Dice Base™: FLUME FUSION

No changes...
over 6 years ago – Sun, Jan 21, 2018 at 11:17:32 PM

Working on all projects.

Nothing new to report.

We're still here working hard for you. 

- Hal

2018
over 6 years ago – Sat, Jan 06, 2018 at 04:44:33 PM

New year with new goals and rewards for us all. So, here's what's up.  

1. OrcaCon is happening January 12-14 here in Seattle (Bellevue actually) We're going and we're using it as a test of our new booth setup for the main event (Comic Con 2018 in March)  

2. ComicCon is happening in March: We're going and we're going to present the best of what we've become so far. Check us out here: https://www.emeraldcitycomiccon.com/en/Exhibitors/3952235/Zucati

3. We owe lots of backer rewards which we want to get done before ECCC. That leaves about 6+ weeks to get a mountain of work done and finish prep and stock for the show. Here's the plan as of today:  

1. Finish and ship GM screens. We've got 90% about 60% done. Due to the nature of how these have to be made we've had to slow the process down to make sure they have time to properly air-dry and cure before we proceed into each next step. We had some serious failures before we found the right method, so these are going to take the time they do. But we've go literally stacks and stacks of milled and drilled panels ready for magnets and finishing. Heather, your portal is not started yet... .if the panels are hard, the portal is hard x10. We're getting the wood for it ready to plane this week and we should start on it next. When we ship your panel or need art for engraving, we'll be in touch, in the mean time, hang in there... your GM screens are not forgotten or lost, merely aging naturally as they must for now.  

2. We're running as man Player Cores and Flumes as we can in the next few weeks to take to both conventions. We won't be selling Half or Quarter Cores, nor the same version of the Flume Fusion that were in either of those campaigns. We did work out an exclusive with ECCC so there will be a Flume Fusion version available at the show, but it won't be what anyone pledged for.  

3. FLUME 2's - Half and Quarter Cores - and FLUME Fusions will all be in-process during and after the GM screens are finishing and complete.  

• WHEN WILL YOUR ORDER SHIP?  
• GM Screens before March  
• Half and Quarter Cores March - April  
• FLUME2 - April-May (You folks with the prototype cases... these are going take longer... Juneish...)  

All other stuff like the two metal dice campaigns are on schedule for February/March delivery. That's what we know today. Thanks everyone for your support and patience. 

 - Hal 

180 degrees about face...
over 6 years ago – Mon, Dec 11, 2017 at 10:20:26 PM

While we were working on these we did a quick review of all our projects and found that we were way behind on our GM Screens. These screens came before this project and they need to take front seat for a while.

Where does that leave this project?

On and off while we work on GM screens to get them out the door.

We'll start shipping these along side the GM screens next week.

We wont' finish before the holidays are over but we're going to start.

No more news till we start shipping.

 - Hal

Liner punch arrives.
over 6 years ago – Wed, Nov 22, 2017 at 01:43:07 PM

Minor difficulty in use, but overall, good results. 

 Thanks everyone!

 - Hal

November ...
over 6 years ago – Mon, Nov 13, 2017 at 11:54:41 PM

Welcome to the windy season everyone, at least that's what November means to us here at ZucatiCorp. 

Rain, Winds and early darkness. Fall.

Production is under way and the big question on everyone's mind is " will I get my FLUME FUSION in time for the holidays this year? (There was that December delivery date....)

So, when asked this directly in the comments I replied: "Ask me again after Thanksgiving..." I know.. kinda not helpful... but honest.

What I mean by this is that while we've started production we're not into it full swing and by the 24th (Black Friday) We'll have had both CNC's running FUSIONS full swing for about a week and I'll know if the numbers are going to lineup the way we expect and want them too.

So, another week to wait, but I'll know for sure what's what then. I just can't say right now.

 In addition to the FUSIONS we've been working on GM Screens and other parts for customers both here on KS and direct sales. This means shared machine time which should be possible to maintain, but like I say... once we get both CNC's going full FUSION I'l know for sure.

Here's whats done.

• Testing finished
• Design finalized
• Programs written
• Fixtures cut
• 1st production parts made

Here's what's left

• 472 + - Flume Fusion's to machine most in cherry
• 12 add-on species of wood upgrades from American Holly to Gabon Ebony for 46 of the 472 total Fusions
• 127 dice pocket liners to cut x 7 pockets per liner or close to 900 pocket liners.
• 154 rolling surface liner upgrades to cut
• 48 leather strap upgrades to make

Here's how we expect this to go:

• We've ordered a custom liner punch for the rolling surface so those should go quick 1-3 days of punching, when it arrives, which should be any day now.
• We have a pocket punch for the dice pockets already so that work can be done alongside the rolling surface punch. 1-3 days.
• The cherry main run and any exotics that can be run using our standard tooling will be run together in one continuous run. We fixture 4 parts at a time per machine so 8 parts cutting all at once per cycle. Takes about 2 hours per cycle per machine to make 8 parts, our workday is typically 8-12 hours so the rough math points to 32 to 48 parts per day machine time. Rounding off  the total to 500 parts to account for breakage, gremlins and such at an average of 40 parts per day and other things like power outages, stupid high wind and such we'll say 2 weeks to machine 500 Fusions in Cherry and Exotics. The whole run. 
• Whew.. big bullet point... 
• There's 2.5 weeks from today till the end of November.

So, will YOU get your Flume Fusion this December? (Remember December has  31 days) More than likely.

Will YOU get your Fusion before Christmas, December 25th? No promises, but there's a good chance.

So there you go, that's what I know today.... We'll be heads down till after the 24th... (we have to eat Turkey too....:)

Thanks everyone!

 And from everyone here at ZucatiCorp, Thank You!  And Happy Thanksgiving!

 - Hal