You didn't expect this, I guess.


EvilDragon

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Yep. No one expects the spanish inquisit.... eeerrm, I mean a news post.
It's been too long that I did make a proper update post so most of you have probably forgotten that I even exist :D

But, well, there are reasons for that.
First of, my employee in the shop is ill now for more than 8 weeks - and she was handling almost all of the shipping. So I had to do that - together with arranging the last bits and pieces for the Pyra production.
So there wasn't much time left to do take care of news posts or posting at the boards in general (that's why you didn't read a lot from me). Additionally, I had a little fight with my stomach... there's some food I can't eat (like fruits) because of food intolerances, but there were a few weeks where this has been exceptionally bad. The problem is not that it hurt a lot or anything... but this is really tiresome, so I slept more than usual.
Everything is back to normal right now though, thank god :)

I now have a new helper at the shop who helped me to catch up with things and he also found the time to clean up all the boxes in the shop. We found a bunch of Pandora LCD cables, BTW and will sell them after testing. There are some originally sealed ones from the last batch, so there should be some working ones available soon.

But this should be a Pyra newspost, so let's continue with the news and the status.

1. PCBs are just waiting to be produced

Global Components did a small test run with the final production data - and so far, all of the produced boards are working fine.
They're now just waiting for me to give the GO for the production, as all parts for the first 500 units are there!

As mentioned: The first batch will be 500 units, but I'll place the order for the next 500 during assembly and shipping of those, so that there shouldn't be a huge gap hopefully.

So yep, everything seems fine here, we can do the PCB production anytime.


2. 1000 cases have arrived here

We received 1000 cases from Greece on Friday, so that's another huge step.
These will need to be coated and I'll bring the company four samples this week. We will try to different variants: Black (matte) and Chrome (which looks amazing in my opinion - that was what I had in mind when I produced the platinum Pandora shells...)
I'll then show you these two cases and you will decide which one to produce - unless it's possible to produce both variants in any number, in which case everyone can decide for himself :)
Both are extremely scratch resistant, I tried with my keys (and I'll show you live on screen as soon as the samples are ready).

3. So, what's still missing?

We have batteries, cases, PCBs are ready for production, we got the magnets and the speakers.
So what's still missing?

Well basically four things: The packaging with manual, the heatshield between the CPU board and battery, the heat sink and the heat pipes.
Heatshield will be produced in Poland and so far, they're not affected by the Corona. These are laser cut so they should be able to produce them within a few days.
I should receive first samples soon.

Heatsinks are stock heatsinks which come from China. I planned to get them shortly after chinese new year - but the Corona virus has worked against me.
Same for the heatpipes.

Now things have calmed down - but the heatpipes have a lead time of 5 weeks. So this might take a while.

Packaging and manuals are being produced in Germany and shouldn't take longer than 10 - 14 days.

So we're close, but there are still a few unknown - mostly because no one knows how Corona delays will continue. While the Pyra is not as badly affected as other things, it still can delay things a bit.


4. We'll assemble the first 500 in-house!

To save money and make sure the whole assembly works flawlessly, I decided to at least assemble the first 500 units in our place. Maybe even more, depends on the speed and the costs Global Components would ask for the assembly.
So yeah, similar to the Pandora, the first of you will receive a Pyra which I personally was involved in :D

We will start with the assembly as soon as the cases have been painted, even if the mentioned parts are still missing, as this will increase the final assembly speed quite a lot.


So we're getting even closer now. And as long as I'm not affected by Corona or companies like Global Components or the company coating the cases, there shouldn't be huge delays.

Keep calm and be healthy during this crisis. :) I'll do the same!
 
I think it's important to acknowledge that, even when times are tough, it's ok to care about our hobbies and be excited about things. Thanks for something more to look forward to, and best wishes for smooth sailing in the weeks to come!
 
I feel I should flag @hns who's working on producing more LCD cables from the last specs. If they're not as necessary, he might want to reconsider that before he tells them to go and make them, if you've got some more for sale now.

The chrome paint sounds cool, and I remember it looking quite good if it's the same stuff as in the video you shot. But it will mean that if it ever does come off, it'll be matte underneath. I guess I might also be concerned about fingerprints on that paint unless it's oleophobic.

But it's great to hear you're back and firing on all cylinders. You made the odd post here when I started to wonder what had happened to you, so thank you especially for this new news post!
 
