Author: siencilabs

Hi folks. This is our October production update.

For more day to day shipping updates please check https://forum.sienci.com/t/list-of-shipped-machines/1215/210

All info about delivery times, as well as commonly asked questions can be found here: https://sienci.com/2020/09/09/september-production-updates/. If you are looking to order a LongMill, please read the September update.

For customers who have a LongMill order on backorder

All Batch 3 machines have now been sold! New orders coming in will be part of Batch 4. If you ordered a machine before the LongMill went on backorder (it will have shown on the product page if it was on backorder or not), then you will have your machine shipped in 6 weeks (or hopefully less). If you are not sure if your machine is in Batch 3 or 4, order numbers #26649 and lower are in Batch 3, and orders numbered #26650 and above are in Batch 4.

We currently have all of the parts needed to fulfill orders in Batch 3, and we are working on packing and assembling kits to ship machines. Updated shipping schedules can be found here: https://forum.sienci.com/t/list-of-shipped-machines/1215

Everyone who is in Batch 3 should expect to be getting their machine within the next 2-3 weeks.

We are currently waiting on parts to arrive for Batch 4. Parts are currently coming in and we expect to have all of the parts to start shipping Batch 4 in the middle of November. This means that if you are in Batch 4, you should expect to start seeing Batch 4 machines to start shipping in the middle of November.

Batch 4 will consist of 1000 LongMills, which will hopefully alleviate the long wait times and give us more time between batches to stock up on machines.

Expected Batch 4 Shipping Schedule (this is an estimate, and may change over time)

Order #26650 – #26751: Week of Nov 16

Order #26757 – 26820: Week of Nov 23

Expanding the Sienci Labs office

With the high demand for LongMills, we are currently working on expanding our office space to help get more machines out the door. We will be moving into the office space next door to add an additional 4800sqft of shop space at the end of October. This is good timing as our next-door neighbors are in the process of moving out.

With our current space, we are producing around 120 units per month. However, we expect to be able to produce around 300 units per month once we have expanded into the new space. We will also have access to additional space at the rear of the building for storage to hold all of the extra materials we’ll need on hand.

Changes to the LongMill design

Batch 3 and 4 machines come with incremental updates to the design to improve reliability, ease of assembly, and functionality. Improvements are rolled out over time, rather than in set versions or changes. Here are some of the updates. These are all of the improvements with current machines shipped now.

Locking motor connectors

We’ve improved the design of the motor connector to provide a more secure connection between the motor and the wiring that goes to the controller. This change has completely eliminated issues coming from cables becoming detached from the motor body.

Detachable E-stop/Power switch

The latest version of the LongBoard now uses a detachable E-stop as a power switch. Users can use this E-stop to turn on and off their machine, as well as cutting the power to the controller itself. Users can use the supplied 3ft cable to place the E-stop in a convenient place, or use a longer wire to if needed. Documentation of the LongBoard can be found here: https://sienci.com/dmx-longmill/longboard-documentation/

Silver Dacromet coated fasteners

We have replaced black oxide 12.9 grade fasteners with silver dacromet/geomet coated fasteners (hexavalent-chromium free) fasteners to make assembly more pleasant for our customers as these fasteners do not require oil or grease for rust prevention. Please note that black oxide fasteners are still used in some areas but the large majority of fasteners used on the LongMill have been switched over.

Larger ACME locking nuts

Locking nuts on all lead screws have been increased in length to prevent the head of the set screw from touching the bearing.

Additional noise filtering on the LongBoard

The LongBoard comes with additional circuitry to protect it from errant signals for better reliability when using advanced features such as spindle control, limit switches, and more.

The LongBoard also has an additional red LED on the top to make it easier to see if it is powered on or off.

Known issues and updates to our quality control process

I’m happy to report that our ongoing improvements to our QA and machine design have drastically reduced the number of customer issues, and with the implementation of Zendesk and additional processes and training for our staff means that it is easier to get high-quality help. These are some known issues that have affected a small number of customers.

V-wheels

One of the most dramatic quality issues have been with v-wheel sizing. For the complete saga, please read our blog post here: https://sienci.com/2020/08/11/the-epic-saga-of-the-v-wheels/

At the beginning of our production cycle, we found that the v-wheels that we had received from our manufacturer was manufactured incorrectly. Not only did we find issues with this particular batch of wheels, but wheels from other manufacturers would have the same sizing problems.

To address this issue we have ordered in v-wheels from multiple manufacturers to ensure that we have stock of the right size and quality v-wheels. Although we still have inconsistencies of wheels coming in, we have been checking and QAing each v-wheel before shipping them out to ensure that they work correctly.

