Twsbi Diamond 530 Piston Seal Leakage Report 2010/07/20

[speedy]

TWSBI Diamond 530 Piston Seal Leakage Report 2010/07/20

 

As you may have known that from the first 300 FPN pre-sale pens we found certain pen has seal leaking issue. Here in short are the explanations and solutions.

 

PISTON VERSION

Piston version 1.3 : The final version before mass production. The design of this version works fine without problem providing the parts dimension is within the spec. All of the early day samples were made by this version.

 

Piston version 1.3b1 : First mass production batch of version 1.3, but being found some parts are out of spec on sealing ring size.

 

Piston version 1.3g1 : version 1.3 piston made by harder material to enhance the contact force to the barrel inner wall.

 

Piston version 1.5 : new version design, sealing rings outer diameter and wall thickness be increased to enhance the contact force to the barrel inner wall. Aiming to eliminate 100% water test procedure during production.

 

BARREL VERSION

Barrel version 1 : Current version with large inner wall tapering angle to facilitate ejection of core pin during injection molding, so not to leave scratch mark on inner barrel wall.

 

Barrel version 2 : Future version with reduced inner wall tapering angle, if successful, will made piston design easier and even harder material can be used, this will make piston design and manufacturing easier.

 

STATUS

Phase 1 : Pen made with piston version 1.3b1 without water leak test.

Minor leak: small sign of ink pass through seal 1, no ink reaches seal 2

Medium leak: larger amount of ink pass through seal 1, did not break through seal 2

Major leak: ink passes through seal 1 and seal 2

Number of pen sold: 300 FPN pre-sale plus roughly 50 others, total around 350 pens. From customers' feedback around 110 leak pen, most of them are minor to medium leak, only 2 or 3 major leak. Twsbi will send replacement parts for repair.

 

Phase 2 : Pen made with piston version 1.3b1, but with water leak test, without pen tapping against desk top. A few feedback came in reporting still some leakage. Immediately we made house check on 10 completed pen (same batch from 160 speedy carry to LA) ink filled, drop test from 20cm high to desk top(blind cap head down), 1 out of 10 pen has minor leak, I estimate the leak rate can be 10%. If sold pen still found leakage, Twsbi will send replacement part for repair.

Number of pen: 160 pens speedy hand carry to USA plus roughly 20 pens sold by Taipei office. Total around 180 pens.

 

Phase 3 : Piston version 1.3b1, water leak test, pen tapping against desk top. Few pen left house already. These few days we are still confirming the result.

 

Phase 4 : Piston version 1.3g1, water leak test, pen tapping against desk top. We anticipate will have no leak issue.

 

Phase 5 : Piston version 1.5 + barrel version 1. I strongly believe this will permanently prevent seal leaking problem.

 

Phase 6 : Piston version 1.5 + barrel version 2. We will enter the real test soon, as I heard the barrel version 2 sample came out already. This will be the ultimate solution I wish to see it success.

 

I feel really sorry for the inconvenience that bring you and hope the solutions will bring back your trust to the TWSBI brand we try to establish.

 

Sincerely Yours

speedy

[watch_art]

i'll still buy one when the funds are there. don't worry. i think you're doing fine.

[stevlight]

I feel really sorry for the inconvenience that bring you and hope the solutions will bring back your trust to the TWSBI brand we try to establish.

 

You NEVER lost my trust--if anything you strengthened my trust in the company with your solution and quick response to the problem. I will order from you in the future knowing that IF there is a problem--you will fix it quickly. Thank you for a great pen company and product--one we can trust.

[withoutink]

^ +!00

 

we love the transparency, no worries speedy. it happens. look at the iphone 4

Edited July 21, 2010 by withoutink

[niksch]

I still want mine too.

 

 

[Joe in Seattle]

I just bought 2 more! No worries, great pen.

[dizzypen]

I'm not sure I understand. Does this mean that the replacement piston seals have been manufactured and will be shipped out soon?

[devaldez]

Speedy, your level of transparency and integrity informs my purchase. Every time I see an update from you, I know that I made a sound purchase and become ever more interested in future products from you.

 

Thank you so much for the updates and I'll cross my fingers that my pen doesn't exhibit the problem!

[speedy]

I'm not sure I understand. Does this mean that the replacement piston seals have been manufactured and will be shipped out soon?

 

no, the piston we want to send you for replace is version 1.5, which is not ready yet. in a few days Taipei should receive sampel from fast tool, after testing if ok, formal tooling on version 1.3 will be modified to version 1.5 then mass production, then available for sending out to you.

[dizzypen]

I'm not sure I understand. Does this mean that the replacement piston seals have been manufactured and will be shipped out soon?

 

no, the piston we want to send you for replace is version 1.5, which is not ready yet. in a few days Taipei should receive sampel from fast tool, after testing if ok, formal tooling on version 1.3 will be modified to version 1.5 then mass production, then available for sending out to you.