Thank you ED, So glad to have proper newspost, after long time. Stay healthy, keep indoors and keep washing your hands.

We found a bunch of Pandora LCD cables, BTW and will sell them after testing. There are some originally sealed ones from the last batch, so there should be some working ones available soon.
long live pandora!

These will need to be coated and I'll bring the company four samples this week. We will try two different variants: Black (matte) and Chrome (which looks amazing in my opinion - that was what I had in mind when I produced the platinum Pandora shells...)
I'll then show you these two cases and you will decide which one to produce - unless it's possible to produce both variants in any number, in which case everyone can decide for himself :)
Both are extremely scratch resistant, I tried with my keys (and I'll show you live on screen as soon as the samples are ready).
Getting some choice is good but, I hope this doesn't delay the assembly. Btw., I am still with black.

4. We'll assemble the first 500 in-house!

To save money and make sure the whole assembly works flawlessly, I decided to at least assemble the first 500 units in our place. Maybe even more, depends on the speed and the costs Global Components would ask for the assembly.
So yeah, similar to the Pandora, the first of you will receive a Pyra which I personally was involved in :D

We will start with the assembly as soon as the cases have been painted, even if the mentioned parts are still missing, as this will increase the final assembly speed quite a lot.
Are you planning to assemble all the pyra single handed (don't be so greedy :p) ? and how long that assembly will take ? Guessing by the time you took to assemble prototypes, 500 sounds too many to me. I guess you are trying to utilize spare time you are going to get due to delayed arrival of heatsinks and heatpipes.

I hope international shippping is not affected by coronavirus as badly as international travel. I am bit worried about how my pyra will ship to India once it is ready.
 
Could you go a DIY path for some like the odroid go/advance? I have to say that was an oddly satisfying experience. Makes it feel as I have more invested in it than just some gadget.

If I gathered correctly some modifications must be done to the board that should probably remain at your level, but the assembly with good instructions could be sent out and a time saver to you.
 
I think chrome is a bad idea. If it's reflective, it will be distracting when using it in the light. And easy to blind yourself with if you're outside.
 
A little ray of sunshine on an otherwise rainy day.

Your post, ED, made me happy in more than a couple of ways, and not just because it represents awesome progress on the Pyra.

It's also very welcome good news in amongst what has been a spectacularly bleak year so far for news.

But most of all, it's good to hear from our saviour, who art in Germany, and that after a terrible ordeal of eating only fruit and locusts (I presume), is back, at least in writing, to the happy-go-lucky ED we all know and love.
 
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5 Weeks arend Two Months (tm),
But if i think abut it, its makes sense to start the Assembly whitout the Heatsinks: as the Heatsinks are just on the other Side of the Keyboard, so LCD, Keymat and Upper Part could be assembled, and the Heat sink Parts when they arrived....

Good to have a new Newspost, so whe can spam the old one whit Corona and Toiletpaper ^^
And glad to hear from You EvilDragon, this Stomach thing ditnt sound good..
 
Thanks for the update ED.
I wonder if Gamescom will happen this year, they do sell tickets. As this year should be good year to play with the Pyra.
Stay safe and healthy everyone!
 
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About the chrome coating I have a similar fear like levi: The coating is better than paint, but doesn't it still wear off over time?

Packaging and manuals are being produced in Germany and shouldn't take longer than 10 - 14 days.
Are the designs/content of the manual finished?

I wonder if Gamescom will happen this year, they do sell tickets.
I doubt it. Sadly, I think they have to cancel it at some point.
 
If the coating happens to be flexible enough in terms of colour choice, I'd be down for safety orange, yeah.

Are you planning to assemble all the pyra single handed (don't be so greedy :p) ? and how long that assembly will take ? Guessing by the time you took to assemble prototypes, 500 sounds too many to me.
Well, now that the schools are closed ...
 
Sounds like your body desperately needs a good detox to get rid of the toxic waste that's constipating it. At least it's good to know that you're still able to chug along. If you've got some free time you should try detoxing, it's like going through hell but at the end of all of it you'll feel better and be more energised than ever before. In fact, you'd probably be so healthy that you'd want to make Pyra 2 with USB-C and camera immediately when you're done!
 
hmm two options would be cool, not that snappy on the chrome but It might be nice to have a second case and swap in some chrome bits :D

58049.jpg


Germans haven been good with chrome for a while :D
 
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