Hello All,
We’re finally shipping again!
Shipping Updates
We’ve shipped 22 units and are starting to get into a groove! 32 more machines are already built and sitting on the shelf. A few units are being tested and checked for quality each day and shipped out as they’re completed. We’ve spent the past two weeks updating a lot of these previously assembled units to include our recent fixes for issues that were popping up after shipping. All shipped machines with these known issues have also been fixed and sent back to customers. So far, our updates seem to have resolved the prior problems that we were seeing which is great for moving forward.
LED Endurance Testing
We’ve started to do some endurance testing on LEDS before installing to verify that they are functioning properly. The testing involves hooking ~ 10 LEDs up to a breadboard with a 9V battery and leaving them on for one hour before installation. Typically one out of every 20 LEDs will burn out during this test which saves us from finding this out during QC and requiring more disassembly.
Fine Tuning Panel Fitment
We received samples for the updated side panels that meet our specifications after the coating has been applied. These fit exactly as we need so we moved forward with a new production batch. In the meantime we’ll be using all of the sample panels and manually sanding down and refinishing the old panels to the correct spec until the new panels are received.
New Steam Valve Needle
After testing a few different steam valve needle prototypes, we’ve found a winner and have ordered a production round of the parts. We were able to use the remaining samples in a few production machines but the full batch won’t be completed and shipped until next week. All customers that have already received machines will be sent the new parts with installation instructions.
Air Bleed Valve Improvement
Based on customer feedback, the steepest learning curve with the Argos is bleeding all of the air out when pulling the lever. We’re working on improving the user experience by simplifying the air bleed process to make it less reliant on user technique. After initial testing, a small orifice that restricts the flow of water coming into the grouphead appears to act in the same way as holding the piston in the correct position while bleeding the air. There’s a perfect space between the threads of the fill tube push to connect fitting and the grouphead where this small orifice can be installed to restrict flow just before entering the group. We’ll test out different diameters and if we come up with a design that significantly improves the group fill and air bleed process, we’ll move forward with manufacturing those parts and phasing them in on all builds while sending out to current customers just the same as the steam valve needles.
Remaining Parts Shipments
We’ve received all our parts and packaging materials by sea. We originally sent half by air and half by sea so all production parts are in hand.
White Grouphead
Unfortunately we noticed that some of the white groupheads were forming surface corrosion upon arrival. We have 9 usable pieces but the supplier was able to go back into their records and found that the person who did the finishing process on just the white groupheads did a step out of order which led to this. They will be remade and sent over by air. This shouldn’t cause any delay for the white machines as the good ones will be used on any early orders.
CE Certification
I’ve had a few more calls with the certifying lab this week to go over outstanding items. One of many tedious parts to this process is getting material datasheets from every supplier for every part on the machine to make sure that its elemental makeup complies with RoHS and REACH requirements. We had 3 parts that had incorrect documentation and we were able to get that resolved last night. With this being the last piece of the certification puzzle we are confident in our compliance and will start shipping all overseas orders as they show up in the queue.
Black and walnut Argos paired with a Lagom P64
Customer just received his Argos this morning!
A look inside our bonding process on the new side panel samples. Surface prep is the most important part of all bonding processes
Diagram showing the first rough prototype of a fill inlet orifice restrictor. Orifice sits in the back of the push to connect fitting in the Grouphead.
Sincerely,
Ross & William