Hello all,
We have reached the end of fabrication, cases are ready although we hit a last minute issue with the front panel which we sought to resolve as soon as we could so we would be able to show you the final product here.
There were also issues with the shipping costs due to covid-19 and this led us to wait a couple of weeks more to see if prices would drop....the good news is that they did so to less than half namely to USA and Canada the others remain the same and are reasonable.
But lets go to the details of these 2 issues:
First that of the front case panel, we found at the anodized that due to the process of fabrication of very thick aluminium panels by cold rolled process the center of the panel has a slightly altered micro grain structure , this is not visible except in anodizing due to the growth of the alumina capilaries being slightly irregular.
the effect can be seen as a very light shadow down the middle of the thickness of the panel....if you look closely.
Extruded aluminium does not suffer this issue ( to take into account for next time ).
We decided to try alternative solution and found that using a very tough acrylic clear coat ( 2X ) used for optics protection would give an effect in terms of look and feel that is indistinguishable for original anodizing.
As can bee seen by the image where you have 2 fronts next to each other...one is anodized the other clear coated....it is not possible to tell them apart in look and feel.
You have the option to take the front as is anodized or clear coat with a simbolic cost of extra 5Euros as we take the brunt of the cost to de-anodize , media blast, rebrush and apply 2 coats of very expensive clear coat.
...but it was our mistake so we assume the brunt of the cost.
Second issue was the shipping and this showed values of 235€ to USA and Canada which was the lowest possible but we thought it to be completely not viable, too expensive even though the reason was clear, with the airlines flying at circa 70% of the fleets now ( at least out of Portugal ) we thought prices would come down...and they did to around half that !
So we will go ahead with shipping as soon as we receive last payment from you for last installment.
For Europe the prices are very low so no issue there.
I will contact each one by email with details, this is important especially for those of you in Hong Kong, USA and Canada because of customs and invoices.
I will ask each one to PM me with current email address so we can proceed.
We will ship cases fully assembled to make sure there are no assembly issues, also because we found no cost advantages with flat pack shipping, case weighs 11.5kg and the size of fully assembled box does not make it more expensive to ship that way so less work for you.
Pictures follow.
We have reached the end of fabrication, cases are ready although we hit a last minute issue with the front panel which we sought to resolve as soon as we could so we would be able to show you the final product here.
There were also issues with the shipping costs due to covid-19 and this led us to wait a couple of weeks more to see if prices would drop....the good news is that they did so to less than half namely to USA and Canada the others remain the same and are reasonable.
But lets go to the details of these 2 issues:
First that of the front case panel, we found at the anodized that due to the process of fabrication of very thick aluminium panels by cold rolled process the center of the panel has a slightly altered micro grain structure , this is not visible except in anodizing due to the growth of the alumina capilaries being slightly irregular.
the effect can be seen as a very light shadow down the middle of the thickness of the panel....if you look closely.
Extruded aluminium does not suffer this issue ( to take into account for next time ).
We decided to try alternative solution and found that using a very tough acrylic clear coat ( 2X ) used for optics protection would give an effect in terms of look and feel that is indistinguishable for original anodizing.
As can bee seen by the image where you have 2 fronts next to each other...one is anodized the other clear coated....it is not possible to tell them apart in look and feel.
You have the option to take the front as is anodized or clear coat with a simbolic cost of extra 5Euros as we take the brunt of the cost to de-anodize , media blast, rebrush and apply 2 coats of very expensive clear coat.
...but it was our mistake so we assume the brunt of the cost.
Second issue was the shipping and this showed values of 235€ to USA and Canada which was the lowest possible but we thought it to be completely not viable, too expensive even though the reason was clear, with the airlines flying at circa 70% of the fleets now ( at least out of Portugal ) we thought prices would come down...and they did to around half that !
So we will go ahead with shipping as soon as we receive last payment from you for last installment.
For Europe the prices are very low so no issue there.
I will contact each one by email with details, this is important especially for those of you in Hong Kong, USA and Canada because of customs and invoices.
I will ask each one to PM me with current email address so we can proceed.
We will ship cases fully assembled to make sure there are no assembly issues, also because we found no cost advantages with flat pack shipping, case weighs 11.5kg and the size of fully assembled box does not make it more expensive to ship that way so less work for you.
Pictures follow.
Attachments
The cases look immaculate. 🙂
We know how difficult it is to achieve such quality, especially for small batches.
And it is not your mistake.
If anything, the fault lies at the material supplier.
I know how expensive it is to rework. I hope you do not end up subsidising a lot.
And as we said before, we always ended up with very high reject rates due to cosmetics.
I am very grateful that you took over this unthankful task from us.
Due to Corona, there is no or very little shipment out of Hong Kong right now.
