[Elecraft] encoder testing. Critical to begin today.

[Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ, Elecraft]

Ouch! Fat fingers this morning on the keyboard! I did not mean to post 
this to the list.

This is for incoming inspection on some of the encoders we use on the K3 
Front Panel IF shift control etc. It is not an issue for K3s that have 
made it through production and final test. We caught a few encoders that 
were not electrically working correctly in our board test group last 
week as they tested FPs, so we are now testing the raw encoders 100% 
before they even go into the boards. This is a normal production quality 
procedure any time we find a problem on parts incoming from a vendor. 
(We also immediately contact the vendor to make sure no more come in 
that way.) This additional raw encoder test is to make sure there are no 
more questionable ones in stock before they are soldered into the PC 
boards.

We also always 100% test these in OUR finished front panel boards before 
they go into a kit or built K3. (But we certainly try to catch bad ones 
before this stage so we don;t have to remove and replace them - a time 
consuming operation.)

Quality is our top manufacturing priority. We are continually adapting 
our process to adapt and improve it where ever possible.

73, Eric  WA6HHQ


Radio Amateur N5GE wrote:
> On Mon, 14 Sep 2009 09:01:59 -0700, "Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ, Elecraft"
> <eric at elecraft.com> wrote:
>
> Thanks for keeping us posted, Eric.
>
> Tom, N5GE
>   
>> Please figure it out with Lisa today. This should not be a permanent 
>> thing, but needs to be done now. We can also use overtime is necessary.
>>
>>