Hello Everyone,

We want to update you on the development of the EscapeCapsule.  This past Friday, we spent the day with our engineers in China to review the "first product shots" made off of the production tooling.  First off, we want to let you know that the timeline for delivery of the EscapeCapsule has changed. We discovered some unworkable elements in the over-molding tool which has required us to re-tool a few of the small sliding elements that create the inner details within the part cavity.  These changes will improve the durability and functionality for sound quality.  This results in a delay in the tooling for the over-molding.  Ultimately, this will delay production to February and delivery until March.

To specifically update you on all of the parts in detail, we describe the breakdown of how each part is coming along below.

The front housing looks good, although the tool is not polished yet so it does not look as shiny as the back plate. Polishing makes the parts look shiny so that they are crystal clear. The sliders produce some witness lines (faint lines on the surface of the plastic where two edges of the tooling meet) that need to be reduced.  Once we fine tune the tooling, this will be barely visible.  We are now going to use this part to start installing and testing the bonding method for the sound membranes for durability and feasibility in the production assembly process. 

The back panel is complete and looks nice and shiny.  There is a slight mold flow issue that creates a small line in the middle of the clear housing where the material joins as it flows.  It is actually almost unnoticeable.  This is normal in developing production tooling.  They will adjust the size of the "gate" which injects material into the tool to create a faster and more even mold flow.  This will solve this issue without any problems.  The back plate snaps really secure and precisely into the front housing with a very satisfying click! 

The O-ring that we saw is not quite tight enough when attached to the rim.  This is easy to modify.  We will be testing a variety of O-ring diameters and degrees of hardness (called "shore durometer") to get a snug fit and the best seal possible. 

The front membrane for the touchscreen now has an installation method that yields incredible results.  The front screen can take 115 lbs of pressure before this part fails!  As a matter of fact, the seal is so secure that when you apply force, the membrane itself breaks before the seal on the edges which ensures that it is securely watertight.  We are supremely happy with this.  These parts are now being tested in UV light, salt water, heat and cold to ensure the bond stays consistent for the lifetime of the use of the product. 

The materials for the sound membranes have also been improved.  We are keen to have great sound quality, but there is a balance we must strike between long term reliability, construction and sound quality.  Our currently reworked prototypes are close to 90% to a normal phone call with the current configuration. We are working through several options on how we will install and test these to ensure they will work without issue for the lifetime of the product. 

The lanyards are 100% complete and look and feel absolutely brilliant.  We have 5,000 units that we are currently reviewing for quality control.  We LOVE the color of the hyper yellow, and the glowing lanyards really work!

We cannot wait to start working on the master batches of color for the main housing and over molding.  Regarding quality control, we do intend to test each product that we create so that you can be sure your EscapeCapsule will work as promised.

We will keep you updated regularly as the project progresses.  We will have another meeting with the factory on December 25th when we have all of the parts and components ready for review. Yes, we will be working on Christmas, but what better gift could we get than production samples on Christmas Day?

We want to tell our supporters that we are sorry that we will not be able to deliver the EscapeCapsule in time for the holidays like many of you had hoped.  Our intention is not to disappoint you but rather our commitment is to deliver a high quality product that you will love. It is from our stand that we deliver a product of exceptional quality to you that we do not want to take any shortcuts to compromise quality for time. 

Finally, we want to let you know that your love, understanding and support being part of this journey with us is what makes it magical for us as we create our first product.  Thank you!  You are awesome and we love you all.

With great appreciation,

Josh & June