So we would have had more problems with the shipment than you, at this moment.
I hope people would be as thankful for all the effort that you put in.
Cheers,
Patrick
We know how difficult it is to achieve such quality, especially for small batches.
And it is not your mistake.
If anything, the fault lies at the material supplier.
I know how expensive it is to rework. I hope you do not end up subsidising a lot.
And as we said before, we always ended up with very high reject rates due to cosmetics.
I am very grateful that you took over this unthankful task from us.
Due to Corona, there is no or very little shipment out of Hong Kong right now.
So we would have had more problems with the shipment than you, at this moment.
I hope people would be as thankful for all the effort that you put in.
Cheers,
Patrick
Most excellent work Carlos!
I can’t see much differences between the two in your third picture so I’m good with anodizing. I believe you allready have my e-mail address...😉
I can’t see much differences between the two in your third picture so I’m good with anodizing. I believe you allready have my e-mail address...😉
The machining is perfect. Just look at the spherical groove.
You cannot imagine how difficult.
We used to use a new tool for the final cut for each case.
Patrick
You cannot imagine how difficult.
We used to use a new tool for the final cut for each case.
Patrick
The whole thing looks beautiful assembled! I have personally never seen a ball endmill leave a smooth finish like that, in college we would sometimes take our machined pieces to sand and polish in class to help stay attentive after the all-nighters that were so much easier to do in our early 20's ;-p
I'm quite overly impressed with the whole anodizing as-is, looks like a subtle pinstripe effect, if noticable at all.
Thanks again!
Adam
I'm quite overly impressed with the whole anodizing as-is, looks like a subtle pinstripe effect, if noticable at all.
Thanks again!
Adam
So you would take the anodization of the front as is ?
If so we can leave yours like that.
On the topic of our choice of sending it assembled, it was because there are some issues that could lead to a less than satisfactory assembly so we decided to avoid that....also a manual will be supplied with the case...XEN had already done one for the first iteration and i added a few other details....very complete.
You will of course disassemble the side panels and take out the power supply mid module to put the electronics in but i suggest you do one at a time and not all at once to make sure tolerances are kept...make your life easier....
in essence...please read the assembly manual first when you get your case.
C
If so we can leave yours like that.
On the topic of our choice of sending it assembled, it was because there are some issues that could lead to a less than satisfactory assembly so we decided to avoid that....also a manual will be supplied with the case...XEN had already done one for the first iteration and i added a few other details....very complete.
You will of course disassemble the side panels and take out the power supply mid module to put the electronics in but i suggest you do one at a time and not all at once to make sure tolerances are kept...make your life easier....
in essence...please read the assembly manual first when you get your case.
C
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Yep you can leave mine as is, and good points on the assembly. I admit that I forgot it has the PSU-suspension center section, from reading the article in Linear Audio somewhat long ago. Very cool
For clarity, the first 2 photos from top left are the ones with the light shadow.
The 3rd is the reworkrd (acrylic painted) panel against a perfectly anodised one from an ealier batch.
Patrick
The 3rd is the reworkrd (acrylic painted) panel against a perfectly anodised one from an ealier batch.
Patrick
Preamp will mot have the effect....it only happens in very thick alu..15mm as is the case and up.
Preamp front plates are thinner and effect does not happen.
Preamp front plates are thinner and effect does not happen.
in very thick pieces you can even see the effect in black anodized ones,
The factory took the trouble to show me examples....
The solution is extruded alu... if it is available in the distentions you need.
It is not a questions of the alloy it is the fabrication process that produces the effect...we only use series 6 an higher 5 that are targeted for anodization....
...
The factory took the trouble to show me examples....
The solution is extruded alu... if it is available in the distentions you need.
It is not a questions of the alloy it is the fabrication process that produces the effect...we only use series 6 an higher 5 that are targeted for anodization....
...
I have emailed all with final pre shipping details.
Cases are about to go out to you.
Test all your electronics...😉
Cases are about to go out to you.
Test all your electronics...😉
Cases are shipping,
These have gone out today, rest to follow.
soldersober --tracking : EE732050492PT
Auro --tracking : EE732050501PT
Morde --tracking : 1Z0Y6V859193801263
Arthur --tracking : EE732050515PT
S610adam --tracking : EE732050529PT
I will email all of these next with other details.
C.
These have gone out today, rest to follow.
soldersober --tracking : EE732050492PT
Auro --tracking : EE732050501PT
Morde --tracking : 1Z0Y6V859193801263
Arthur --tracking : EE732050515PT
S610adam --tracking : EE732050529PT
I will email all of these next with other details.
C.
Received my case yesterday. Couldn't stop laughing after I approached the box with a paper knife that I usually use to open boxes 😀