The Hedgehog Gaming Mouse and Controller!

End of January Manufacturing, Software, and Hardware Updates
10 months ago – Fri, Jan 26, 2024 at 10:08:46 PM

Dear Backers,

We trust you had a fantastic holiday season. We're thrilled to bring you some exciting updates on the progress of our project.

Software and Firmware:

As we approach the final stages, we've intensified efforts on the software and firmware fronts. The manufacturing phase has been our primary focus, but we've reached a stage where our Software/Firmware team is working diligently to iron out minor bugs and introduce additional features that will elevate the overall user experience.

Last month one of you inquired about the software and usability so I thought it would be best to make a 5-minute video of the software uses and a couple of features.  It also gave me the opportunity to show off the T0 prototype (the first plastics off the mold).

https://vimeo.com/906542412 

Electrical Hardware:

During our recent push, we identified an area for improvement in our methodology for pinpointing the mouse's location on the base pad. We initially used a single hall effect sensor, but recognizing its limitations, we pivoted to a more robust approach involving three hall effect sensors for precise triangulation. Prototyping has yielded great results, and the circuit board is expected to arrive early next week. This adjustment has no impact on our delivery schedule.

Manufacturing:

Our overseas partners have evaluated the parts, and they are en route to us, set to arrive early next week. While the initial evaluations were promising, we are still encountering a challenge with the warpage on the base plate due to plastic cooling and shrinking. We’ve done extensive testing using materials like ABS, POM, and PA 6, and we are exploring alternatives, such as adding additives to the existing POM material to mitigate warpage. So far ABS has shown promise but we are concerned about its long-term durability in this application so we will do more testing in the US to see if it’s a suitable material for us to use here.  We are cautiously optimistic that these adjustments won't affect our late February build and early March shipping timeline.

Although we haven't commenced the 200 piece build yet due to the focus on fixing the warpage issue, we have all the necessary parts and materials ready. The order for the right-hand build is in progress, with plans to initiate the larger build immediately after the smaller one is approved.

Electrical Components:

In a proactive measure last year, we secured enough electrical components for 2100 units to mitigate potential supply chain challenges. Unfortunately, a recent customs issue has delayed our shipments that were sent out on 10/29/202. We're in the process of appealing the customs issue and hope for a swift resolution.

To minimize further delays, we've instructed the factory to order new parts, and we've sent full payment for all right-hand materials. While we currently see stock on most components, the switches are ordered directly from the factory, posing the only significant risk to lead time.

Despite these challenges, we remain committed to delivering an outstanding product. Your support and patience have been invaluable throughout this journey. We'll continue to keep you informed as we work through these final stages. 

Best,

Branden,

Hedgehog Gaming, Inc.

New Manufacturing Timeline After the Tooling Updates
12 months ago – Fri, Dec 22, 2023 at 08:29:36 PM

Dear Backers,

Greetings from the heart of our project! We're here with a quick update on the exciting developments since our last communication on December 8th.

Our dedicated tool maker, responsible for shaping the steel molds for our injected molded plastics, is making commendable progress. The adjustments to the right-hand mold are underway, with a projected completion date of January 5th. While three parts were more complex than expected, our tool maker has a solid plan in motion and is well on its way.

Now, let's talk timelines. We're gearing up to start the 200-piece build by January 15th, a pivotal moment that, as mentioned in previous updates, I'll be overseeing firsthand at the manufacturer's site. For the larger build of right-hand units, we anticipate the first shipments of Right-hand units to be on their way by the early weeks of March. This is a little longer lead time than normal because we are including our factory’s Chinese New Year break from February 3rd to the 18th.

Shifting our focus to the left-hand molds, their production has deliberately been held back due to the nature of these molds being a mirror image of the right-hand molds. Once the right-hand mold nuances are ironed out, the tool maker estimates a 30-day window (plus potential holidays) to complete the left-hand molds, aiming for completion by the end of February.

Come early March, we'll conduct a small 6-piece "T0" build to validate that the parts for the left-hand devices are behaving as expected when coming off the molds. By the end of March, we're looking to kick off the 200-piece build, paving the way for larger-scale production to fulfill your pledges.

We understand that delays can be frustrating, and we appreciate your patience. Our commitment to openness remains unwavering. Look out for our next update in late January, where we hope to share the exciting details of our visit to the factory.

