It has been a while since last time we heard about FeelVR guys and backers were starting to be nervous about the development and assembly status. As every other complex project, unforeseen situations and events have arise along the path and therefore, a delay is inevitable. Anyway you have more news and details about how is everything go:
Dear backers,
Hope you had a joyous holiday season!
The past year was a blast! It was cool to meet so many passionate about racing people and make new friends. To learn so many new things and to become closer to our purpose.
Thank you guys for your support – without it all of that would not have happened.
I would also like to thank the team for passion and devotion, and all those overtiming we had and probably will have.We faced a lot of tasks for a small team. Most of which have been successfully resolved. Much has been done but many remains to be done. We enter the new year with endless energy to do what we do – affordable high end sim-racing equipment.
Pedals progress
We were in a hurry and tried our best to start shipping pedals by the end of the year. Unfortunately, this did not happen for the following reasons.
Our main sheet-metal manufacturing contractor had equipment problems, so we had to wait until they would be resolved. Subsequently we had an issue with the quality of the parts that appeared after those changes. Despite this is not a problem for most other clients, it was an unacceptable quality level for us so we had to visit the production several times to resolve the issue.
There were also delays with the assembly. We have been waiting for the parcel longer than usual because of the holidays rush, and when it finally came it turned out that some standard purchased components did not meet the specifications (plastic washer thickness turned out to be more than we expected and it causes issues). We are solving this problem at the moment.
Some time was spent setting up the assembly instructions.
Pedal electronics was delayed as well. We wanted to assemble the mini batch as quickly as possible. The standard process of assembling a new PCB batch takes about 1.5 – 2 months.
We wanted to do it in half a month. So we ordered the PCB production in China but decided to purchase local components and to use local assembly service.
As strange as it sounds, we have got only first parcel from China with PCBs but didn’t get the second one with the stencils.
Turned out it was due to airport mail congestion in a holidays rush. We managed to get the template only yesterday and we proceed to assembly.
While awaiting for the stencils, we decided to assemble several PCBs manually to test new electronics ASAP. The test was a success.
Magnetic sensor test video:
In the coming days we are expecting plastic molds for pedals to be finalized.
(before now we have used the draft molds and despite the fact that it can be used for small test batches, we still need the final version).
Wheel progress
Recently we have received a new and final motor sample with minor previous issues solved.
Molds are still in the process of designing and manufacturing.
We have also finished the development and currently assembling an updated motor control PCB.
Some cool features were added to it which we will cover in the future updates.
Overall, we try to move as fast as possible in the manufacturing. And despite all the obstacles that arise, we are successfully overcoming them and will continue to do so as much as necessary. We are really looking forward delivering an excellent quality products to you guys in the nearest future.
Have a good one,
Denys
Founder and CEO @ Feel VR Inc.
