Windeler - Modular, magnetic tools

Production update 07
over 1 year ago – Fri, Apr 07, 2023 at 09:51:09 AM

Hello everyone,

I hope this finds you all well. Happy Easter break if that applies to you.

I have some great news! It's also a huge relief for me personally. The latest SC01 scissor samples have been machined and assembled and i have been putting them through their paces. They are looking and functioning really well. The latest iteration of design changes have done the trick and the lock is now pretty much perfect and the cutting and folding function are working well. Something I’m really chuffed about is the new hidden spring. I don't know if you remember but my original design used an exposed, standard scissor spring. This had a tendancy to occasionally misalign and become a bit of a nuisance. To overcome this issue I've managed to bury a small torsion spring into the main blade pivot which has really improved the overall design solution and reliablilty. It works really well.

Design Overview:

Here is a video overview of the new SC01 so you can see all the design changes.

I think the new design looks really good and sticks to our minimal design aesthetic. The closing/locking function is great and easy to open but not so easy that it springs open when not wanted.

In Action:

And here are some videos of it in action so you can have a look at the way it's functioning.

Hopefully you can all see that some really good progress has been made with this design. The whole solution is now functioning really well with a solid closing and locking mechanism and good cutting performance.

There are a few minor detail changes and dimensional adjustments to be made here and there which will improve it even more but apart from those it's ready to go into production now. This is the item from the new set that was causing the biggest headache so it's a huge relief to get over this obstacle.

I'll follow up very soon with updates on how everything else is going.

Take care for now.

All the best

Douglas + Windeler Team

Production Update 06
almost 2 years ago – Tue, Mar 21, 2023 at 12:50:36 PM

Hello everyone,

I hope you are all doing well.

Some good news! I have been testing the latest STOW case samples over the last few days. This update will focus on the STOW case which has progressed since we last spoke.

If you remember last time i mentioned that i had split this into two seperate designs based on previous prototypes. One of which i believed would be the right one to progress to production. Since the last update we have had samples to test and have been putting them to use in various scenarios to work out which will be our final production model. The upshot is that there is a clear winner. The original design, although really good,  has been superseded and improved on by my newest design which incorporates a Velcro fastener. Therefore this version will be carried forward to production.

Version 1) The original design.

Below you will see images and of latest samples of the original STOW design. The magnetic connector was improved with a location feature and the case was pre-bent with creases to aid it closing. However, It's clear to see that even with pre-bent creases in the outer and inner layers of the case, the closed shape does not fold around the tools as tightly we want it to and sometimes accidentaly falls open. Take a look at the images and video below:

Hopefully you can see that even with detail improvements this original design lacks a bit of security when closed. This leads us on to Version 2.

Version 2) the Velcro version

This version uses all of the design ideas of the original but incorporates a tough Velcro fastener which makes it secure when in use and allows the case to adapt to varying amounts (and therefore thickness) of Windeler tools. As in the original, there is a magnetic connector hidden in the inner surface with a small, protruding location feature to lock into the magnet hole for extra security. There are also pre-bent creases in the inner and outer case to give it a bit of folding spring so it naturally wraps around the tools:

Hopefully this video shows off all features of the new STOW design and allows you to see the connector, location feature, pre-bent creases and Velcro fastener.

I’m really happy with the way the concept has progressed from the original idea and i think this updated design is a marked improvement over the original. There are a few very minor details to adjust in production such as the logo design, stitching pattern and connector thickness but apart from those minor details this is now ready for production and will not require any further sampling.

We will be starting production on this immediately and will feedback to you timings when we know for sure.

The next update will be the SC01 Scissors which have just been assembled and are almost ready to test and update you on.

Speak to you all very soon.

All the best

Douglas + Windeler team

Production update 05
almost 2 years ago – Fri, Feb 24, 2023 at 03:52:11 AM

Hello everyone,

I hope you are all doing well. 

I just wanted to give you a very brief update as it’s been a while. Unfortunately there is not not the big news i wanted to share in this update but I thought it was time to check in anyway.

As always with a new business, we have had to balance a lot of spinning plates over here and this has kept us very busy indeed. However, I just want to reassure you that the new products you are waiting for are high priority and we are very excited to get them into the world. 

As mentioned in the last update, we have been preparing final (hopefully) samples for the SC01 Scissors and the STOW cases before going into full production. I took the opportunity to split the STOW cases into two separate designs so we can test both and pick the winner. This will give us a much better shot at getting the ideal design into production. 

As you know, the SC01 scissors have been the most difficult item to get right with several failures along the way but we have high hopes that this new design will be the one that we can take to production. Early tests look good and i'm feeling confident about this one.

We were expecting to have samples for both these items ready around now and to be able to announce a production date. We are close but, unfortunately not quite there yet. In fact, I think they are still a few weeks away.

As you know, the MINIM knife and PL01 pliers have gone through the pre-production sample phase and are ready to go. We have been preparing minor details, final drawings and material orders to get these moving along and into production. This has allowed us to focus on the two remaining items.

I would estimate that 2 -3 weeks from now we will have assessed the SC01 Scissor and STOW samples and chosen the best options. If they are both good to go with only minor detail changes required then the next step will be production. This means everything  will be production ready. To produce everything will take a few months of work. Once we have started that process I will be able to give you all a clearer shipping date.

I’m sorry you are all having to wait and it’s always rubbish to have to give news of delays but we really appreciate your patience and support. It's important for us to get the best possible solution into production without cutting corners and sometimes this means holding back and getting it right. We really are almost there now.

All the best

Douglas + Windeler team

Happy New Year!!
almost 2 years ago – Sat, Jan 07, 2023 at 07:28:42 PM

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Production Update 04
about 2 years ago – Sat, Nov 26, 2022 at 08:50:54 PM

This post is for backers only. Please visit Kickstarter.com and log in to read.