 

Thanks Speedy.

[mahkie]

Will the generations of piston/barell be compatible with one another?

[Jwolf24601]

I hope to have funds to buy one when the version 1.5 comes out. These pens look great and with Speedy doing such a great job with customer service looking like a great company.

[Nyoko]

TWSBI Diamond 530 Piston Seal Leakage Report 2010/07/20

 

As you may have known that from the first 300 FPN pre-sale pens we found certain pen has seal leaking issue. Here in short are the explanations and solutions.

 

PISTON VERSION

Piston version 1.3 : The final version before mass production. The design of this version works fine without problem providing the parts dimension is within the spec. All of the early day samples were made by this version.

 

Piston version 1.3b1 : First mass production batch of version 1.3, but being found some parts are out of spec on sealing ring size.

 

Piston version 1.3g1 : version 1.3 piston made by harder material to enhance the contact force to the barrel inner wall.

 

Piston version 1.5 : new version design, sealing rings outer diameter and wall thickness be increased to enhance the contact force to the barrel inner wall. Aiming to eliminate 100% water test procedure during production.

 

BARREL VERSION

Barrel version 1 : Current version with large inner wall tapering angle to facilitate ejection of core pin during injection molding, so not to leave scratch mark on inner barrel wall.

 

Barrel version 2 : Future version with reduced inner wall tapering angle, if successful, will made piston design easier and even harder material can be used, this will make piston design and manufacturing easier.

 

STATUS

Phase 1 : Pen made with piston version 1.3b1 without water leak test.

Minor leak: small sign of ink pass through seal 1, no ink reaches seal 2

Medium leak: larger amount of ink pass through seal 1, did not break through seal 2

Major leak: ink passes through seal 1 and seal 2

Number of pen sold: 300 FPN pre-sale plus roughly 50 others, total around 350 pens. From customers' feedback around 110 leak pen, most of them are minor to medium leak, only 2 or 3 major leak. Twsbi will send replacement parts for repair.

 

Phase 2 : Pen made with piston version 1.3b1, but with water leak test, without pen tapping against desk top. A few feedback came in reporting still some leakage. Immediately we made house check on 10 completed pen (same batch from 160 speedy carry to LA) ink filled, drop test from 20cm high to desk top(blind cap head down), 1 out of 10 pen has minor leak, I estimate the leak rate can be 10%. If sold pen still found leakage, Twsbi will send replacement part for repair.

Number of pen: 160 pens speedy hand carry to USA plus roughly 20 pens sold by Taipei office. Total around 180 pens.

 

Phase 3 : Piston version 1.3b1, water leak test, pen tapping against desk top. Few pen left house already. These few days we are still confirming the result.

 

Phase 4 : Piston version 1.3g1, water leak test, pen tapping against desk top. We anticipate will have no leak issue.

 

Phase 5 : Piston version 1.5 + barrel version 1. I strongly believe this will permanently prevent seal leaking problem.

 

Phase 6 : Piston version 1.5 + barrel version 2. We will enter the real test soon, as I heard the barrel version 2 sample came out already. This will be the ultimate solution I wish to see it success.

 

I feel really sorry for the inconvenience that bring you and hope the solutions will bring back your trust to the TWSBI brand we try to establish.

 

Sincerely Yours

speedy

 

 

Hi Speedy,

 

I want to applaud your honesty and openness as you develop this pen. Thank you for explaining the problems and delays! Also, I really appreciate your sense of mission to create an excellent product at an affordable price so that more people will be able to discover the joy of writing with a fountain pen. Not only do fountain pens bring happiness and fascination to those that use them, but renewing interest in them among more people will help to diminish at least some of the wastefulness of our "disposable" society.

 

I ordered one on Monday, a medium point, and am waiting to receive it with great excitement. I am not worried about the leakage since you say there should be no problem--but I am wondering: if I do experience the seal leakage problem, will you be able to replace the parts with the 1.5 piston and the version 2 of the barrel when those parts are available?

 

Thanks and Best Regards,

Richard

[speedy]

TWSBI Diamond 530 Piston Seal Leakage Report 2010/07/20

 

As you may have known that from the first 300 FPN pre-sale pens we found certain pen has seal leaking issue. Here in short are the explanations and solutions.

 

PISTON VERSION

Piston version 1.3 : The final version before mass production. The design of this version works fine without problem providing the parts dimension is within the spec. All of the early day samples were made by this version.

 

Piston version 1.3b1 : First mass production batch of version 1.3, but being found some parts are out of spec on sealing ring size.

 

Piston version 1.3g1 : version 1.3 piston made by harder material to enhance the contact force to the barrel inner wall.

 

Piston version 1.5 : new version design, sealing rings outer diameter and wall thickness be increased to enhance the contact force to the barrel inner wall. Aiming to eliminate 100% water test procedure during production.

