Compute Blade: Your rack-mountable ARM cluster

Update 9.7 - Locking Addresses
almost 3 years ago – Tue, Oct 10, 2023 at 08:40:03 PM

Hi Bladers!

Another update cycle has flown by, and our update will primarily cover preparations for shipment. We're thrilled to announce that we have received the green light from all channels to produce blades in large quantities, bringing us one step closer to delivery. Now, it's time to discuss locking in your addresses.

We will be locking all addresses one week from today, on Wednesday, October 18th. To ensure a smooth shipping process, we need your assistance. Please log in once more to your BackerKit account and double-check your shipping address.

Our initial phase will focus on team cluster fulfillment. However, to streamline the final stage of the delivery process, we will lock all addresses next week and hand them over to our 3PL shipping partners. This way, they can prepare for all upcoming shipments, and we won't waste any more time in this regard.

As we mentioned in our recent Discord update, we anticipate that the team cluster blades will finish production in approximately 4.5 weeks, with a worst-case scenario of 8.5 weeks. We can't wait to see the blades in your hands and learn more about your projects.

Additionally, we'd like your help with an initial tool we're working on. In a few days, you'll see some ideas for it on Discord. Please share your thoughts, ideas, and unpolished feedback to help us develop a useful solution for all of us.

Thank you for your ongoing support, and we look forward to delivering your blades soon!

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Your Uptime Team

Update 9.6
almost 3 years ago – Fri, Sep 29, 2023 at 12:49:24 PM

Hello, everyone!

Continuing what was covered in the previous update.

I have completed the testing, and everything went great. Technically, there are no complaints about Blade. It showed stable performance with Raspberry Pi CM4 overclocked to 2350 GHz and air-cooled (pibenchmarks SSD test result). 

I used FPGA to create sufficient load on the power supply systems, and everything went well with it as well.

As I feared, a small problem was discovered. The Fan Unit connector on the blade is 0.8mm higher than its second part on the Fan Unit. This is due to the fact that I soldered the prototypes by hand and, unfortunately, placed the connector differently than the robot does.

Nevertheless, we sent all the blades for the Uptime Lab Team Cluster into production. The housings for this enclosure will be made on a 3D printer (using SLS technology). These enclosures will take into account the connector offset, and everything will be fine. If you want to use these blades in future enclosures (particularly metal one), the connector can be bent a bit without damaging it.

I think it will be worth it. In parallel, we'll adjust the PCB for the Compute Blade, and they'll go into production soon as well. 

All last week, I have been working on the enclosure and testing it on the FDM printer. I think it works great. The blade's edge is machined differently than it was for the RC2 and glides perfectly on the enclosure without any additional modification. I will share the results soon and order a sample made on the SLS printer.

P.S. As for the release of the Raspberry Pi 5, it won't affect our plans in any way. Unfortunately, I don't have any information about the CM5, but following the example of the past, I don't expect it to be released in the next year. However, anything can happen.

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Ivan

Update 9.5
almost 3 years ago – Mon, Sep 18, 2023 at 12:57:33 PM

Good news, everyone!

The news may be late, but it's excellent news.

I received a test batch from Compute Blade v1 today.

These are already fully ready for mass production Compute Blades. 

They will have several changes along with silkscreen compared to the Compute Blade RC2. And they're also being produced in a new factory that I've been talking about on Instagram (pinned story).

As for the changes, I'll add the full list to the Compute Blade Changelog later this week. You can look at it now; it's pretty impressive when you look at it since the concept.

But the most important changes are:

• New PoE module, Silvertel Ag5400. According to the manufacturer - "The Ag5400 is now the Highest Efficiency IEEE 802.3AT Module in the world". 
• The compute module mount has been changed, as well as the connectors. This added 1.5mm of clearance. And now you will be able to use, I hope, any Raspberry Pi CM4 clones (a full list will be in the documentation one day) 

I've been testing out the new blades today almost online on X (Twitter) 

And so far, I haven't revealed any problems. In the next few days, mechanical things like installation in the enclosures and connection to the Fan Unit will have to be checked. Since I soldered prototypes by hand, there may be discrepancies in port positions compared to factory assembly. We'll see; I'll post updates on social media and Discord.

So you probably have one question: "WHEN?"

If no modifications are needed, I think within a month for orders that only include the Compute Blade. For orders with a Fan Unit and enclosures, it can take about six weeks because the Fan Unit required modifications, which resulted in the need to order new PCBs.

