N-Possible Coupler Announcement (Nashville 2022)

[Jimbo]

@turbowhiz  - any news to report?

[turbowhiz]

A quick update:

I finished setting up in my renovated dedicated space and my full scale farm is up and running.

I’ve produced WAY more couplers over the past few weeks than have ever been produced up to this point, but i have had to sort out some issues in the production process to ensure quality. Processes that worked well for small batches needed modification for exponentially larger batches, and I had to design and build some better tools for production at scale. As I worked up to the more problematic parts to produce, I exposed issues in the new processes that needed further revision. I probably should have started with the hardest parts first I suppose…

The good news is that I’ve got the full scale process details sorted to the point where I have good yield of the most problematic parts. I’m scrapping all of the early production and re-producing everything with the refactored processes so everything is up to the highest quality standards I can muster.

I have no concern about being able to produce enough couplers for any conceivable demand. Despite some setbacks, the overall process has generally come together as planed.

Packaging tooling supplier dates have slipped to end of March unfortunately, but it’s taken me some time to sort my own production issues out anyhow. I expect that packaging will be a learning journey as well, it’s not going to be perfectly turnkey… I’ve already started building my own tooling there too.

So, good progress.

[garethashenden]

Yay!! Looking forward to these.

[learmoia]

A quick update:

I finished setting up in my renovated dedicated space and my full scale farm is up and running.

I’ve produced WAY more couplers over the past few weeks than have ever been produced up to this point, but i have had to sort out some issues in the production process to ensure quality. Processes that worked well for small batches needed modification for exponentially larger batches, and I had to design and build some better tools for production at scale. As I worked up to the more problematic parts to produce, I exposed issues in the new processes that needed further revision. I probably should have started with the hardest parts first I suppose…

The good news is that I’ve got the full scale process details sorted to the point where I have good yield of the most problematic parts. I’m scrapping all of the early production and re-producing everything with the refactored processes so everything is up to the highest quality standards I can muster.

I have no concern about being able to produce enough couplers for any conceivable demand. Despite some setbacks, the overall process has generally come together as planed.

Packaging tooling supplier dates have slipped to end of March unfortunately, but it’s taken me some time to sort my own production issues out anyhow. I expect that packaging will be a learning journey as well, it’s not going to be perfectly turnkey… I’ve already started building my own tooling there too.

So, good progress.

You could probably run down to the local Walmart and grab a box of zip lock bags an that would be enough packaging for us..

~Ian

[Jimbo]

Eager to see them in person… installed on my rolling stock!!   

Jim

[robert3985]

You could probably run down to the local Walmart and grab a box of zip lock bags an that would be enough packaging for us..

~Ian

Another source for more appropriate zip-closed parts bags is Hobby Lobby.  I use two different sizes of their "Jewelry Storage, Self-Sealing Bags" for my 3D printed detail parts...and they're not expensive at all, running between $1.29 and $3.99 for four different sizes of 150 bags.

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

[learmoia]

Another source for more appropriate zip-closed parts bags is Hobby Lobby.  I use two different sizes of their "Jewelry Storage, Self-Sealing Bags" for my 3D printed detail parts...and they're not expensive at all, running between $1.29 and $3.99 for four different sizes of 150 bags.

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

Good to know.. .(I was thinking in terms of those who wanted 500 to 1000 from the get-go.. )

[robertjohndavis]

A quick update:

Your transparency and enthusiasm are both breaths of fresh air.

It’s nice to see.

Rob

[Altoona]

Zip lock bags --Amazon

Judd Barton

[Jimbo]

@turbowhiz - it’s been a while.  Any news to report?

[turbowhiz]

Things are progressing well. I have a solid base of inventory produced of all of my launch parts, having refined my production at scale processes for success. I can still make further optimizations, but I also need to know when it’s good enough to move on, and I’m there now. It took way longer and way more work than I had anticipated, but that seems to be the pattern with everything in this venture.

I’m have a large quantity (~3K+ of everything, so 24K+ parts) of my own parts ready to ship to my packaging tooling supplier; They have been working with my metal parts setup but needed a large quantity of 3D parts to continue the setup. I should have that machinery in hand before too long, but I will still need to setup my own retail packaging process on top. 

Coupler box parts in production:



First bulk lot order all packed up, all of the launch parts are here. 600 pairs of couplers comprised of different lengths; 300 box pairs/300 retrofit shims pairs:



Lots more to do, but progress is good! I’m not all that far off where I wanted to be at this point.

[GaryHinshaw]

[ednadolski]

OOOH!!  NICE!!! 

I don't care at all about retail packaging -- is there any way to put in an early order?   (not too big -- like maybe 100 pair or so)

EDIT - doesn't have to be assembled either.

Ed

[Jimbo]

OOOH!!  NICE!!! 

I don't care at all about retail packaging -- is there any way to put in an early order?   (not too big -- like maybe 100 pair or so)

EDIT - doesn't have to be assembled either.

Ed

Make it two orders - one for me too!  I could even be talked into coming to you to pick them up!  (You’re near Toronto, right?)

Jim

[garethashenden]

OOOH!!  NICE!!! 

I don't care at all about retail packaging -- is there any way to put in an early order?   (not too big -- like maybe 100 pair or so)

EDIT - doesn't have to be assembled either.

Ed

This! I want this too! Or 50 pairs, that would be fine.