Thank you for standing by us.

Happy Holidays and Warm regards,

-Branden

Hedgehog Gaming, Inc.

Kickstarter December 2023 Update: Progress and Minor Hurdles
12 months ago – Fri, Dec 08, 2023 at 09:56:17 PM

Hello backers,

We hope this update finds you well. In our last communication, we shared that we were eagerly awaiting the arrival of the plastics crucial for our in-depth form/fit/function evaluation. Well, they're here, and we've been hard at work putting the pieces together. As with any intricate project, we've encountered a few hiccups, but we're committed to transparency and keeping you in the loop.

Current Status: The good news first – the issues we've identified are minor, and the fixes are well underway. Here's a breakdown of what we've encountered with some of the parts below:

1. Scroll Wheel Performance: The scroll click didn't meet our expectations. We've addressed this through a mold modification, and the updated model has been approved. We've even printed out prototypes to validate the improvements.

2. Knuckle Buttons: The replaceable knuckle buttons were not staying in place as securely as we'd like. We've increased the part size to increase friction, ensuring these buttons stay put.

3. Spring-Loaded Base Tolerances: Tolerances in the spring-loaded base were not tight enough, causing more play than intended. We've successfully tightened these tolerances with the factory's cooperation.

4. Button Interferences: Some button interferences with the pinky buttons were noted. We've resolved these by repositioning switches on the circuit board and making slight adjustments to one plastic part.

5. Magnet Holder Tightness: The magnet holder in the base was a tad tight, but we've adjusted the mold tolerances to address this issue.

6. Thumb Button Improvements: We identified concerns with the formation of some thumb buttons and addressed them by altering to mold to make it add material.

7. Mold Removal Warping: A few parts were slightly warped during the mold removal process. This is part of the manufacturing process, and they're implementing changes to minimize this effect.

8. Gaps between mouse buttons different: There were inconsistent gaps caused by the pointer finger migrating towards the middle finger button and away from the outside portion of the mouse.   We were able to fix this issue by adding a bit of material to the pointer button to hold it in place.

Moving Forward: The fixes have been successfully applied to the parts by hand, and we're excited about how the mouse is performing and feeling overall. While these tweaks have caused a slight delay, we believe it's minimal and necessary for delivering a product that meets our standards.

Next Steps: We're currently working closely with the factory to get an updated detailed schedule. Rest assured, we'll share this schedule with you in the next week or two. Your continued support and patience mean the world to us, and we're optimistic that this will be the last of the delays.

Thank you for being with us on this journey. We'll be back soon with more updates!

Best, 

Branden - Hedgehog Gaming

Kickstarter Backer Update --- November 2023
about 1 year ago – Fri, Nov 03, 2023 at 07:20:03 PM

Dear backers,

We're thrilled to bring you the latest updates on the manufacturing and development of our cutting-edge gaming mouse. The past month has seen significant progress, and we're excited to share the latest developments with you.

Manufacturing Progress:

We're delighted to report that we now have a few devices with real molded plastics completed and being evaluated. While the team in the United States don't have these devices in hand just yet (they are currently in transit), and upon receipt, one I will keep for evaluation and one will go to our mechanical engineer for a thorough fit/form/function evaluation.

Two overseas representatives are currently assessing some samples, and the initial feedback is incredibly promising. We've encountered and swiftly addressed a minor issue, and, fortunately, there have been no reports of any major fit or functionality concerns, which is excellent news. This suggests we're on track to avoid significant delays that were once a potential concern. We promise to keep you updated should any issues arise.

As per our original schedule, the factory has initiated a small pilot run of 15 units, and simultaneously, they have begun the process of building the steel molds for the left-hand devices.

In an exciting development, we've added a second pilot run of 200 pieces to the schedule. This decision comes on the advice of our manufacturer to ensure the highest quality standards. Importantly, this addition has minimal impact on our overall schedule, and we remain committed to delivering your orders as soon as possible.

Software, Firmware, and Electrical:

Our dedicated software and firmware team has been continuously refining the mouse's functionality and ease of use. Recent attention has been focused on the slide control, addressing clunkiness through electrical changes, including upgrading the hall effect sensor to one that is 4 times more sensitive.

While some minor bugs and quirks are being ironed out, they aren't on the critical path for product delivery, allowing us to ensure the best user experience without rushing.

