Fri Oct 18 '19 Announcement
over 6 years ago – Fri, Oct 18, 2019 at 07:56:51 AM

Last week, Manel left for Shenzhen to oversee the assembly of the 2,000 Dygma Raise pre-orders.

He is taking charge of doing the IQC - incoming quality control - of all the components and will be there until we start shipping all the keyboards. 

Much to our dismay, the quality control checks have been taking longer than expected.

We detected some quality problems with the metal pieces, such as the joint covers and the top panels. The joint covers weren’t fitting properly to the base. They had to fix these by hand.  

There were also some wobbling issues detected in some of the top panels so we had to check all of them one by one. 

The good news is this means that the quality control procedure is working well! No component is being left unchecked. Every little issue is detected and fixed. The only downside is that it is delaying the process by a few days.

Instead of starting the assembly of the 100 units on Monday, we had to start 3 days later, and instead of 100 units, we are assembling 180. So the trade-off isn’t all that bad.

There was one big issue we did have that involved the LED drivers of the PCBs.

The Raise has 2 LED drivers, one on each side. This means that we need 4,000 units of these microchips. The problem was that the factory didn't manage the orders very well.

We only had 2,000 units for the left side and 200 for the right. UH-OH.

There are lots of components that are fairly interchangeable, like resistors and capacitors but there are some things like LED microchips where you have to choose a manufacturer and then stick with them. The LED driver is manufactured by a Taiwanese company and they have a Chinese brand as well. If all the stock sells out then you have to wait for the factory to make new chips, which is a 14-week lead time or similar!

What probably happened was that the factory was banking on there being enough stock to just buy when they needed, but then there wasn't! We were caught in a sticky situation and we couldn't just change the chip because it would be too much work because then we would have to recertify.

Luckily, the factory found some stock this week! PHEW.

We are preparing the assembly of the microchips to the right-side PCBs. After mounting them all, we will test them asap.

Overall, the assembly is still a work-in-progress.

We have already received and checked the other components such as the keycaps, keycap-switch puller, cables, Neuron components, etc. 

We also have the final travel cases with our modifications.

Despite the delay, we pushed on with the pre-production assembly. However, we are still waiting on validating the other metal components so we can continue in full swing.   

Limited Raise Deilor Edition

Other exciting news is that we have started building the Limited Raise Deilor Edition keyboards. Oooooooooo ?

There were 13 people who ordered a limited edition keyboard where they could personalize their Raise by choosing the color of their metal panel and have a name or image engraved onto it.

The image below is an example of the metal panel with one of the artworks that was sent to us by a backer. 

Configurator Software

As for the configurator software, our latest update included the macros feature. However, it still had a few bugs that needed to be fixed.

They are actually more complex than we thought!

We’ve decided to release the software without the macros feature for now. We will continue working on this parallel to improving the software’s UI.

Our main priority is to refine all the updates that we’ve made in the last few weeks and make the software compatible with Windows, Linux, and Mac before we start shipment.

Currently, we are implementing the layouts of the other languages into the software.

So that’s all for now with our short update but we will share more information when we have more news from China!

Till then, thanks for reading and have a lovely weekend everyone!

- Dygma Team

:)

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Fri Oct 4 '19 Announcement
over 6 years ago – Fri, Oct 04, 2019 at 07:47:34 AM

.

Hello there dear backers,

The mass production process is ongoing and so far so good!

Updates on the latest components we’ve received:

PCBA - Printed Circuit Board Assembly

Youtube video

PCBA is in full swing. All the PCB of the Neurons, the left and right low-profile boards, and left main boards have been assembled. What about the right sides I hear you say?

During the testing of the right-side PCBs, we encountered an issue that would have caused a big delay had we not have the right quality testing procedures.

The magnet sensors weren't working properly on the right PCBs. The line was stopped after the first 20 units all had the same problem. After inspection, we realised the magnetic sensor wasn't the correct part! The magnetic sensor is a chip that detects if the keyboard is split or attached. Matt, our CTO, explained how this works in one of our Youtube videos.

The factory ordered a magnetic sensor with a different sensibility. Uh-oh. These magnetic sensors are so sensitive that even a small change in the position of the magnet will affect the connection of the keyboard. We developed a software to calibrate the sensor and our testing jig detected the problem.

The supplier is expressing that the correct sensor and the right-side PCBs will be assembled this coming week. If we hadn't caught this issue now, then we would have only found out about it at the final end of line test, which would have meant a lot of time wasted taking apart 2,000 keyboards and fixing 2,000 PCBs! Phew.