Power switch

A small number of customers with earlier versions of the LongBoard reported power switches failing. This is due to oxidation on the terminal preventing the power switch from making a proper connection. We have replaced controllers under warranty for switch failure, and we have assisted customers who have this failure out of warranty to do the repair themselves. The repair itself is fairly straightforward and allows for the LongBoard to continue to be operational. Customers can also bring their controllers/ship us their controllers to us to have them fixed for free.

Newer LongBoards (assembled in late June and onwards) come with additional switch protection circuitry that prevents the switch from failing. The detachable E-stops are also significantly more robust. Since this design update, we have not had reports of power switch failure.

608ZZ Flange Bearings

The inner race of the 608ZZ flange bearings that are used to support the lead screws have been found to be tighter than from previous batches. It appears most customers have managed to install them normally, or with a mallet or other tool to get them into place. However, over aggressive force can cause the lead screw or bearing to get damaged. Customers with issues with installing their lead screws and bearings have been shipped replacements. We are currently waiting on a new batch of bearings with C5 clearance which will allow for easier installation.

Hi everyone. Hope everyone is staying safe. This is our production update for September.

If you are reading this because you are planning on ordering a machine, I ask that you please read this update carefully as will provide important information and answer many of the common questions you may have. To be frank, we’d rather be working on building your machines as fast as we can rather than answer questions that can be answered here. I will try to provide as much information for our customers here and update this post over the next few weeks as well.

For customers who have already ordered a LongMill

We are currently shipping machines out as quickly as possible. You can follow our progress here: https://forum.sienci.com/t/list-of-shipped-machines/1215/210

If your machine was ordered but you do not see it posted on the list, please wait a few days for it to be updated.

For customers who are ordering a machine now/planning on ordering a LongMill

As of time of writing (Sept 9, 2020), we are nearly sold out on all Batch 3 machines. I have updated our ordering page to show the current stock availability for LongMills.

If you order a machine that shows “in-stock”, the lead time is 6-8 weeks.

If you order a machine that is “backordered”, the estimated lead time is 8-12 weeks.

• For further info about production, please check our October update: https://sienci.com/2020/10/08/october-production-updates/
• We require full payment for every LongMill order. This is to ensure your spot in line. You can cancel at any time before your machine ships.

Commonly asked questions

Is there any way to skip the line/get my machine faster?

• No. To keep things fair for all of our customers, we ship all orders based on when they were ordered. There are no exceptions. The only way to get a machine faster is to order one sooner.

Does it make a difference in when I get my machine if I pick it up?

• The only difference it will make will be that you will not have to wait for the shipping/transit time for the machine to ship. Typically, machines take around 1-3 days to ship within Ontario. Otherwise, there is no difference.

When do you charge my card/take payment for my order?

• Your card will be charged at the time you place your order. This is to ensure your place in line, purchase parts ahead of time, and have the most accurate estimates on production and delivery.

How can I cancel my order?

• You can cancel your order with no penalty any time before your order ships. Please contact us through our website or email us with your order number and a request to make a cancellation. A refund will be processed through your original method of payment.

Hi everyone. Hope everyone is staying safe out there. Here are production updates for August.

If you want to read more day to day updates please visit: https://forum.sienci.com/t/list-of-shipped-machines/1215/113

To start, I’m happy to announce that machines are being shipped out now. We’ve sorted through all of the hurdles with v-wheel-gate and getting all the other parts in. As the time of writing, we are getting v-wheels from multiple different sources to keep machines going out the door.

So machines are going out the door now, and we are working to get through our backlog.

Lead times for LongMills

Lead times for LongMills is currently 6-8 weeks.

To answer some common questions:

When is my card charged?

Your card is charged as soon as you place the order.

Your store says that the LongMill is “in-stock”. Does that mean that my machine will ship sooner than the 6 week lead time?

Although we have machines “in-stock”, due to the time it takes to pack and assemble each kit, there will still be a wait time.

For more day to day type updates, please check https://forum.sienci.com/t/list-of-shipped-machines/1215

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We are still working on ramping up production to fulfill orders more quickly, however, due to high demand and the waiting list we are working through, it looks like it may be some time until lead times will get shorter.

Right now in the middle of August, we’ve sold around 70% of our batch of 500 LongMills, and I am working on building Batch 4 (another 500 machines). I am estimating that we will be out of stock on Batch 3 by the end of September (*UPDATE* as of Sept 9, we are out of stock on Batch 3). Please check newer updates for info about production). Batch 4 will likely start shipping around the middle to end of October.

