Originally Posted by TexasSP (Post 195313)

or maybe he just has a multi-million dollar company to run..........

Originally Posted by Pdelcast (Post 192567)

People -- don't complain that I don't give straight answers... How do you get more straight than this?

The new stencils will be in on Monday, and production will resume then. THAT MEANS PRODUCTION WILL RESUME ON MONDAY.

For those of you who need further clarification... That means that we will start building Monster Max controllers again on Monday.

If that isn't clear enough for you -- here's some more details.

On Monday, about 9:00am, UPS will deliver a pair of MMM stencils. A stencil (in the electronics world) is a large piece of nickel plated stainless steel, about .006" thick, stretched tight into a 29" x 29" tubular aluminum frame. The thin sheet of stainless has apertures cut out of it with a laser, and is used for putting solder onto a circuit board. The solder is printed onto the circuit board using a machine called a "stencil printer." Our stencil printer is a Dek Horizon printer. You can click on the link below to get more information about the Dek Horizon stencil printer:
http://www.dek.com/web.nsf/us/product_horizon

Our machine operator, Shawn Messmer, will load the Horizon printer with the solder stencil for the top side of the Monster Max first. He will then load solder paste (which is a paste made of microscopic solder balls suspended in flux), and start production.

After the solder is printed on the circuit boards, they then move out of the Dek Horizon (by conveyor), and into our Universal Instruments Advantis Lightning (AC-30L). Our Advantis AC-30L is our chip shooter, and will place about 32,000 parts per hour onto the MMM circuit boards.

After leaving the Advantis Lightning AC-30L, the board will move by conveyor to our Advantis FlexJET AX-72. The Advantis FlexJET is a little slower than the Advantis Lightning, but can place larger, more difficult parts. This type of machine is usually called a "flexible placer", where the AC-30L is called a "chip shooter."
To see more information about the Universal Instruments Advantis, visit this link below:

http://www4.uic.com/wcms/WCMS2.nsf/i...oducts_18.html

After leaving the Universal Instruments Advantis AX-72, the MMM boards will move through the reflow oven, a Heller 1707EXL. The reflow oven solders the board (all at one time!) by raising the temperature of the board slowly until all of the solder paste (stenciled on by the DEK printer!) melts, or reflows. To see more information about the Heller 1707EXL reflow oven, visit the link below:

http://www.hellerindustries.com/h1700EXL.htm

After reflow, the boards cool for about an hour. Then it is off to the inspection station, where we employ a MIRTEC 5 camera automatic optical inspection machine, which checks all the parts and solder joints to be sure everything is perfect after assembly.

To see more about our Mirtec 5 camera AOI, please see below:

http://www.mirtecusa.com/desktop3.html

Once all is checked and found to be OK, the MMM will then move into soldering, where our soldering technicials will add the switches and receiver connector (with love, of course!)

Then the boards move on to final assembly, where they are placed in cases and stickers are added to the case.

Next, the nearly complete MMM move into functional testing -- where each and every MMM is calibrated, and tested with loads of up to 100A. During functional testing, the output waveforms, throttle response, and cutoff voltage settings are all throughly tested.

After passing functional testing, the MMM move to finishing and packaging, where they are carefully placed into a box along with a CD, cable and Castle Link.

Then the MMM are moved into stock, where they will await final packing and shipping.

Hope you found that interesting!

Patrick

Originally Posted by Jeremy1976 (Post 195309)

I have a feeling that something went sour. I would also think if some were shipped he would of posted up right away. That is my speculation. Hope I am wrong.

Originally Posted by dadnjesse (Post 195741)

Considering last monday Joe said that they were getting a shipment of stencils from ups at 9am and they would be going into full production and now over a week later joe has not been heard from, well seems strange to me, the guy was very excited sounding and was updating us almost dailey and then he just went silent.

Originally Posted by DRIFT_BUGGY (Post 195746)

Probably becuase he is very busy or on a business trip.