What learned from this: 

This is a fine example of the importance of quality control. Initially, we were questioning how to fully test the boards. We've seen other keyboard test jigs that don't actually test, but just flash the firmware. A functional test is done at the end of the assembly line and they just cross their fingers that their PCBs are good.

Our tests are more thorough, but a lot slower than just flashing.

The factory tests one PCB at a time. We only have one test jig for the left main board and one for the right. That means they first test 2,000 left-side PCBs one by one manually, then another 2,000 right-side PCBs.

We weren't sure if this was really worth it because of how long it took. But after catching that issue with the magnetic sensor, we were given proof that a thorough quality control test, no matter how slow or long it takes, is always worth it in the long run.

 

White ABS Keycaps

The white ABS keycaps are made by a single-injection of translucent material, ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) material. They are painted twice so that the light won’t shine through the entire keycap and just through the legend. They are painted in a grey color and then in white. After that, they are laser-etched and a layer of UV coating is applied for protection.

The first batch of white ABS keycaps from the DVT order didn’t have the quality we wanted. The white paint on the side of the keycap was poorly done.

And the backlight wasn’t bright enough. There was a black outline around the legends. This was because the first layer of paint was too dark.

In order to solve this, the factory changed the color of the first layer of paint to a lighter shade of grey and improved the general paint quality.

Neuron sticker

The Neuron sticker, found at the back of the Neuron, contains the serial number of the keyboard and other information.

We changed the material of the Neuron sticker because the serial number in the old one kept fading after some time. The contents of the new sticker are printed in the inner part so we can be sure that it won't fade.

Now we have two different finishings for the sticker, one for the silver Neuron and one for the black.

 

Configurator Software

We have a list of things to work on with the configurator software and we’re crossing off the fixes one at a time. Here are the things we've been working on:

 

Bug in ISO layout

We fixed this bug we found in the ISO layout. The key beside the left shift was missing. ISO layouts should have a small left shift and an extra key in between the left shift and the Z key, unlike ANSI layouts which have the left shift long like the one in the first image below.  

We had it updated, added the key, and now the layout is correct.

 

Default layers of the Raise modified

We updated the default layers. The first default layer has a turquoise underglow and backlight keys. The keys with the same function have the same color, (space keys are green, backspace keys are blue, enter keys are yellow).

 

In the second default layer, you have the F keys at the top with purple backlights. The modifier keys and the special thumbkeys have the same function as the first layer. The keys with the “xxx” are keys with no function.

You have the Numpad on the right side and the arrow keys on both sides.

 

Macros

We are working on the macros feature but we don't have anything to show you as of yet! Hopefully, we'll be able to show it in the next update 

 

Using the configurator software

Here’s a sneak peek of the configurator software where we demonstrate how to change key configuration, key color, and underglow.

 

 

 

Shipping 

Our logistics consultant confirmed with us that it would be better for us to first ship the keyboards to Spain and then to our EU customers. This only applies to the countries in the European Union. We want to avoid any problems that might arise in EU customs so we believe this is the best solution.

 

Final shipping addresses

Some of you might have received an email confirming your shipping addresses. We are doing the final list of all pre-orders so we are finalizing the shipping addresses of everyone.

For those who made additional purchases, we need you to settle your payment so we can export your order details.

 

We’re nearly there guys! 

Manel has already bought his ticket to China for October 10 and the assembly starts on the 14th. In our next update, we'll have news on the state of the assembly. Till then!

- Dygma Team

:)

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Fri Sep 20 '19 Announcement
over 6 years ago – Fri, Sep 20, 2019 at 09:03:42 AM

Hi there boys and girls,

If you didn't read our last update, we already started the mass production process.

Creating 2,000 units of each component

We are creating 2,000 units of each and every component of the Raise. Some components contain up to 8 individual pieces. For example, there are 2 metal top covers (left and right), 3 cables (2 short cables, 1 long), 6 rubber feet, 8 metal pins, etc., which when totaled together equals…

A LOT of components.

As of now, these are the ones that we already have:

• - PCBs
• - LEDs
• - User manual
• - The PET cases for the extra keycaps and extra switches
• - Keycap-switch puller

• - Neuron sticker
• - Mylar sticker - (the sticker placed underneath the Raise)
• - Magnets
• - Rubber feet
• - Cables

We had an issue with some of the cables from the DVT. It was a connection problem and it had something to do with the soldering between the wire and the PCB inside the cable.

