Everyone was asking for the current status of things - so here's a newspost that hopefully covers everything (unless I've forgotten something - in this case, just ask me!)
1. The status of the PCBs
The bare CPU boards for the next 30 prototypes are already in production and should arrive any day now at Global Components.
The parts for those are already there.
They have all fixes included we manually applied to the first prototype series as well as two that couldn't be changed on the old board:
The fix that should enable the 1,5GHz mode for the SoC (current ones crash when running higher than 1GHz) and a small physical change as the current ones collide with the Wifi module.
About half of the CPU PCBs will be populated with the 4GB memory RAM so we can send those to developers so they can enable them in the kernel and they'll hopefully work without any issues.
There's not any reason why the memory shouldn't work, so I'm positive about that.
Once the CPU boards have been thoroughly tested, we can order the needed CPU boards for the mass production run!
We can even do that while developers are working on the 4GB RAM, as the layout is exactly the same.
As the current CPU boards work well already, this could happen pretty fast - but of course, we won't rush it (we don't need 2000 non-working CPU boards
)
The bare CPU boards are the ones that take the longest time to produce, so these are the main priority to order.
Let's move on to the display boards:
The layout for those has been finished a while ago, and as the rotator chip isn't used anymore, they are very simple two-layer-boards. Not many tests are needed, and the production of the bare boards could easily be done in 2 - 3 weeks.
And finally, the Mainboards:
As posted in the news yesterday, we needed to move the battery connector.
A new special testing PCB, which has only the battery connector at the new position and some measurement points, which allow to check that the battery has proper contact and no shortcircuits anymore is already in production.
It'll take 7 - 10 days.
Once that has been confirmed, we can order the PCBs for the next prototype run. These should take approximately 2 - 3 weeks, so they'll arrive later than the prototype CPU boards.
That's not a big problem though, as we can already fully test the CPU boards with the mainboards we already have, so no time is lost there.
Once the mainboards have been tested, we can order them for the mass production as well. They're not as complicated as the CPU boards, so the production only takes half of the time - but we still would need to be very very lucky to get them produced in time for christmas (we'll try our best, but time flies, damn!)
And especially as production ALWAYS takes longer before christmas (as ALL companies want to produce their stuff for christmas), it doesn't make things easier.
So all in all, except for production and testing, there's nothing that needs to be done to the boards anymore!
2. The status of the case
That brings us to the next important part of the Pyra: The case.
According to FormAction, all changes I discussed with them last time have been applied, so the case should be finished.
They received a final physical dummy PCB from us last week which they use to test and confirm everything is now working as it should.
Once they've done that, they will produce the next series of cases for the prototypes and ship them to me.
If I'm content with everything, then mass production can be planned as well for those.
Mass production can basically be done immediately after the molds are finished, so we could in theory still tweak them until middle November and still get the mass produced cases in December.
What might still need some tweaks is the DPad - as I'm very, VERY picky with that
3. The status of the keymat
The keymat is currently receiving the changes I discussed with the company end of September. There was a chinese holiday early October, so that slowed things down a bit.
I don't have a date yet for the next set of keymats, but I'll let you know as soon as I get it.
I'm almost 100% sure these will be the last samples we need. Once I receive and confirm them to be fine, production will take about 4 weeks as well.
So that would also be in time for December.
4. The status of the LCD Cable
As posted yesterday, the LCD Cable needs a small change (the ears are positioned wrong), but that change can be done within a day.
Producing new samples will take 3 weeks, mass production as well.
The current samples can be manually fixed, so we can use them to build the prototypes.
5. The status of the LCDs and touchscreens
The LCDs are already produced and waiting for us in the factory, and as we finally found touchscreens that are very accurate, sensitive enough to also work with a bare finger and don't degrade the picture quality, we can order those as well.
The delivery date for them will be middle of November, the LCDs with the touchscreens applied can be delivered early December.
We will receive 30 samples upfront which can be used for the prototypes
6. What else is there on the todo list?
There are still a couple of things that we need to do, but they shouldn't take too long.
a) Source and order heat dissipating material:
I've already found a few companies who are offering such material, just didn't have the time to contact them yet.
