A pretty major update. TLDR: there will be a delay. Here's where we're at right now:
In progress
1. Packaging - prototyping is underway and Keebwerk is working on a second revision to maximize case protection while accommodating extras in your order.
2. PCBs - production has finished. The fabricator has already shipped 36 boxes of pcbs to keebwerk so those should arrive in Germany soon.
3. Machining - Plates, weights, knobs, and cases are all done.
4. Anodization - We shipped the purple prototype back to Keebwerk who forwarded it to the factory for color matching a while back. Purple is currently being color matched and both gunmetal and deep navy are underway. As a reminder, both e-white and black are done.
Next Steps - After anodization on all the boards is complete, the factory will pack and ship all of the finished components to Keebwerk in Germany. Keebwerk estimates that shipping (from the factory to Germany) should take approximately a month. From there, Keebwerk will QC, pack, and ship all the boards to vendors who will then be responsible for shipping the boards out to you.
So what does the new timeline look like - Given the current progress, we expect fulfillment (shipping from vendors to groupbuy participants) to be delayed to early Q1 2023. As always, there is always potential for other delays but we feel pretty confident in this timeline after speaking with Keebwerk.
Answers to some questions you may have
1. What caused the delay - There are a variety of factors involved but the order for the boards was placed towards the end of February/early March. While the groupbuy started in Jan, the delay for placing the order shifted the timeline by a few months. Obviously, the anodization mismatch on purple required another sample as well but the delay is mainly a result of everything taking a little longer than expected. Some of this is also the supply chain recovering from COVID-19, and this is affecting every step of the manufacturing process.
2. Where are the update pictures - The boards are currently at the coater so getting pictures isn't as straightforward as getting pictures from the factory. We talk to Keebwerk who then talks to the factory who then talks to the coater (like a game of telephone) so requesting pictures of boards isn't easy at the moment. However, the good news is that all the boards are at the coaters (the last step in the manufacturing/coating progress excluding qc) so progress is being made.
Final thoughts - While this obviously isn't the update that we wanted to put out, we're happy that progress is being made and the boards are nearing completion. We waited to see if we could get pictures for the monthly update but since we're coming up on a month, we've decided to put out the update regardless. If you have any questions regarding the update, please feel free to ask any questions here in the gb thread and we'll answer to the best of our ability.