Product Costing

Although my proposal is largely conceptual at this stage, it is developed enough to the degree I can provide a raw estimated cost - taking into account the light fittings and raw materials.

To find the raw material cost I first took the material mass of each major component from my solidworks model, looked up the density of the corresponding material (on www.engineeringtoolbox.com) and calculated the weight. I then used the material costs per kg from Chris Lefteri's "Materials for Design" (in USD) and calculated the raw material cost of each major component.

On top of this cost I added the purchase of additional features such as solar panels, bolts/screws, toggle switch, and estimations of custom lighting bulbs (LED + Metal Halite). I took these estimations from www.mcmaster.com.

I added a further allowance for material finishing such as the reflective underside coating and rust resistant coats.

Costs were allowed for internal electrical wiring components such as ammeter and conductivity plates.

Cost Summary per Light Fitting:

Raw Material Costing - $24.4 NZD

Additional Components - $98 NZD

Allowance for Surface Finishes and Coating - $50 NZD

Allowance for Internal Electrical Components - $40 NZD

Estimated Raw Cost (Excluding Installation): $212.4 NZD

Allowance for Miscalculations: +/- $50 NZD

Total Estimated Cost: $212.4 - $262.4 per light installation