 

BARREL VERSION

Barrel version 1 : Current version with large inner wall tapering angle to facilitate ejection of core pin during injection molding, so not to leave scratch mark on inner barrel wall.

 

Barrel version 2 : Future version with reduced inner wall tapering angle, if successful, will made piston design easier and even harder material can be used, this will make piston design and manufacturing easier.

 

STATUS

Phase 1 : Pen made with piston version 1.3b1 without water leak test.

Minor leak: small sign of ink pass through seal 1, no ink reaches seal 2

Medium leak: larger amount of ink pass through seal 1, did not break through seal 2

Major leak: ink passes through seal 1 and seal 2

Number of pen sold: 300 FPN pre-sale plus roughly 50 others, total around 350 pens. From customers' feedback around 110 leak pen, most of them are minor to medium leak, only 2 or 3 major leak. Twsbi will send replacement parts for repair.

 

Phase 2 : Pen made with piston version 1.3b1, but with water leak test, without pen tapping against desk top. A few feedback came in reporting still some leakage. Immediately we made house check on 10 completed pen (same batch from 160 speedy carry to LA) ink filled, drop test from 20cm high to desk top(blind cap head down), 1 out of 10 pen has minor leak, I estimate the leak rate can be 10%. If sold pen still found leakage, Twsbi will send replacement part for repair.

Number of pen: 160 pens speedy hand carry to USA plus roughly 20 pens sold by Taipei office. Total around 180 pens.

 

Phase 3 : Piston version 1.3b1, water leak test, pen tapping against desk top. Few pen left house already. These few days we are still confirming the result.

 

Phase 4 : Piston version 1.3g1, water leak test, pen tapping against desk top. We anticipate will have no leak issue.

 

Phase 5 : Piston version 1.5 + barrel version 1. I strongly believe this will permanently prevent seal leaking problem.

 

Phase 6 : Piston version 1.5 + barrel version 2. We will enter the real test soon, as I heard the barrel version 2 sample came out already. This will be the ultimate solution I wish to see it success.

 

I feel really sorry for the inconvenience that bring you and hope the solutions will bring back your trust to the TWSBI brand we try to establish.

 

Sincerely Yours

speedy

 

 

Hi Speedy,

 

I want to applaud your honesty and openness as you develop this pen. Thank you for explaining the problems and delays! Also, I really appreciate your sense of mission to create an excellent product at an affordable price so that more people will be able to discover the joy of writing with a fountain pen. Not only do fountain pens bring happiness and fascination to those that use them, but renewing interest in them among more people will help to diminish at least some of the wastefulness of our "disposable" society.

 

I ordered one on Monday, a medium point, and am waiting to receive it with great excitement. I am not worried about the leakage since you say there should be no problem--but I am wondering: if I do experience the seal leakage problem, will you be able to replace the parts with the 1.5 piston and the version 2 of the barrel when those parts are available?

 

Thanks and Best Regards,

Richard

Hi Richard,

 

"should be no problem", I never guarantee unless I am sure, hahaha!

In case still leak, you must be very lucky to get it. I will fix it for sure (no, you will fix it with new parts I send)

Piston 1.5 is good as well. Barrel version two is to facilitate production run mainly.

[Carlos]

I am among the first 300 buyers who pre-ordered the pen. While Mark shipped the pen last July 7, I only got the postal notice yesterday (Friday) afternoon. That says something about the efficiency of our postal system. At any rate, I will be getting the pen on Monday (no postal services on Saturday).

 

I do hope that the pen will be fine -- without any leaks. However, I am not that worried if it does leak since I've seen Speedy's sincerity for ensuring customer satisfaction. I guess we all greatly appreciate his transparency and initiative.

[hereim]

May I ask when the 1.5 piston version TWSBI will be on the market? It will definitely be my next purchase.

[watch_art]

I got mine today! WOOT WOOT! What a bangin nice pen. I'm REALLY impressed. Love the faceted barrel, feels SO nice in the hand.

[millerb7]

May I ask when the 1.5 piston version TWSBI will be on the market? It will definitely be my next purchase.

I asked him that and he told me that ones being sold on ebay now are the ones that are 100% water-tested.... not sure version though.

 

On a side note, my shipped today

[devaldez]

Mine came in Saturday whilst I was away, imbibing, so I picked it up this am and to my surprise, mine has the leakage issue. I've already notified Mark (I got mine through taiwanlovesyou.com) and am awaiting instructions.

 

I am very happy with the pen overall, though.

[rnfuller]

I got my EBAY pen today, and it is filled with PR American Blue. Beautiful, well made pen. Very smooth writer. It does have the problem of leak between the two piston seals, but does not leak past the seal so far.

 

My question is, will the new pistons be sent automatically to the current owners, or do we need to contact someone to get on the list when the new pistons are ready?

 

Thanks

Randy