MOTM

Whew....just spent the last 3 hours throwing out 100s of pages of old files, stuff I've had since
1983 and haven't needed since :) Did find my missing MiniMoog service manual. I also created
individual files for the last 30 customers (as opposed to being in a paper sack on the floor).
Still can't find my 256MB USB memory key :(

Starting tomorrow, and for the next 10 days or so, 95% of my MOTM time is pcb layout. Sorry, not
shipping, soldering or kitting. A few modules will trickle out, but what I'm trying to do is NOT
a repeat of last year, when I was laying out pc boards from Dec 26 to Jan. 4th, and THEN doing
24hr pc board fabs at $350/board. Nope, not gonna do THAT anymore.

What I'm planning on is to re-spin (as we say in the biz) the '600 and the '650 "test beds".
These are large (about 8 x 10 inches) boards that are used to debug the HW and more importantly,
the SW.

After these 2 are done (about 4 days for both), I am making 2 "analog test platforms" that each
have 4 to 7 *different* circuits on them. These are in lieu of hand-soldering circuits of perf
board. The sections only tie together on the power supply, but no effort is used to get the
circuits on a given size area. I go as fast as I can, use lots of vias and not worry about low
noise and such. I'm mainly looking for go/no go type testing, and is the circuit suitable and up
to MOTM standards (yep, I actually have such things).

It takes 1 week for the pc boards to be returned back. In that "dead week", I'm back to soldering
assembled modules. Right this very second, I have 47 soldered pc boards in the cabinet. 9
assembled modules are shipping tomorrow, and 5 on Wednesday. My goal is that my Oct. 1st, the
assembled backlog is < 100 modules. This is somewhat "depressing", to say "Gee, only *100* left!"
However, it will take quite an effort to get there.

Although I go as fast as I can, from the customer's perspective it appears I'm not going AT ALL
in some cases. Many days I feel like a lone bulldozer operator, staring at the World Trade Center
debris pile. All you can do is say "1 load at a time, 1 more load....". The assembled module
people are easily waiting the longest. Some are willing, some are not. I can't speed up the
process without raising prices 40-60% (and even so, *I* would not make 1 penny more).

Despite all my personal issues, tomorrow module #4500 is shipping (it's a VCO). Thanks to
everyone, I honestly don't know how I'd be supporting my family if I didn't have MOTM to 'tread
water' with. Beats working for a living (snicker).

Yawn...off to bed. Tomorrow's a big day!

Paul S.