The production shouldn't take long though, as we simply need pre-cut rectangles from a self-adhesive heat-dissipating material which will be put into the case.
The thickness can be up to 0,5mm, most of the materials are 0,3 - 0,4mm thick.
What I also want to find out is what kind of material would be best for our use case - but hopefully, an experienced company can help us out here.
b) Produce the sealing for the speakers
That's a bit more work, but nothing that should take too long as well.
The sealing will be produced with a very simple mold and rubber material. I didn't find the time yet to take exact measurements and deliver that detail to FormAction, but they already have the material for the mold.
The mold can be CNC'ed within a day (as it's just 0,5mm thick without any specials), so we should have that ready mid-November as well.
c) Calibrate the Wifi antenna
The Wifi antenna needs to be calibrated using a proper resistor value. So basically, what needs to be done is to have a standard setup (Wifi router at a certain distance) and change the resistor value until you have the best possible reception.
It's nothing too complicated, just takes a bit of time - and Nikolaus can do that once he finished the mainboard layout and while we're waiting for the prototype PCBs to arrive.
d) CE-Testing
Can't be done before we have the prototypes finished. Usually takes one day.
e) Produce the box and packaging and manual
We already decided for the box (remember the samples I showed to you months ago), so we only need some box design and then produce it.
Production takes 3 weeks, so I plan to have that finished early November.
the boxart should be VERY simple, nothing fancy. Nice, clean and beautiful
f) Work on the software
That's where a LOT of work still needs to be done. But similar to the Pandora, the device will mature best after is has been delivered to everyone!
I still remember how simple the first version of Pandoras OS was and how much it has been improved overtime... it was fun. I hope we'll have as much fun with the Pyra as well!
7. Quick summary and overview
So, here is a quick summary:
CPU-Boards and display boards:
Done, waiting for the bare PCBs (30 for a test, then enough for mass production when these have been approved)
Mainboards:
Waiting for a dummy PCB to test the position of the battery connection, then 30 prototype PCBs will be ordered and after approval, enough for mass production will be produced.
Cases:
Finished, currently being checked by the manufacturer with the latest mainboard dummy we sent them. More sets will be produced for the prototypes, and after approval, enough for mass production will be produced.
Keymats:
Awaiting a delivery date for new samples with the final design changes. Will be mass produced after they have been approved.
LCDs:
Final touchscreens have been ordered, will arrive middle November and then be applied to the LCDs (already finished).
Packaging / Manual:
Needs to be designed and produced. Samples for the packaging already exist and are fine.
Speaker sealing / Wifi calibration / Heat dissipating material:
Will be worked on during the next few weeks
8. Some personal words
Wow, what trip!
Honestly, when work had started on the Pyra, I never, ever thought it would take so long and we'd run into so many issues again! Seriously!
While I was part of the Pandora team, I wasn't involved very deeply into the whole design / production process (until I moved the production to Germany).
I was mainly the one speaking to the community (with as many details as I was allowed to), but this time, I didn't only do that but was responsible for all the decisions and handling all the various companies and involved persons... as well as the funding.
This surely wasn't easy, it was a lot more complex than I feared.
It was exhausting, and partly discouraging (especially when the first prototypes we produced didn't really work at all!)
I am more than happy now that things FINALLY seem to come together, and I want to give out my respect to EVERYONE who was involved with the design process of the Pyra - and with the Pandora!
It was an achievement, a HUGE achievement! Probably much bigger than most would ever think. But having experienced the design and production of such a complex device with all the issues myself, I can only show respect.
A huge thanks to Nikolaus, Fatih, my contacts in Greece and Austria, Global Components, everyone involved with the software development for the Pyra (OS, Kernel, anything), all investors, the prototype-preorders and of course: You.
Even though it took much longer than planned, I only had a couple of refund requests - and most of them were people who had some misfortune in life and urgently needed the money.
I am REALLY grateful for your support and your patience, I am happy you've been with me here during the development, kept us going and the spirit alive.
I hope I'll be able to give that all back to you by delivering the Pyra as soon as possible.
And as it looks like: We're almost there.
