[IC] The Cruciformer: a Tool for Fixing MX Stems

I was adding to the reddit update post linked above and someone mentioned the keebtalk didn’t have the same visibility, so here are the updates.

I’m still planning on starting shipping on the 18th of May. Waiting on packaging and jig completion. If you just want the tool, I can ship it in a bubble mailer ASAP but it won’t go anywhere due to memorial day weekend.

Tool finishing and jig delivery will affect that and I will update here if it does. 5/14/19 Day 1 of no contact from CNC shop after machining should be done. 5/15/19 Day 2 of no contact from CNC shop, I may be doing the machine time myself on Saturday at this rate if they’re just needing man-hours. 5/18/19 Day 3,4,& 5 no word until this morning. 60% of the tools are done, but I won’t get to ship until next weekend because I can’t take time off of work. Personal stuff coming up in June means I really want to get these shipped in May.

5-22-19 TOOLS ARE FINISHED MACHINING. I’ll be picking them up, running them through the ultrasonic cleaner to get cutting fluid washed out. Because of my job I likely won’t ship until the weekend. I am sorry for the delay, thanks everyone for being understanding.

5-25-19 Tools are done, BOX jig is being run over the weekend, redoing Nexus jig because my prototypes only worked due to kerf or 3D printing tolerances. Offering expedited shipping as listed above.

6-1-19 Tools are waiting to be shipped (that’s on me, I’ve had over 35hrs of work in the last three days). BOX jig 3D prints are beautiful and clip into the housing+stem perfectly, waiting for both BOX and Nexus jigs to be machined. Nexus jig redesign is good, test makes are happening this weekend. Still offering expedited shipping if you contact me and just want the tool. As soon as I start shipping, I’m going to ask the proxies to submit the order and they’ll get the bundled order.

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This is exiting. I should somehow make a stream of me shaving hundreds of stems exciting :thinking:

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strippers

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I’m still going to get one to you, I’m just waiting on the manufacturer to package. >:(

I likely wont have a chance to work on it this weekend with my grandfather’s memorial service.

While shaving simultaneously.

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Update:

I’ve started shipping! I apologize for the delays, but we’re finally getting there. IF YOU HAVE A CHANGE OF ADDRESS, PLEASE LET ME KNOW NOW BEFORE I MAIL SOMETHING TO THE WRONG PLACE. I’m reaching out to people with bad addresses so if you’ve gotten an email from me regarding your address, please answer so I can ship to you. I’m currently shipping orders (in chronological order) with just the tool, as I’m still waiting on both jigs, BOX jig expected to be done in the next couple days, Nexus a week behind that. I won’t be able to ship again until Sat. but I’m planning to spend most of the day shipping orders with just the tools. The way that the jigs click around the BOX switch housing and stem is addictive, and I find it super helpful to have a jig for Nexus sliders and a bit overkill for BOX stems…

I struggled with the shipping and stupid order fulfillment process for hours before getting it working, but we’re set to keep shipping orders with the tool (just in plastic baggies in a bubble mailer for now). If you’re in the 1.5doz. or so order with just the tool, you should have gotten your tracking info earlier today. I dropped the packages off at the post office over lunch so they’re really on their way!

I’ve been fighting with both my bank and Paypal to get to any of the money, it still isn’t resolved, but I’ve been paying the manufacturer and shipping costs just to get going. If you’ve tried to check out using Paypal you’ve probably discovered you can’t, but I’ll try to get it back (despite really wanting to boycott them).

I’m writing this as a new post for visibility but I’ll try to link it in the other threads. I’m planning on adding an album of the tool and jig, but I’ll be around in the comments to answer any questions that come up. I’m trying to ship in the order that people pro-ordered so I probably can’t bump you up without a compelling reason, but I will be trying to get to everyone as soon as I can.

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Dang, it looks like it shipped from Lincoln? I just was there a couple days ago

Haha, really? Yep. midwest manufacturing is better than anything in CA.

I believe it. I was on a lil jaunt through the Midwest on my way to a conference in Iowa.

Any update on the jigs?

The BOX jigs are being shipped slightly out of order, I’ll be going through in order when I get in to ship next.
The test cuts for Nexus are being cut. More details in the main thread.

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Looking forward to seeing how these turn out for people :slight_smile:

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Me <— a people
Same.

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Is there a demo video, I’ve done a few, and now they feel really loose. Would like to see what orientation to hold the cruciformer. It’s pretty challenging to use this, a simple diagram would be great. I have the jig. You also need tweezers to get rid of the plastic.

Just make sure that the flat of the handle is parallel to the LED window. It isn’t really a demo video, but you can see it being used here, which I hope helps. Because the stem is not symmetric, if you use it the wrong way, you will make it quite loose.

Those are some pretty significant deets that I would make more visible. I have now used the cruciformer wrongly on half of my switches because I thought the shavings indicated they were being effectively used.

Just wondering if my order (#1162) has been shipped out?