We told the cable factory to double-check all the cables they made for mass production. We wanted them to guarantee that the connection was strong.

These cables should be resistant to various movements. 

Our factory tested 4,000 cables and only 3 failed. That’s just 0.075%! We’re happy with the result but we will still have them check all the cables all after mass production.

Most of the other components will be ready next week. These are the:

• - Neuron (plastic case)
• - Base
• - Special keycaps
• - Stabilizers
• - Kailh switches
• - PBT keycaps (US and UK in black and white)
   

The rest of the components that are taking longer are the metal components. We expect to have them by the end of September. These include:

• Metal case - the top panel of the Raise (left and right side)
• Metal joint cover
• Metal pins
   

Once we receive all the components, we will do the IQC (Incoming Quality Control). After that, we will assemble 100 Raise keyboards, which we have scheduled for the 14th of October.

We have been pushing to have the assembly on an earlier date. But as we mentioned in the previous update, the months of September and October are the busiest for the factories.

Some of them aren’t meeting the deadlines that they promised us so we need to adjust to their schedule.

These are the components causing a bit of delay:

• - The factory creating the travel case can only finish creating the 2,000 units in the 2nd week of October.
  
  
• - The factory creating the palm pads are redoing the material inside the palm pads. We noticed a tear after a month of using the new palm pads so they’ve made a new version.
  
  
• - Cherry will be sending the MX switches late because it’s high season. Since our order quantity is not as large as what they’re used to, we are in a lower priority.
  
  

On the other hand, Kaihua is sending its Kailh switches on time. We visited their factory in Shenzhen before and we were really impressed with the facilities. We have a good relationship with them and we hope to sell more of their switches in the future ;)

Assembling 100 Raise keyboards, then 1,900

The assembly of the 100 units will take 1-2 days. It is divided into 2 parts:

The first part is assembling the body of the Raise. This involves the top metal case, the base, the PCBs, Mylar sticker, the joint, metal pins, magnets, and also assembling the Neuron, which is the most technically complex part as it will undergo a lot of testing.

The second part is mounting the switches and the keycaps and putting everything in the travel case.

After assembly, we will do the OQC (Outgoing Quality Control), where the workers at the factory will personally inspect all 100 keyboards. They will unbox them and confirm that everything -the cables, keycaps, switches, etc-, is working in unison.

Checking all the 100 units is necessary because we will draw out a percentage of how many units failed quality control. In doing so, we can determine how many keyboards we would need to check when we do the OQC for the remaining 1,900 units.

Once we are done with the OQC of the 100 units, we will assemble 1,900 Dygma Raise units. This will take 3-4 days.

Manel, our Product Manager, will be flying to China on October 12, right before the assembly of the 100 units.

He will be in China for at least 2 weeks up until we start shipment, which we hope will begin in the last week of October.

Shipping

We have been consulting with an international trade expert who is helping us with the logistics of shipment.

Our plan for shipment is to ship all the keyboards from China to the final destination, your doorstep. But for our customers living in Europe, we are weighing the pros and cons of shipping the products to Spain first and then to your doorstep.

The reason we are looking at different options is because we don’t want you guys to pay any additional fees. We will cover the VAT for those living in the EU.

So we are waiting for the consultant’s proposal, then we will decide. We want to find the best solution for this. We will keep you all posted with the decision.

Configurator Software Updates

Now that manufacturing is already in production, we have been working nonstop on the configurator software. Here are the new updates:

New Key Configuration Menu

This is the latest version of the key configurator menu. We think it has a better user experience as you clearly see all the key options you have. 

What do you think?

English and Spanish Language

Now you can select either English or Spanish as the keycap language that you would like to be configured on your Raise.

We are still working on the other languages: French, Japanese, Nordic, and German.

10 layers

The configurator software now supports up to 10 layers.

Selecting the LEDs of the underglow

We are working on the option to configure the LEDs of the underglow. We divided the underglow into sections so you can program each section to have different color combinations. These color combinations will be connected to your layers.

We are estimating that we will be done with the feature in the next day or two.

Instructional videos

We have also started creating instructional videos aimed to guide those who are unfamiliar with some of the features of the Raise.

The first video we made is about properly using the keycap-switch puller, which is included with your Raise keyboard.

The second video is about properly splitting and attaching the Raise keyboard.

We plan to create more instructional videos, such as cleaning your palm pads and installing o-rings on your keycaps.

Do you have any ideas for instructional videos that you would want us to make?