Well, that's it for todays post. I hope you enjoyed it, I hope I haven't forgotten anything - and of course: if you have any questions, feel free to ask
1. The status of the PCBs
The bare CPU boards for the next 30 prototypes are already in production and should arrive any day now at Global Components.
The parts for those are already there.
They have all fixes included we manually applied to the first prototype series as well as two that couldn't be changed on the old board:
The fix that should enable the 1,5GHz mode for the SoC (current ones crash when running higher than 1GHz) and a small physical change as the current ones collide with the Wifi module.
About half of the CPU PCBs will be populated with the 4GB memory RAM so we can send those to developers so they can enable them in the kernel and they'll hopefully work without any issues.
There's not any reason why the memory shouldn't work, so I'm positive about that.
Once the CPU boards have been thoroughly tested, we can order the needed CPU boards for the mass production run!
We can even do that while developers are working on the 4GB RAM, as the layout is exactly the same.
As the current CPU boards work well already, this could happen pretty fast - but of course, we won't rush it (we don't need 2000 non-working CPU boards
)The bare CPU boards are the ones that take the longest time to produce, so these are the main priority to order.
Let's move on to the display boards:
The layout for those has been finished a while ago, and as the rotator chip isn't used anymore, they are very simple two-layer-boards. Not many tests are needed, and the production of the bare boards could easily be done in 2 - 3 weeks.
And finally, the Mainboards:
As posted in the news yesterday, we needed to move the battery connector.
A new special testing PCB, which has only the battery connector at the new position and some measurement points, which allow to check that the battery has proper contact and no shortcircuits anymore is already in production.
It'll take 7 - 10 days.
Once that has been confirmed, we can order the PCBs for the next prototype run. These should take approximately 2 - 3 weeks, so they'll arrive later than the prototype CPU boards.
That's not a big problem though, as we can already fully test the CPU boards with the mainboards we already have, so no time is lost there.
Once the mainboards have been tested, we can order them for the mass production as well. They're not as complicated as the CPU boards, so the production only takes half of the time - but we still would need to be very very lucky to get them produced in time for christmas (we'll try our best, but time flies, damn!)
And especially as production ALWAYS takes longer before christmas (as ALL companies want to produce their stuff for christmas), it doesn't make things easier.
So all in all, except for production and testing, there's nothing that needs to be done to the boards anymore!
2. The status of the case
That brings us to the next important part of the Pyra: The case.
According to FormAction, all changes I discussed with them last time have been applied, so the case should be finished.
They received a final physical dummy PCB from us last week which they use to test and confirm everything is now working as it should.
Once they've done that, they will produce the next series of cases for the prototypes and ship them to me.
If I'm content with everything, then mass production can be planned as well for those.
Mass production can basically be done immediately after the molds are finished, so we could in theory still tweak them until middle November and still get the mass produced cases in December.
What might still need some tweaks is the DPad - as I'm very, VERY picky with that
3. The status of the keymat
The keymat is currently receiving the changes I discussed with the company end of September. There was a chinese holiday early October, so that slowed things down a bit.
I don't have a date yet for the next set of keymats, but I'll let you know as soon as I get it.
I'm almost 100% sure these will be the last samples we need. Once I receive and confirm them to be fine, production will take about 4 weeks as well.
So that would also be in time for December.
4. The status of the LCD Cable
As posted yesterday, the LCD Cable needs a small change (the ears are positioned wrong), but that change can be done within a day.
Producing new samples will take 3 weeks, mass production as well.
The current samples can be manually fixed, so we can use them to build the prototypes.
5. The status of the LCDs and touchscreens
The LCDs are already produced and waiting for us in the factory, and as we finally found touchscreens that are very accurate, sensitive enough to also work with a bare finger and don't degrade the picture quality, we can order those as well.
The delivery date for them will be middle of November, the LCDs with the touchscreens applied can be delivered early December.
We will receive 30 samples upfront which can be used for the prototypes
6. What else is there on the todo list?
There are still a couple of things that we need to do, but they shouldn't take too long.
a) Source and order heat dissipating material:
I've already found a few companies who are offering such material, just didn't have the time to contact them yet.
The production shouldn't take long though, as we simply need pre-cut rectangles from a self-adhesive heat-dissipating material which will be put into the case.