We are working hard to get machines out the door as quickly as we can while making sure we keep our quality standards high. I am also considering the safety of our workers as I am refraining from hiring additional in-house staff to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission.

Shipping times

There is currently a general slowdown in shipping times globally. Although most shipments come within the typical times, we have had a couple of orders that have been either lost in transit or take around 2 weeks to get from our shop to the customer. I would ask that customers please take into account that shipping times may be slower than usual due to COVID-19 when considering a purchase. If you need help with an order that has been delayed or lost, please contact us here: https://sienci.com/contact-us/

It seems like most delays are coming from Southern states and Southern California.

Improving customer support

We now have Zendesk set up! That means that if you contact us through our web forms, you can have your questions and queries answered more quickly!

We get hundreds of emails a week. If you are looking for info and want to help us get away from the computer, the large majority of questions can be answered through reading our FAQ: https://sienci.com/faq/

https://sienci.com/contact-us/

https://sienci.com/contact-us/technical-help/

While you wait

Did you know all of the resources for the LongMill are publicly accessible and can be found here: https://sienci.com/resources?

Also, if you haven’t seen the latest dust shoe design, make sure to check it out!

*Update* We are providing additional updates on orders that have already been placed here: https://forum.sienci.com/t/list-of-shipped-machines/1215/4

Hi everyone, here’s a new production update for our LongMills. If you are planning to order a machine I would recommend reading this post carefully as it will provide more info on when you should expect to receive your order.

Please note that if you already placed an order, the lead time that was indicated on the website is accurate to your order at the time of purchase. For most people June 22, 2020 to July 2nd at 11AM, the estimated lead time is 4 weeks. For folks that placed an order before the 22nd, we are waiting on a batch of aluminum rails to arrive (probably sometime today) to start shipping remaining orders next week. People who place an order for a LongMill may need to wait a little longer as we clear our backlog of orders.

Over the past week, our average number of LongMills sold per day has more than doubled since the previous week. To account for the jump in day to day sales, we need to update our lead times to reflect the change.

We will update our lead time to 6 weeks for new orders to ensure that we have enough time to build high-quality kits to our new customers and provide enough time for potential delays. If you are looking to get a LongMill and want to get it as soon as possible to place an order sooner rather than later because:

• You will be closer to the front of the line on receiving your machine, as we ship in order of when the purchase was made
• It helps us plan out longer-term production to give us more time to prepare materials, equipment, and labor

I will also note that you may cancel your order any time before your order ships with no penalties/questions.

We are away this Friday

Happy Canada Day everyone!

For our international friends, today is a statutory holiday in our country. We will be in the office today but we will be taking this Friday (July 3) off to ride moose, hunt for polar bear eggs, drink maple syrup, and shovel the snow off our driveways.

We may not be available for pickups and shipments, emails, and calls on this day. We will be back to work on Monday.

In celebration of Canada Day, here are some cool projects to share!

Hi everyone. it’s Andy here to provide a new update for LongMill production. As mentioned in the last update, we’ve seen continual growth in LongMill sales which has been a lot faster than we expected. I want to take a moment to thank all of our customers who’ve been sharing their positive experiences with the community and helping us grow.

We expected to run out of machines at the end of July, which was our estimate back April based on what we expected our sales to be at during that time. However, it appears we will be running out of stock on Batch 2 in the next few days.

Lead times

We are nearly out of stock on the current batch of LongMills, with around 30-40 machines left. Ikenna, our operations manager, has told me that he expects that we will likely run out of machines by Thursday (correction, we have now run out of stock a few hours after the time of writing, another 20-30 machines will be available in the first or second week of July).

That means for the rest of the machines in stock, you can expect a lead time of around 1 week, and the following orders will have a lead time of around 3 weeks.

We expect to have around 500 more LongMills in stock by the end of July. We will ship machines based on the order of which they were ordered, and we will ship machines as they become available. We will provide a more detailed update on the availability and shipping times over the next few weeks.

If you want to order a LongMill and want it as soon as possible, I recommend ordering one as soon as possible so that you will be first in line for a machine once we run out of stock or you can get one of the ones that are still remaining.

For parts and end mills, we currently have plenty of stock, so you should expect these items to ship typically within one business day.

Shipping times

Also as mentioned in our last update, due to COVID-19, shipping times may be a little slower than usual. For the most part, we have seen that shipping times are a little faster than it was a month or two ago, but I would still expect that shipping for some customers may be a little bit slower than normal.

For most customers, I would recommend that you expect to have shipping times take 3-5 extra days.

If you prefer to pick up your items, we are still offering pick ups on our dock but we are not allowing visitors inside at the time.