Finalmente è arrivato il nuovo update, completo di immagini e filmati.
La produzione pilota di keyboard e case è partita ed ha permesso di correggere
immediatamente alcuni difetti dei tasti evidenziatisi.
La prossima settimana verranno inviate in UK le 50 coppie di keyboard e case
pilota per i test finali di assemblaggio, dopodiché partirà la produzione in
serie che dovrebbe ultimarsi (se ho capito bene) entro 6 settimane.
Ultima chicca: pare che mediante la scheda acceleratrice si potranno caricare
direttamente i files TZX, notoriamente non gestiti dal NextOS.
Incrociamo le dita!
Carlo
Inviato da iPhone
Inizio messaggio inoltrato:
Da: Kickstarter <no-reply@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Data: 11 settembre 2019 21:00:47 CEST
A: carlo.malantrucco@xxxxxxxxx
Oggetto: Project Update #50: ZX Spectrum Next by Henrique Olifiers
Rispondi a: No Reply <no-reply@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Keyboard + Case: Production Update
Posted by Henrique Olifiers
Sep 11, 2019
View on Kickstarter
August has come and gone and we’re way due an update of what’s the latest
with the Next production threads. Following the good news with the testing of
the keyboard alterations in the previous update, both keyboard and case
manufacturers got the greenlight for full scale production. While we expected
this to start immediately, both companies informed us of an unplanned (in
that *I* didn’t plan for it) step called ‘PP’ (Pilot Production), which
basically means committing to a smaller batch first just to make sure no
defects develop when the moulds and processes are run many times over.
Although these are extra steps, they nonetheless count towards the full scale
production, meaning that all being OK, these units are then shipped to the UK
for the first full assembly testing at Nottingham while the rest is produced
at full scale. The keyboard PP run consisted of 50 units, while the case PP
run is 400 units -- although only a few cases will be sent for assembly
testing, with the rest being stored for later shipping alongside the entire
3,000+ batch as the cases are rather large for transport and there's little
point in having 400 cases around when there are only 50 keyboards.
Taking a lot of space(s).
The PP proved useful, as the texture of the keyboard keys showed a high
degree of failure upon inspection of volume production -- given how many keys
each keyboard takes, it’s a lot of individual keys to go through and some
errors were found. The manufacturer fixed this issue already by reworking the
mold texture, and proceeded with the pilot production, now with no more
issues in sight.
Texture marks? Inadmissible!
To be honest, I can barely see the issue here, and when laser etched on
top... But perfection! Thus fixed!
The special keys being moulded after the texture correction, showing it's
coming out just fine. Phew!
These 50 keyboards and a batch of cases are now being prepared for shipping
to the UK for final assembly testing, then the rest of them are entering
production in sequence, with a timeline of six weeks for full production.
This is lead by the keyboard timeline, as it’s slower to be put together than
the cases, which are expected to be ready in 3-4 weeks. That said, the PP
production of the keyboards took longer than we were originally quoted in
July, so we’re weary of a longer timeline than estimate. We’re working with
them on a daily basis to keep them on their toes, though.
Meanwhile the case manufacturer is shipping a small special batch of a few
units to the UK to ensure the packaging of the case is sturdy and protective
enough for the cases to arrive intact, free of scratches and impact marks,
and that the film keeping the two halves tight together don’t leave any glue
or marks when removed prior to assembly. Once we get these units next week
(week of Sep 16th), they’ll ship the PP batch straight to the plant in
Nottingham.
A Next fully assembled with the PP case back at the factory. Fair to say the
case PP is successful, no? (The keyboard is not a PP unit, but an older
prototype they have for fit testing).
There’s some assembly required on the case manufacturer’s side: all the
screws’ bosses are hot-pressed into the top half of the case, the two
retracting feet are attached, the light pipe (a transparent plastic tower
that conducts the light from the board to the top of the case) is pressed in
place, the three side buttons added and the four coloured strips melted in
place. Then there’s packaging the bus expansion cover and the accelerator
blank in separate boxes, as the bus expansion cover is held by the Next board
and would rattle without it during transport, and the accelerator blank is
screwed into the non-accelerated versions of the Next at the time of final
assembly.
Still, much less work than assembling the keyboards…
Now imagine 3,000+ keyboards being assembled. Not for the faint of heart!
We’ve been in constant contact with the manufacturers throughout August and
early September, and remain so to press ahead without delay as much as we
can. These are some of the last steps, though, so fingers crossed we’re into
assembly territory shortly.
And about time indeed!
Experimental features
While we don’t usually go over features that aren’t proven due to a fear of
rising expectations (thus take these as ‘possible but unconfirmed’ for now),
this is too exciting for not sharing right away.
D Rimron-Soutter has just tested using the Raspberry Pi (the accelerator) to
playback TZX files streaming directly the audio into the Next to load the
software. This opens up a huge realm of possible new uses for the
accelerator, and sets the groundwork for its usage thanks to the help of
Allen Albright and Tim Gilberts, who along with Darran are working on the
interface of the Next with the RPi.
https://youtu.be/gPPmXKW5nkU
Right, this is it for this update. We'll keep tabs on the production and
trigger a new one as soon as the large shipping of the PP is headed to
Nottingham, then the larger production shipping allowing SMS to engage all
guns.
Stay tuned!!!
Show support and stay involved—let Henrique Olifiers know you read this
update.
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UPDATE #49 The definitive keyboard is on its way
UPDATE #48 The Keyboard’s Definitive Solution
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