The thickness can be up to 0,5mm, most of the materials are 0,3 - 0,4mm thick.
What I also want to find out is what kind of material would be best for our use case - but hopefully, an experienced company can help us out here.
b) Produce the sealing for the speakers
That's a bit more work, but nothing that should take too long as well.
The sealing will be produced with a very simple mold and rubber material. I didn't find the time yet to take exact measurements and deliver that detail to FormAction, but they already have the material for the mold.
The mold can be CNC'ed within a day (as it's just 0,5mm thick without any specials), so we should have that ready mid-November as well.
c) Calibrate the Wifi antenna
The Wifi antenna needs to be calibrated using a proper resistor value. So basically, what needs to be done is to have a standard setup (Wifi router at a certain distance) and change the resistor value until you have the best possible reception.
It's nothing too complicated, just takes a bit of time - and Nikolaus can do that once he finished the mainboard layout and while we're waiting for the prototype PCBs to arrive.
d) CE-Testing
Can't be done before we have the prototypes finished. Usually takes one day.
e) Produce the box and packaging and manual
We already decided for the box (remember the samples I showed to you months ago), so we only need some box design and then produce it.
Production takes 3 weeks, so I plan to have that finished early November.
the boxart should be VERY simple, nothing fancy. Nice, clean and beautiful
f) Work on the software
That's where a LOT of work still needs to be done. But similar to the Pandora, the device will mature best after is has been delivered to everyone!
I still remember how simple the first version of Pandoras OS was and how much it has been improved overtime... it was fun. I hope we'll have as much fun with the Pyra as well!
7. Quick summary and overview
So, here is a quick summary:
CPU-Boards and display boards:
Done, waiting for the bare PCBs (30 for a test, then enough for mass production when these have been approved)
Mainboards:
Waiting for a dummy PCB to test the position of the battery connection, then 30 prototype PCBs will be ordered and after approval, enough for mass production will be produced.
Cases:
Finished, currently being checked by the manufacturer with the latest mainboard dummy we sent them. More sets will be produced for the prototypes, and after approval, enough for mass production will be produced.
Keymats:
Awaiting a delivery date for new samples with the final design changes. Will be mass produced after they have been approved.
LCDs:
Final touchscreens have been ordered, will arrive middle November and then be applied to the LCDs (already finished).
Packaging / Manual:
Needs to be designed and produced. Samples for the packaging already exist and are fine.
Speaker sealing / Wifi calibration / Heat dissipating material:
Will be worked on during the next few weeks
8. Some personal words
Wow, what trip!
Honestly, when work had started on the Pyra, I never, ever thought it would take so long and we'd run into so many issues again! Seriously!
While I was part of the Pandora team, I wasn't involved very deeply into the whole design / production process (until I moved the production to Germany).
I was mainly the one speaking to the community (with as many details as I was allowed to), but this time, I didn't only do that but was responsible for all the decisions and handling all the various companies and involved persons... as well as the funding.
This surely wasn't easy, it was a lot more complex than I feared.
It was exhausting, and partly discouraging (especially when the first prototypes we produced didn't really work at all!)
I am more than happy now that things FINALLY seem to come together, and I want to give out my respect to EVERYONE who was involved with the design process of the Pyra - and with the Pandora!
It was an achievement, a HUGE achievement! Probably much bigger than most would ever think. But having experienced the design and production of such a complex device with all the issues myself, I can only show respect.
A huge thanks to Nikolaus, Fatih, my contacts in Greece and Austria, Global Components, everyone involved with the software development for the Pyra (OS, Kernel, anything), all investors, the prototype-preorders and of course: You.
Even though it took much longer than planned, I only had a couple of refund requests - and most of them were people who had some misfortune in life and urgently needed the money.
I am REALLY grateful for your support and your patience, I am happy you've been with me here during the development, kept us going and the spirit alive.
I hope I'll be able to give that all back to you by delivering the Pyra as soon as possible.
And as it looks like: We're almost there.
Well, that's it for todays post. I hope you enjoyed it, I hope I haven't forgotten anything - and of course: if you have any questions, feel free to ask
