Howdy All,
As at all times, each good and unhealthy information comes with the extent of transparency that we attempt to present. Let’s begin off with the unhealthy and work our means up from there.
I’ve Dropped the Ball with Diminished Shot Yield
I’m placing this primary as to not disguise it as it might be crucial to some clients. This has been introduced up and mentioned on the EAF (Espresso Aficionados) Discord over a month in the past however I’m realizing that I’ve not given a correct replace on the subject of output yield. The unique declare for the Argos was a most shot yield of 55g. This quantity got here from the shot volumes that I used to be getting on the unique prototype machine.
Whereas making many small design updates for manufacturing together with improved spring efficiency, lowering lever pressure required, gauge/ transducer interface updates, and general usability, sufficient modified thereby lowering most shot output to 45g with a single pull. Whereas I’ve been pulling pictures on a manufacturing machine since January, there have been nonetheless many adjustments to the spring design and the chaos of making ready for manufacturing that I didn’t suppose a lot of the diminished yield and the way which may influence clients that pull longer ratio pictures.
We acknowledge that it is a vital change from what was initially ordered which is why I wish to make it clear earlier than delivery (the remainder of) the machines. The excellent news is that I’ve recognized a easy change that will likely be made to the piston linkage permitting direct lever pulls to realize as much as ~53g yield. This will likely be a backwards suitable half made within the subsequent batch that may simply be swapped into any machine from the unique batch to realize these outcomes.
We’ve no plans to change the machine to realize this yield within the spring configuration as that will require vital modifications to the design that will have unfavorable repercussions in different areas. A typical factor finished for spring (or direct) lever machines is what’s known as a “Fellini” from a clip of Fellini’s Orchestra Rehearsal the place the barista within the again is seen pulling the lever of a business spring machine down as soon as, releasing, then pulling once more. (https://youtu.be/xuiXwOOkib4?t=161) The considerations of this maneuver are lack of constant extraction stress and unseating the espresso puck throughout the second pull. Unseating the puck shouldn’t be a priority on the Argos with our piston air bleed valve. I personally have carried out a Fellini on the Argos for testing excessive ratio recipes and discover the style and stability to be gratifying.
Processes and Documentation
This previous week has been gradual however essential for meeting. Our head Meeting Technician has taken a deep dive into our meeting course of, documenting detailed steps all through. With our meeting group rising shortly, we would have liked a means to make sure constant top quality builds for all of our machines. This doc clearly lists every step with images, instruments, steps, and assessments required for every step of the best way.
As talked about within the final replace, we nonetheless had leaks resulting from improper hydrostatic testing. We’ve discovered methods to correctly check at a number of levels all through the construct course of and located that the leaks have been a direct results of inconsistent tightening torques. We bought a bigger torque wrench and particular adapters to permit us to torque all heating components to the suitable quantity as famous in our new documentation.
We’ve began 3D printing meeting jigs to carry giant elements throughout meeting which protects each the elements and the technician whereas performing alignment and tightening procedures.
Wooden Bonding inconsistencies
Points with bonding our wooden elements to steel have began to point out up. That is particularly an issue with the magnets in our facet panels in addition to the wooden knob on the steel boiler cap. We’ve decided this to be a direct results of poor floor preparation and inconsistent bonding practices. We use a really top quality adhesive that’s FDA accepted as meals secure (though it doesn’t see any water) and excessive temperature resistance however we shortly discovered that floor preparation is extraordinarily important.
We’ve now examined and began utilizing higher floor preparation strategies in addition to utilizing a extra applicable quantity of adhesive for bonding our supplies collectively. We’ve additionally give you energy assessments to carry out on every half to make sure an sufficient bond earlier than utilizing these elements on a machine.
Grouphead Stress Gauge and Transducer Fitment
Sadly we’ve had points with the alignment and fitment of the grouphead stress gauge and transducer. It is a half that ships pre-assembled with the machines however requires ultimate meeting by the person. As a consequence of slight misalignment of the shipped elements, it’s been very troublesome for patrons to put in. We at the moment are testing a brand new model of becoming into the grouphead that’s the similar measurement as our unique becoming however now performs a compression seal as a substitute of an o-ring seal which is able to make set up a lot simpler for our clients whereas additionally guaranteeing a safer match. We may also be doing a greater job of setting these sub assemblies up on a fixture in our store earlier than delivery to make sure a precise match on the machine. All present clients will likely be shipped a brand new meeting (minus transducer) with the brand new compression becoming put in to swap onto their machines.
