Whats up Everybody,
Didn’t intend for such a protracted delay between updates nevertheless it’s been busy! We’ve (type of) formally accomplished Batch 1 shipments. I say type of, as a result of now we have 2 machines that by no means obtained a closing transport affirmation from the proprietor so we’ve resorted to a superb ole common mailed letter. Woohoo!!! General, we’ve been listening to nice information from clients that inform us how their Argos is permitting them to take pleasure in straight espresso for the primary time or simply carry again their ardour for espresso.
Batch 2 Constructing:
As talked about, we went straight into Batch 2 builds utilizing the remaining good components from our Batch 1 order. Sadly, our cargo of Fill Tubes was severely delayed which set us again just a few weeks, throughout this time we have been capable of construct 36 machines midway till these components arrived this previous week. We’re now all fingers on deck getting these 36 machines accomplished and high quality examined as quick as potential.
New Components:
Resulting from some slight adjustments in how the brand new components mate collectively, we did a final minute request for some samples to confirm fitment and keep away from hiccups down the road. Certain glad we did this! The components assembled completely, however the giant machined components had a lot worse machining high quality and end than our authentic batch. I despatched a full report again to the provider who reviewed the documentation and instantly set to work re-machining the Prime Plates, Base Plates, and Spring Covers to ship new samples over.
A part of this problem stemmed from a brand new program supervisor since our final order mixed with tried price financial savings efforts. We have been capable of assessment every of the crucial particulars that have been missed and am happy to say that the brand new samples have been flawless. A full machine was constructed utilizing the brand new components and dropped at an area Weber Workshops x Prodigal espresso meetup the place I’m happy to announce the machine operated flawlessly throughout the steady 1.5 hours of pulling photographs.
The provider is expediting the manufacturing to scale back the extra delays that this has inevitably precipitated. All different Batch 2 components that have been ordered have been arriving by air over the previous few weeks to make sure we are able to proceed constructing with bigger shipments by boat arriving by the tip of the month. As for these reworked components, we’ll be transport a portion of stainless components by air to permit us to proceed constructing whereas the powdercoating takes place. When powdercoating is accomplished across the finish of this month, a portion of these will go by air and all remaining components will go by sea. Which means we’ll have a slight delay of powdercoated machines utilizing the brand new components however not a lot.
The excellent news is that the brand new components are simpler to assemble and can scale back majority of our visible high quality management points that took additional time to deal with on batch 1. At the moment we don’t foresee any vital transport delays for Batch 2 machines past what was estimated within the final replace. I’d anticipate closing Batch 2 machines to exit in February and straight into Batch 3 at the moment.
The Adjustments:
I do know I’ve talked about it previously however the full record of design adjustments is as follows:
Entrance Cowl:
Entrance tabs and mating slots made a lot smaller to scale back visible gaps between entrance cowl and high and backside plates.
Extra tabs added to forestall sides of the entrance cowl from flaring out when base plate is torqued.
Piston Linkage:
Linkage holes up to date to permit longer stroke of the piston within the direct configuration just for increased shot volumes. (Constantly noticed 50g yield throughout the native meetup)
Piston Meeting Pins:
Feminine Chicago Screw up to date to be a “D” formed bolt head stopping the necessity for an extra 3mm hex key when reconfiguring the meeting.
Grouphead:
Grouphead gasket cutout modified to make eradicating and putting in the Grouphead Gasket barely simpler
PCB Mount:
Mounting holes for the PCB slid over barely to permit more room for wires to bend instantly popping out of the 18 pin connector
Drip Tray:
New design to take a seat straight beneath the grouphead with a extra practical grate, finger gap for elimination of grate, and thicker gauge stainless tray for extra sturdy really feel.
Base Plate:
Drip Tray cutout slid again to middle the drip tray beneath the grouphead
Bigger hex key cutout to permit house for our new Wera model hex keys
Small pockets for rubber toes to take a seat in to forestall toes from sliding
Improved Serial Plaque cutout for higher fitment
Hex Key:
Included hex key now upgraded to Wera 3mm cryogenically hardened chrome key
Sadly, not all of those updates can be backwards suitable with Batch 1 machines. We’ll have a package for the brand new Drip Tray to work which can be a disc to take a seat within the present base plate cutout and an offset magnet to carry the brand new drip tray in place. The brand new Piston Meeting design will slot in an older fashion machine or simply the linkage itself might be swapped in.
Wera Partnership:
We’ve all the time been HUGE advocates for top of the range, (normally German and US) made instruments together with Wera, Wiha, Knipex, and Tekton. Should you look again at the entire movies we’ve posted, you’re all the time going to see these manufacturers utilized in our store. Whereas they’re costly, I firmly consider it’s value the associated fee to have these machines constructed with the highest quality instruments potential.
