Apologies, all. I seem to have missed the latest posts above. Life, work and a major computer upgrade have had me playing serious catchup. (I’ve only really had time to attend to things that require zero brainpower for the last while.)
As for my progress, I think I’ve gotten the new Mac fully up and running with Eagle and my dev tools. Took a bit to get back in the swing with it. I’m finishing up a code migration from my working branch to the latest Teletype branch. The TT’s code changed quite a bit with the inclusion of the operators branch and the refactoring of the II communications code. It is taking more time to bring my branch in line - but it will be much cleaner once I’m done.
First and foremost, I’ll make sure that the latest PCB, BOM, software, and panel files are up soon for any adventurous folks who like SMD DIY. The expanders are open source and free to make and remix as you see fit. Also, if you know a good builder who does work for hire, this will be an ongoing great way to get a few made without having to do it yourself (or deal with a novice like me).
I’m going to build one very small run of units for those without the DIY bent. The price will fluctuate depending on how many I end up making (component cost varies based on volume). Here are the details.
Approximate Pricing:
TXo:
- PCB: approx. $28
- PANEL: approx. $15
- Assembled: approx. $150
TXi:
- PCB: approx. $28
- PANEL: approx. $15
- Assembled: approx. $120
Timeline:
I’ve never done this before, so I’m not sure how long it will take me. PCBs are 4-layer and can take 3-4 weeks. Parts are pretty common and should arrive quickly. Panels have taken as long as eight weeks to get made and shipped. I’m set up to do meatware pick-and-place and have a reflow oven to do multiple boards at a time. Assembly should go quickly once everything is in hand. So … maybe eight to ten weeks from start to finish for a small batch? No promises.
Signing Up:
PM me to let me know if you are interested and I’ll put you on the list. Please only reach out if you are serious about grabbing the expanders and are willing to be patient as I work my way through this process. My single largest fear of doing this is facing unforeseen delays and having a horde of grumpy folks turn my desire to contribute into something sour. If you need expansion capability quickly, please grab an awesome Ansible or a soldering iron. 
I’ll gather interest for a couple of weeks before I close it out and kick the production process off.
NOTE: I am not asking for, nor do I want, any payments until the units are assembled, flashed, tested, boxed, and ready to ship. That way, the only risk with expressing interest is that I’ll actually be able to pull it off and have something to send you (at which time I hope I can cover my costs).
New Things I’ve Learned:
It is tricky going from having completed working prototypes to a micro-production state. I now clearly know why that mxmxmx (Ornament + Crime, Terminal Tedium, Temps Utile, etc.) open sources his designs, sells a few PCBs and lets everyone else figure out the rest. That is a lot easier than figuring out the myriad of details required for selling a completed piece. It is a different type of “fun” than the designing, coding, testing, and the experimenting phase. And, it takes just about as long.
Hats off to those who successfully make a business out of it; serious respect.