Hiring
We’ve employed 1 new meeting technician this week. This brings our complete as much as 4 half time technicians! One has been out for the previous month and the opposite out for the previous 2 weeks. This has diminished our output but in addition allowed us the time to correctly doc to make sure all machines will likely be going out with constant high quality from right here on out. Generally you should decelerate earlier than you possibly can pace up.
We’re speaking with 2 extra half time technicians that we wish to deliver onto the group. It at present takes 1 hour to construct up a whole machine. If we assume 4 technicians engaged on common 20 hours per week, 10 – 15 hours can be spent constructing and testing machines, and the opposite 5 – 10 hours can be spent cleansing elements, organizing, bonding wooden, constructing small sub assemblies, packing orders, and delivery. Even when we deliver on the 1 to 2 extra technicians talked about above, I feel it’s nonetheless secure to imagine on the low facet the place we are able to construct anyplace from 40 – 60 machines per week with 4 technicians as soon as everyone seems to be ramped up.
Lot’s of numbers thrown out right here but when we proceed to slowly ramp up we should always have all machined shipped out inside 4.5 months.
CE Certification Updates
We’ve obtained our formal FCC/ ICES (US/ Canada), VCCI (Japan), KS C (Korea), AS/NZS CISPR (AU/ NZ), and CNS (Taiwan) documentation. UKCA and CE documentation are in progress.
Transport Updates
We’ve completed meeting on 10 models and have shipped 7 of them out! For those who ordered a spare piston meeting, it is going to be situated on the underside of the decrease packaging insert in the identical means that your normal piston meeting is packaged on the highest of the higher insert when opening. Spare springs will likely be labeled on the highest of the spring. We’re nonetheless determining a extra subtle strategy to label these transferring ahead.
Please bear in mind, when accepting and signing on your bundle, if there are any indicators of serious injury please inform the supply particular person to notice that your bundle was broken upon receiving. You should still settle for the bundle and call us however the receiver should explicitly inform the driving force to listing the injury when signing on your machine to ensure that us to file a declare with the delivery firm.
We’re persevering with to replace the person guide situated on our web site: USER MANUAL
For a video on unboxing, establishing, and utilizing your Argos with ideas and tips to get essentially the most out of your machine, watch right here: Odyssey Argos Unboxing and Set Up
New Movies will likely be posted subsequent.
Evaluations and Suggestions
Whereas machines are persevering with to move out the door every week, right here’s a reddit submit with replies from one in all our preliminary clients! https://www.reddit.com/r/espresso/feedback/14i70lc/its_finally_here_odyssey_argos/
Different clients have informed us:
“Relating to pictures, already higher than something I ever acquired with my La Pavoni. To be truthful, I sort of gave up after modding it with a thermocouple on the GH and the water heater mod. Round that point I ordered the Argos and it is simply sort of been sitting there since. Right this moment I had my ninth, tenth, and eleventh shot all hours aside they usually have been just about all nice and similar.”
“Pictures are smooth and fairly outlined. Readability is great.”
Subsequent Batch Pre-Orders
Pre-orders will re-open on Monday, Jul 3, 2023 10am MST for batch 2. Regardless of the gradual begin, we’re feeling very assured in our new meeting documentation, processes, and group. The plan is to simply accept new pre-orders with the purpose of ordering extra stock 2 months from now. It’s going to then take about 3 months for the elements to be manufactured and shipped to our facility in Denver. These elements ought to arrive as the ultimate Argos models from the primary batch are shipped out to clients. By planning forward we hope to forestall our technicians from operating out of labor between batches. With this timeline, batch 2 models ought to begin delivery 6 months after ordering.
As talked about, the worth of the Argos will improve to $950 USD. We chosen this worth as a stability between maintaining with the rise in materials and manufacturing prices in addition to preserving the worth of a base Argos + US delivery lower than $1000 USD. Future will increase in manufacturing and materials prices will likely be handled by additional optimizing our design for improved manufacturability to cut back half prices.
