I’m working on a USB train throttle controller as a side-project. It’s inspired by the Densha de Go! PS1 controller, but I’m trying to make a higher-quality version with better movements.

I had the mechanical components designed on Fiverr, the total cost was around $900 CAD for the Solidworks design including extra revisions.

I did the electrical schematic design myself (my background is electrical engineering) and I handed it over to someone on Fiverr to complete the PCB layout.

The PCB layout cost around $1000 CAD.

I got a 3D print from two different sellers on Fiverr, one charging about $80 and another charging about $170 CAD. The cheaper one was actually better (better tolerances/less visible plastic lines). The test fit worked out well and I didn’t discover any major issues.

I got quotes for CNC fabrication in Canada and China. Quotes from Canada were going to be over $3500 CAD for fabrication. The quotes from China were a bit less, but not much. Again I went to Fiverr and ended up finding two sellers, one who fabricated it for $560 CAD, and another who did it for $1300 CAD.

Fabrication has just completed and is being shipped. Pictures:

https://imgur.com/a/xVJ7oqQ

From the pictures, it looks like the quality from the CNC will be more than suitable.