I believe #1115 was the last BOX Jig and Tool order I had jigs to fulfill. I’m getting the next batch of jigs in the next couple days and I’m taking part of Friday off to package them all (it takes a couple minutes to process and check everything is in order for every tool & jig).

You’ll get a shipping notification and possibly tracking information (depending on the shipping tier you selected) when your order ships. If you need to change your address or have other concerns, let me know. :slight_smile:

Update 6-20-19 (from another thread): BOX jigs are more or less done and I’ve completed the post-processing cleanup for a couple dozen to ship but won’t be able to ship until next Monday evening. There is a lot more cleanup that needed to be done as the XY offset needed dialing in due to the challenges of machining polycarb. Still locked out by paypal so I can’t take more orders using PP express checkout or get any payout. There was a delay in getting some of the packages to the post office after missing pickup and all.

Update 6-25-19 Planning on shipping more orders on Wednesday. I hope to ship all the jigs and the rest of the tools but we’ll see how far we get. There was a delay of a day between when I’d printed the labels and got them to the post office last week but the tracking looks like the tools are en route or arriving (sorry to those stuck in customs).

Nexus jigs fit the slider but it’s either hard to remove or hard to hold the jig so we’re trying something overly clever that should fix both of those. We’re redoing some of the internals so they have the same face-matching purchase while reducing friction on the slider. Again, PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE A CHANGE OF ADDRESS! It’s not hard to change and I want to make sure your order is going the right place.

Update 6-29-19 Tool+Jig orders up to #1035 are shipped, all but a couple tool-only orders up to #1200 are shipped. If you are in the dozen and a half orders that have shipping labels but haven’t moved, I’m sorry for the delay, work stopped me from getting to the post office while it was open so they’ve been waiting in the box. Amazon Prime betrayed me and the packaging I’m waiting for didn’t arrive the last two days, but should be here by the time that I can get into the shop to ship.

Update 7-1-19 I got all set up to print and ship from the comfort of my own desk and took a little time off to work out the issues but I’ve finished packing all the remaining tool-only orders. I’ve packed orders with the tool and the BOX jig up to #1090. Still waiting on the Nexus jigs but I’m going to reach out after updating this. Some of the orders are shipping without tracking – if you’re one of the people who paid the $4 for domestic shipping then I split the difference to upgrade to 2 or 3 day priority with tracking, otherwise Shopify billed for a mix of standard with weird variances in weight. If you have changed your address or haven’t gotten a shipping notification, LET ME KNOW. Ok, inside voice now, thanks :slight_smile:

Update 7-9-19 Milestone: we’re at about three-quarters done with orders filled. It’s just combo and jig orders left to fulfill and I’ve bought the last of the material for the remaining jigs (jig production was held up due to material needs) and we’re cutting and cleaning them this week. Proxy orders are waiting for the batches to be finished for fulfillment. I’m writing documentation (ORIENTATION OF THE TOOL MATTERS, THE FLAT LINES UP WITH THE LED WINDOW) and post-mortem now as I wait for the last stuff to finish up. I’m looking forward to wrapping it up, thanks to everyone for your patience. I know waiting can be irritating, feel free to reach out if you have questions/concerns.

Update 7-12-19 I’m getting what I hope are the last of the BOX Jigs and the first of the Cruciformer jigs in today and get them shipping tomorrow (I have to process, QC, etc. them then shipping!). We should be wrapping up. If you missed the original pre-order window, I’m leaving the pre-order and pricing open until I finish shipping the pre-orders (it’s on me that the window isn’t closed, so I’ll leave it open for that reason). If you have any questions. I’m trying to publish my documentation on how to use the tool, but it is pretty straight-forward, line the flat of the tool handle up with the LED window and press down, if you don’t trim enough then flip the tool and try again to make sure you’re getting purchase on the stem.

So, thanks especially to the people who ordered jigs, ya’ll being patient has been super; I can’t imagine how much more stressful this would have been if people were negative or hurtful when they reach out. You Nexus jig buyers, you’re absolute saints and I hope to get all ya’ll’s orders out ASAP.

Update 7-13-19 Got them last night, but they came super rough so I have been manually cleaning them up and QC’ing and will be shipping in the next two days (although I won’t be able to get them to the Post Office until Monday evening – so I’ll probably set the tracking to go live on Monday).

Update 8-18-19 TL;DR proxy orders are shipping this week, clearing all back-orders with 3D printed jigs. All the remaining orders with box jigs were shipped shortly after the last update. I’ve struggled to get the Nexus jig to machine properly (because of the tolerances around the jig there have been too many heat-buildup/warping issues. I’m now having them 3D printed and they work just fine, but it takes forever to print bulk orders and I had to build up enough stock to fill the proxy orders. Paypal lifted my restrictions so I could take payment, and I’m packing the proxy orders this weekend (keep in mind, it will take a little to get there and they’ll have to work out shipping to you).

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FYI, I received my order in Singapore via Australia proxy a few days ago – thanks for all your efforts over this time!