending on the cnc used could be a while to recoup costs so I suspect it's a rented machine but as its streaky I'm sure he will have a good one as he knows his stuff with machines and programming
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Think I'll contact them as interesting to know if they could work from a submitted CAD model, rather than one generated through the website.
I work daily with 3D software (catia) so I have been playing with the idea of designing my ideal shape and having it made, so this sounds a very interesting concept.
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Depending on the level of software and tooling it should be viable or be able to get very close
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The (former) Cadam component of Catia allows you to generate machine paths in a number of protocols, so I suspect it wouldn't be too difficult...
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how much does a CNC cost?? any ideas
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Depends on the model ones I operate and train people on are about £80k-£100k
Gms one was about £400k I think not 100% sure
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£500,000 i thought they said but then that had 6 heads to it didnt it? would have thought a single one would come down in cost, I know Tims one produces 2 at a time as was Slazengers old one.
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It had two beds with a few tweaks to the head if I remember the expense would be the rotating pineapple cutter as that was something
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thats a good few bats to make and sell before they make money then i reckon.
i say anything that drives prices down for the punters is a good thing.
in a competitive environment the customer should be the winner.
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That is costly ???.
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Anybody else ordered one yet
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Think its a great idea. We've been investigating something along these lines for a little while but they've got the knowledge and the funding and so have beaten us to it (well and truly!)...