Let us know in the comments section below!

Thank you once again for staying updated with all our developments! If you have any questions, please feel free to write them below or email us directly at [email protected].

- Dygma Team

Fri Sep 6 '19 Announcement
over 6 years ago – Fri, Sep 06, 2019 at 09:03:37 AM

Hey there everyone!

We have some awesome news! ?  

See Manel’s happy face?

Yep, we just signed the Purchase Order and paid to have all the components for the Raise manufactured. We have officially started the process of building 2,000 units of the Raise keyboard! The mass production phase has begun!

Let’s take a moment to feel excited…. 

What’s next?

Yes, these are exciting times. But we also want to break down the different stages of mass production so you all have a clear understanding of what’s coming next.

It’s not going to be smooth sailing, although we do hope we won’t have any major issues. But it’s important that we’re all on the same page as to what exactly is happening with mass production.

We've learned more about this process now that we're finally here and there’s a lot to understand! The different stages are equally important and some might require more time than others.

First stage: Sign, pay, and order the components from all the different suppliers. Remember, the Raise has more than 20 different components made by different factories.

Check out this video of Matt and Manel giving us a tour inside the factories during their trip last October 2018.

Second stage: Each factory manufactures the component assigned to them. Some of the factories have already started. They are creating 2,000 units of the following: 

- PCBs

- Neuron - plastic base

- Neuron - metal cover

- Keycap-switch puller

- Cables

- User manual

For the rest of the components, we are making the final negotiations with the factories to make sure they manufacture each component with all our specifications. We did a few modifications after the DVT and created a very detailed QC inspection document for the factories to strictly follow. 

Third stage: Do the IQC (Incoming Quality Control) of all the components and stock them in our assembly factory:

• Top panel - left and right
• Base
• PBT keycaps
• ABS keycaps
• Special keycaps
• Metal joint cover - left and right
• Metal pins
• Palm pads - left and right
• Cables
• Mylar sticker
• Neuron - plastic base
• Neuron - metal cover
• Stabilizers
• Magnets
• Screws
• Rubber feet
• Keycap-switch puller
• LEDs
• Cherry switches and Kailh switches
• Travel case
• And many more… 

Fourth stage: Do the pre-production assembly where we will assemble 100 units of the Raise. The goal in this stage is to make sure the assembly line is working properly and check that all the workers understand their part. All the quality control steps inside the assembly line should be working (for example, checking the switches work, flashing the Neuron, etc). We need to make sure everything is working properly so we can move on to the mass-production assembly.

Fifth stage: Do the OQC (Outgoing Quality Control) of the 100 Raise keyboards. In this stage, we will check all the units and draw out a percentage of how many did not pass our specifications. In doing so, we can determine how many keyboards we would need to check when we do the OQC for the remaining 1,900 units.

Sixth stage: Do the mass-production assembly where we will assemble 1,900 units of the Raise.

Seventh stage: Do the OQC (Outgoing Quality Control) of the 1,900 units.

Eighth stage: Shipment.

Factors to bear in mind

We also need to consider certain factors that are beyond our control.

Peak months for manufacturers. The months of September and October are the peak months of manufacturing in China. Because Christmas is approaching, all the factories are working double-time to meet their deadlines. This might cause some delays but we hope our suppliers don’t push our production to a later date.

1-week National holiday in China. The first week of October is a National holiday in China. So this means that our factories won’t be working.

US-China political situation. Because of the political situation between the US and China, there were a few changes made with the exportation fees from the US to China. 

What does this mean?

1. Components are more expensive. We might need to increase the price of the Raise once pre-sales end.

2. Shipping from China to the USA might be more expensive. This means that we may need to ship the keyboards to Spain first, then to the US. This will increase the overall cost of shipping Raise keyboards to the US, where most of our customers are from.

We still aren’t clear with the full situation. We are talking to an international trade expert to see if this is really a problem for us. If it is, we will find solutions to avoid delays and to not charge extra costs to any backer.

Next trip to China

Manel plans to go to China as soon as all the components have been created so he can be part of the quality control checks as well as be there during the assembly. If necessary, Manel will go twice, during the IQC, and during the mass-production assembly and OQC.

Firmware and Software Updates

BIOS. In the last update, we talked about how some testers had problems with the BIOS of their computer not working with the Raise. Some old BIOS versions don’t work with NKRO USB reports, only with the older Boot Protocol reports. Our firmware already supports a toggle switch to choose which report is used. Our solution is to provide a macro key in the Dygma configurator software that will enable users to toggle between versions.