I'll try to give a more or less realistic estimate in the next update. But if the blade itself requires PCB modifications for some reason, it may cause a delay of another 3-6 weeks. But let's not get ahead of ourselves.

I am extremely sorry that we have faced all these delays. Fortunately, now the project's completion path is clear and straightforward, and all the stages have been negotiated and planned. The bills have been paid, and there is a sufficient financial reserve. According to the test results it will be clear what to expect and what to adjust. 

Stay tuned!

P.S. In the picture, you can see the metal enclosure, which definitely needs tweaking, but even in prototype form, it will work.

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Ivan

Update 9.4
almost 3 years ago – Thu, Sep 07, 2023 at 12:08:43 PM

Greetings once more, Bladers!

As we step into the next cycle of updates, we bring fresh insights following our productive meetings with our manufacturing partners. Today, we're excited to share with you the latest developments in our production journey and provide a glimpse into the multifaceted efforts required to establish a resilient global shipping network in compliance with all the necessary regulations.

One pivotal element in our quest to scale up production that merits attention is testing. Managing batch sizes of several thousand blades is no small feat. Our commitment to delivering the utmost quality and identifying any potential issues in the production batch or components from the outset has led us to invest significantly in advanced testing and automation. It's not solely about providing you with top-tier quality; it's about safeguarding the integrity of our manufacturing process. As we chart our course for a similar production scale in the coming year, testing will continue to hold a central role in our manufacturing flow.

In tandem with our testing endeavors, we've revisited our packaging strategy. Initially, our plan was to persist with the black plastic envelopes you may have come across – the same ones we used for our  beta testers. However, we've opted for a more conventional cardboard packaging solution. This transition not only streamlines handling, especially with the assistance of robotic systems but also aligns more seamlessly with larger cardboard industry standards, effectively reducing unused space and air during the shipping process to our valued distribution partners.

Moreover, we've heeded the growing global concern regarding plastic packaging. To address this issue, we've adopted an eco-conscious, recyclable packaging solution that incorporates all requisite regulatory and legal information. This eco-friendly packaging should meet import requirements and facilitate audits, ensuring our steadfast compliance with all relevant regulations.

Now, in terms of our manufacturing process itself, the wheels of prototype manufacturing and Series-0 production are turning at full tilt. The blades are not just looking and feeling amazing; they are a testament to our dedication to quality. Our next milestone entails eagerly awaiting the results of our testing for the mass manufacturing 0-series. Rest assured, you will be the first to receive the final test results and delivery estimates as soon as we receive the green light for the current production batch.

We want to express our deepest gratitude for your unwavering support. We are eagerly anticipating the moment when these exceptional blades will find their way into your hands!

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Your Uptime Industries Team!

Update 9.3
almost 3 years ago – Mon, Aug 28, 2023 at 12:34:24 PM

Hello, Bladers!

Exciting times are upon us as we kick things back into gear! We've just touched down at our manufacturing partner's facility, where we're diving into the review process for both the dump and smart fan-unit prototypes we received last week.

Our initial assessment has revealed a series of minor adjustments that need to be made before we green-light mass production. After these slight modifications are manually addressed, we're pleased to report that the more crucial components are functioning smoothly. With this positive outcome, we're gearing up to initiate preparations for the upcoming production batch and, of course, coordinating the shipment logistics with our 3PL partner.

In terms of the issues we've encountered, they primarily revolve around a few key areas. The footprint for the reset button and the custom switch button need rectification, and we're also looking to fine-tune the LED brightness for the blade recognition feature.

Be sure to keep an eye on our Discord channel over the next few days, as we'll be sharing live footage directly from our bustling manufacturing site. This will give you an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at our processes and provide you with further insights into the manufacturing journey.

Tomorrow is shaping up to be a jam-packed day with a series of crucial meetings lined up. Our agenda includes addressing a comprehensive range of manufacturing-related topics and working towards bringing them to a successful conclusion. This will enable us to seamlessly transition and hand over our operations to our shipping provider in the near future.

During these meetings, we're set to synchronize on a multitude of critical aspects. From scaling up production to meticulously crafting packaging solutions, conducting thorough testing, maintaining stringent quality control, extending unwavering social media support, configuring post-Kickstarter production setups, bolstering marketing strategies, and ultimately fine-tuning our shipping procedures – we hope to have it all covered.

Your continued support means the world to us, and we're committed to keeping you in the loop every step of the way. Stay tuned for more exciting updates, keep that enthusiasm alive, and together, let's keep forging ahead towards an incredible future!

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Your Uptime Industries Team