You might talk with Mitch Altman, founder of Cornfield Electronics. Mitch has a successful hardware business now, selling the TV-B-Gone remote among other things. 
<a href="http://www.tvbgone.com/cfe_main.php" rel="nofollow">http://www.tvbgone.com/cfe_main.php</a><p>Mitch did it without needing VC. Mitch is also incredibly generous and approachable; we've worked together in creating and running a hacker space. He recently led a trip to China for people who wanted to learn more about manufacturing there. If you sent him a short blurb + video he might be able to offer some useful advice.