Updating the Firmware. Now we can update the firmware through the configurator software. This means that if we want to add more cool stuff to the keyboard, such as adding new light effects, we can do it remotely in the future.

ISO/ANSI Detection. We were able to fix this detection bug.

Things we are currently working on:

- Making sure installers work for all operating systems. The current version supports Windows 10, Mac OSX, and Linux.

- Improving the UX of the configurator software

- Macros

- Making the configurator software language-aware. As of now, the software shows English characters. Special characters such as ñ, ø, å, etc, are still not visually represented.

- Ability to create, delete, name, and move layers. As of now, the configurator only supports 3 layers.

Other business updates - hiring

Hiring people for multiple positions has been challenging. We are taking our time to properly learn about the different roles, skill sets, as well as costs of the positions we need.

We apologize if we haven’t answered many of you who have enquired. We still need more time to learn about all these roles related to our needs.

We have been receiving help from friends who run companies and have been through the same process. We’ve done interviews with agencies and individuals in the digital marketing, branding, web development, and eCommerce sector. We hope to have a decision for our next steps in the following days.

That’s all folks!

Thanks for reading our update! If you have any feedback or questions, you know what to do. Just write it down in the comments section below!

Till next time!

- Dygma Team

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Fri Aug 23 '19 Announcement
over 6 years ago – Fri, Aug 23, 2019 at 09:52:17 AM

Last week, we posted a business update about securing our fundraising round and that we are open to hiring.

One good news is that we’ve reached an agreement with a Senior Developer to work with us as a consultant to help us develop our software. We’re also in the process of hiring a junior software developer who will soon be working with us full-time.

But we still need more people to join our team!

Positions open at Dygma

For those who have contacted us regarding the open job positions, we will get back to you as soon as we can with more information.

Right now we can share with you the Electronic Engineer job requirements. If you are interested but feel that you don’t fit the profile exactly, don’t hesitate to contact us! We are flexible with the skills of those we hire, and we know people can learn once they start working.

We will be posting the job descriptions of all the positions on our website next week so stay tuned!

Electronic engineer job post

General Purpose

• Full-time position available for Hardware Development Engineer to take on electrical design and development work for new Dygma products.
   
• In this position, the candidate will be the head of the electronics side of the product development and manufacturing, and will have the final responsibility of all the technical specifications.
   

Responsibilities And Expectations.

• Perform engineering duties and disciplines in HW development, such as design circuitry (including 4 layer PCBs), failure analysis and troubleshooting.
   
• Experience with schematic capture and layout, such as OrCAD, Altium, Kicad, etc.
   
• Work closely with the ID team during the product design process, creating 3D files of PCBa for quick design iterations.
   
• Understanding of processes required to design cost-effective system solutions for gaming electronic products including design validation test planning. Work closely with CMs during the DFM, preparing testing jigs during the QC definition.
   
• Function as the technical contact and take responsibility for communicating with ODM/CM vendors.
   
• Find and work in contact with external developers and consultants in different specific fields out of our company knowledge.
   
• Keep a register of all changes during development and manufacturing process, including Engineering change requests, tracking of versions, control for PCBs, BOMs.
   
• Research skills. Locate and get information from consultants, making deals with them, and from the enthusiasts communities. Become an expert in the product electronics and components.
   
• Experience with standard digital interfaces and protocol structures such as I2C, I2S, USB, UART, SPI, etc.
   
• Firmware development skills, C, C++ experience for the new products.
   
• Availability for traveling during development and Mass Production.
   

Must-Have Skills And Experience.

• Located in Valencia is ideal. Possibility to travel to Valencia frequently is a must.
   
• Proficient English Language Skills. Good level of Spanish and/or Chinese are a plus.
   
• Experience in mass production of consumer electronics is a plus.
   
• Hands-on practical lab experience and strong analytical skills. Strong prototyping skills with quick iterations of PCBs.
   
• Must have excellent written and verbal communication and collaboration skills to communicate accurate, organized, and detailed reports and results. Create well-organized documents.
   
• Able to work in a fast-paced environment and manage vendors to meet spec and schedule requirements.
   
• Knowledge and experience about the electronics certification process (EMC-EMI).
   
• Experience in Firmware development.

Again, if you're interested to apply for this position, or the other positions that are open: web developer, international sales manager/e-commerce, marketing manager, just send us an email at [email protected].

Thanks for reading!

-  Dygma Team