The obvious motive for this partnership is the included Wera hex keys which are magnetically held to the underside of the machines. This can guarantee longevity of each the device and screws as customers swap piston configurations or carry out routine upkeep.
We’ve additionally been speaking about placing collectively and promoting a primary espresso machine technician’s toolkit together with the particular instruments that we use to construct your machines. We’d doubtless provide 2 kits catering to totally different budgets. The fundamental package will embody the widespread hex drivers, hex keys, wrenches, and pliers whereas the superior package will embody just a few of the extra obscure instruments in addition to the Wera Torque Drivers that we use. Preserve a watch out for these kits within the subsequent month!
For people who have adopted Wera instruments previously, you realize that they’ve been placing out enjoyable creation calendars for the previous few years. We now have the chance to carry that enjoyable to you! No matter what vacation you have a good time, these calendars make nice presents which let you develop your device assortment with helpful merchandise! We at the moment have these in inventory and transport instantly.
https://www.odysseyespresso.com/store/wera-advent-calendar-2024
You may as well anticipate some Wera giveaways on our social media together with just a few of those calendars and a few primary hand instruments that can be utilized in your machine!
China Journey:
I’m at the moment on my option to Hong Kong whereas I write this e mail. I’ll be assembly up with William who’s already on the market. We’ll begin the journey with a fast tour of the Respectable Espresso manufacturing facility then be travelling throughout the nation for the subsequent 9 days assembly with our largest suppliers. We aren’t precisely giant clients for our suppliers so this can assist proceed to construct our relationship with them to make sure we get the highest quality components and repair. Not solely will we be capable to see how all of our components are being manufactured and inspected earlier than transport out to us, it is a nice alternative to assessment how we assemble and use the components in order that our suppliers perceive what’s most essential to us.
These conferences can be nice for collaboration on manufacturing processes. When iterating on the half design, I’m considering via what materials inventory sizes can be found, what instruments can be used for every operation, and what order the operations will happen all to scale back manufacturing time, device put on, and materials waste. The suppliers may need a distinct course of in thoughts based mostly on the tools they use. These in individual conferences will enable us to get on the identical web page to scale back high quality points, enhance lead instances, and convey half price down with full optimization.
Don’t fear, our techs will nonetheless be arduous at work whereas we’re gone. We respect every little thing that they do!
Hiring:
Talking of technician appreciation, I’m nonetheless engaged on getting higher at delegation which has led us to advertise 2 of our techs to administration roles! Kayli is now our Construct Supervisor and Jon is our High quality Management Supervisor. By passing accountability off as we develop, this can make sure that I don’t stay because the bottleneck for our operation. Kayli does a improbable job with organizing construct sheets, monitoring stock, and conserving our store organized. Jon is great at reviewing builds for each visible and mechanical high quality management points in addition to organizing our QC and Returns information. As we proceed to scale, we plan to move as a lot off to our staff as potential to develop this enterprise collectively!
Software program:
Throughout our final replace, we rolled out Traditional Mode. This has been a success and made the Argos extra accessible to totally different workflows that see a warmer grouphead. We’ve simply made a small replace to Traditional Mode the place we bumped the decrease boiler restrict as much as 114C which permits for a barely increased pre-infusion strain over extended intervals and doesn’t have a big influence on shot temperatures.
Moreover, the newest firmware model (1.5.0) permits for waking up the Argos from sleep mode by altering the set temp or toggling steam mode, slightly than having to show the Argos on/off.
We’re persevering with to enhance our firmware and software program based mostly on person suggestions and have gotten further assist from Acaia on integrating with their scales so we’re hoping to totally resolve these points within the close to future.
Store Re-organization:
Whereas ready for the delayed components to reach, we took the time to mannequin up some new store layouts! Our small house wasn’t optimized for development and environment friendly workflow so we laid out just a few choices and have landed on a brand new association that permits our techs to take a seat nearer to the components they work on with extra usable desk house for all of our techs!
With a virtually empty store, we’re capable of re-organize all of our cabinets in preparation for the brand new components to reach. As shipments are obtained, we’re taking full stock of the brand new elements and ensuring we prepare the cabinets effectively for future workflow. This can assist as we proceed to develop subsequent 12 months.
Movies:
Some time again, we purchased and examined the Filter 3.0 basket which works very effectively on the Argos. It takes a bit of dialing in and getting used to however a video is within the works for doing pour over’s in your Argos! I’ll full the video after I return from China which can embody Ideas, Methods, and TDS utilizing Filter 3.0.
With a brand new machine constructed utilizing the pattern components obtained, I’ll movie a aspect by aspect comparability of the adjustments so folks can higher perceive the design iteration course of and the place that has led us.