Originally Posted by TexasSP (Post 195755)

Originally Posted by Colby (Post 4683403)

I called today to check on the status on mine that I sent in late May. I was told that they hope to started shipping MMMv2 s on or around Aug 13 to the people who had returned dead MMMs.

Originally Posted by TruckBasher (Post 195775)

BTW, i just noticed this thread and Sparky's thread for beta test has no photo...how come no one posted the famous thread reply? Maybe they dont have camera or i'm so blinded by the delay I missed the photo :rofl:

Originally Posted by TruckBasher (Post 195727)

I dont want to be all negative on this issue but there was a series of events that made me believe that there will be more delay...
First, Robo Market Place (not as good as RCM, Tower.. and Impakt but good service) jsut canceled my order. They are the ones who refunded me because it seems they've had multiple complains and they give up on CC. Heres the email.

"Jeff,

I just got off the phone with our distributor who said they don't expect to see the Mamba Monster until Mid-Sept.

With that being said we are going to go ahead and cancel the order for you and refund your paypal..

Sorry for this inconvenience..

Do you still want the RC Switch? If so we will cancel the order and you can place a new order for the RC Switch.

Hope this helps and have a great weekend!

Thank you
_________________________
Harmony
The Robot MarketPlace
harmony@robotmarketplace.com"

Second, Impakt RC just pulled their pre-order and responded that they did it because they dont know when the next batch is coming....

Third, we've only heard about the 2 guys with beta and that's it.....not no news...

For a household to loose phone and internet connect for a week would be normal but for a 11million dollar company to loose connection is crazy...unless area has been hit a major hurricane and flooding. I guess what I'm saying is that something might have happened to those stencil or it could be that they are already doing the mass production and everyone is soldering connectors that no one can answer the phone but I hope at least someone will tell us they delay....Its normal to have delay...even Mike gets delay, Tower got some delay but to tell everyone "in the next 2 weeks" after another 2 weeks and another...turns out to be 5 months well i dont know......I know that for a complicated process like they go thru it unavoidable to get setbacks and get delay but for a 5mos delay on other is bad for business....and CC is not the one taking the heat. Its the small companies that resell them...


Sorry for the rant 4months into waiting and 2 of my 4 orders had been cancelled because shopped decided to quit on CC....I guess I should have gotten the picture...

Ohhh I think the one who took the bet with Patrick....is gonna WIN....

Originally Posted by TexasSP (Post 195755)

Sometimes this place is worse than an old ladies' sowing circle!

These guys do have jobs you know. I think they have done a pretty dang good job of communicating with us. Relax, breath and they will get them done.

Originally Posted by TexasSP (Post 195959)

I don't know what broken promises people are talking about. My MMM has been there for repair since May. My life has not ended because of this and I can still run RC's. Patrick and others have been more forthcoming than any other company I have ever seen. I want mine as bad as everyone else but wild speculation and rumors won't get it here any faster. I am sure if you are disappointed enough that CC would happily refund your money if it's such a problem.

Personally I would rather them get it right and take longer than just get it and it break again.

Originally Posted by TexasSP (Post 195990)

I don't have my nose up anyones butt. I just know what it's like to design and manufacture product, have problems, try to stick to deadlines, then face more problems. It's tough. I have dealt with many vendors via work with several hundred thousand dollars on the line and less communication than Patrick gives for a 170 dollar toy.

The point is, it's a toy, no one will live or die without it so lighten up. Too many people are beating this to death like it's a heart transplant or something.

Originally Posted by suicideneil (Post 196077)

Maybe they need more pizza....

Originally Posted by suicideneil (Post 196077)

Maybe they need more pizza....

Originally Posted by Jeremy1976 (Post 195925)

I think Patrick and other CC employees would be better off not saying anything until they were in the mail to the customers. Broken promises are what irritates customers. Especially in this hobby. My .02