Current Schedule:

While there have been some minor date adjustments, our overall delivery timeline remains consistent with our previous update. Here's the current schedule:

• October 21st: "T0" parts of the right-hand devices complete and a very small 3-piece build for evaluation (Task Complete).
• October 27th: Start a larger 15-piece pilot build for the right-hand device (Task Started).
• November 2nd: Mold tooling for the left-hand mouse begins (Slight delay from previous schedule).
• September 30th: Finish the second pilot build of 200 units (Added to the schedule).
• December 15th: Completion of the right-hand device build (Delayed from previous schedule, but we are expediting shipping).
• December 15th: Left-hand mold tooling completion.
• December 22nd: Left-hand device's first smaller pilot run.
• January 5th: Left-hand device's second 200-piece pilot run.
• January 19th: Left-hand device final build completed and shipped out this week.

Shipping: 

In collaboration with our shipping partner, EZ Ship, we've determined the fastest and most cost-effective way to deliver your products is to air ship them directly from Hong Kong. This method, along with Hedgehog Gaming's contribution to some shipping costs, means that the estimated shipping costs of $12 to the USA and $20 to Europe (excluding tariffs) are overestimates. We'll provide you with final numbers in our next update.

We appreciate your continued support and patience as we work diligently to bring you a top-tier gaming mouse. Rest assured that we are committed to delivering a high-quality product that exceeds your expectations. Thank you for being a part of this incredible journey!

Stay tuned for more exciting updates in the near future.

Warm regards, 

Branden

Hedgehog Gaming

Kickstarter Project Update: Manufacturing and More!
about 1 year ago – Fri, Oct 06, 2023 at 10:10:07 PM

Hello backers,

We hope this update finds you well. We have some important news to share regarding the manufacturing timeline of our project. While we had high hopes of delivering your units on time, we've encountered some unexpected delays. We're committed to transparency and want to keep you in the loop every step of the way.

Manufacturing Update:  Last week, we received a revised schedule from our manufacturing partner, and regrettably, it pushed some of our previously estimated dates further into the future. We share your disappointment in this delay but rest assured, we're working diligently to bring you a product we can all be proud of.

Our relationship with the factory remains strong, and our mutual goal is to create a top-notch product for you. We take responsibility for the delay, as we meticulously vetted potential manufacturers, even going so far as to hire an investigator to ensure we made the right choice. The selection process, quoting, and design reviews took longer than expected.

To ensure the highest quality and affordability, we had decided to prioritize the right-hand devices, followed by the left-hand devices. The design for manufacturing review was more thorough than anticipated, causing multiple date revisions. However, this extra effort has led to improvements in our product and its manufacturability.

Note:  This month about half of the molds have been completed for the right-hand device and have produced "T0" parts.  Please note the molds don't have their final finish yet but, here are a few various parts (not all but a good variety).

The Updated Schedule:  Here's the latest schedule for your right-hand and left-hand devices:

• October 21st: "T0" parts off the last mold for the right-hand device.
  
• October 27th: Pilot build (right-hand devices start once approved).
  
• October 27th: Mold Tooling for the Left-hand mouse begins.
  
• November 30th: Completion of Right-hand device build.
  
• Shipping by Air (~10 days from China to our shipping partner in Chicago).
  
• Early December: Left-hand mold tooling completion.
  
• Second week of December: Left-hand pilot run.
  
• Early January: Shipping of 2000-piece left-hand products from the factory.
  
• Shipping by Air (~10 days from China to our shipping partner in Chicago).
  

Biggest Risk Area:  Our primary concern is the end of October when we'll receive the first units and fresh parts from the molds. If there are any significant issues with the molds or parts' fit and functionality, further delays may occur. We've taken extensive precautions, including 3D printing, to minimize these risks, but only after receiving the parts can we be certain.

Next Update:  Expect our next update on November 3rd, where we anticipate having units in hand and will provide a detailed status report.

Software and Firmware Status:  We're continually testing and improving our software and firmware, adding new features and functionality every week.

Other Achievements:  This month, we've been hard at work creating a user manual and designing our product's packaging. Here's a sneak peek:

We appreciate your unwavering support and understanding during these challenges. Together, we'll bring this project to life and deliver a product that exceeds your expectations. Thank you for being part of our journey.

Warm regards, 

-Branden