Why DIY Pneumatics Can’t Compete with the ROI of EZ Pneumatics

When it comes to automating pneumatic motion in R&D or light production environments, many engineers consider building their own control systems from scratch. While the DIY route may seem like a way to save on upfront costs, the reality is much different. After factoring in the time and labor involved, the return on investment (ROI) of a DIY solution is far lower than purchasing a pre-integrated, ready-to-use product like Pipeline’s EZ Pneumatics Controller.

In this article, we’ll break down the hidden costs of going DIY and show why purchasing EZ Pneumatics offers a better ROI, saving engineers both time and money.

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The Hidden Labor Costs of DIY Pneumatic Controllers

Building a custom pneumatic controller involves much more than simply buying the right components. Engineers must invest significant time and effort at every stage of the process, from initial component sourcing to programming and testing the final system. Here’s a look at the key labor categories involved in a DIY build:

1. Component Selection and Procurement: Engineers spend significant time researching and sourcing compatible parts.
2. Component Integration: Designing the system architecture is labor-intensive and prone to errors.
3. Physical Assembly: Assembling and wiring the system takes considerable time and precision.
4. Programming the System: Writing and debugging custom code for motion control can take weeks.
5. Testing and Troubleshooting: Engineers must spend time identifying and fixing hardware or software issues.
6. Ongoing Maintenance: Maintaining and updating the system adds continuous labor costs.

While these steps seem straightforward, they often add up to 60+ hours of labor for a moderately complex system. With a realistic fully burdened labor cost of $100 per hour, this equates to an extra $6,000+ in labor costs, on top of the $2,000+ in materials, leading to a total cost of ~$8,000 plus 3-4 weeks of schedule.

Comparing the ROI: DIY vs. EZ Pneumatics

To understand the ROI, let’s compare a DIY build with EZ Pneumatics, our pre-integrated pneumatic controller, which comes ready to use right out of the box.

DIY Build	EZ Pneumatics
Material Cost: $2,000+	Purchase Price: $7,500
Labor Cost: $6,000+	Labor Cost: Minimal (plug-and-play)
Component Cost: $2,000	Build Time: Plug in and start using
Programming: Requires custom code	Programming: No-code, drag-and-drop
Testing: Time-consuming and complex	Testing: Minimal, pre-tested components
Ongoing Maintenance: Required	Ongoing Maintenance: Simple updates
Total Cost: $8,000	Total Cost: $7,500

The Immediate ROI Advantage of EZ Pneumatics

With EZ Pneumatics, engineers eliminate the bulk of labor-intensive tasks. Here’s why that matters:

• Faster Time to Deployment: With no component sourcing, assembly, or programming required, EZ Pneumatics can be deployed in hours, not weeks.
• No Programming Required: The no-code, drag-and-drop interface allows anyone—even those with no coding experience—to create sophisticated motion without writing a single line of code.
• Reduced Risk of Errors: Our system is fully tested and pre-integrated, meaning fewer troubleshooting headaches during setup.

For an upfront investment of $7,500, engineers can bypass the $6,000+ in labor costs, $2,000 in materials costs, and 3-4 weeks in schedule that a DIY build would require. This translates into faster project completion and more time spent on high-value tasks like process development and innovation, rather than on low-value work like wiring and debugging.

Conclusion: EZ Pneumatics Delivers Better ROI

When you break down the true costs of a DIY pneumatic controller, it’s clear that EZ Pneumatics provides a stellar ROI. The savings in time and labor alone make it the smarter choice for engineers who want to focus on creating new automated processes, not reinventing the wheel.

By investing in EZ Pneumatics, you’ll skip the headaches of sourcing, assembly, and programming, and get right to the important work—creating value for your business.

Ready to see how the EZ Pneumatics Controller can streamline your next project? Contact us today to learn more or request a demo.