Announcing the ORDuino !

[orcinus]

Has anyone heard from Frantz lately?
Via e-mail, PM or any other channel of communication?

I've never received my ORDuino and he doesn't seem to be responding.

[RSWeaverAz]

Ya, Frob owes me a Orduino as well
I tried sending him some PM's (emails?) using Buildlog.net ,
also tried his http://www.sotadesigns.ca contact page,
and on 10/20 using a gmail account (sotadesigns contact page pinged me using a gmail account back on July 20),
I have not tried the email that's in his profile.
I do have his phone number, it was on the "Lava" Heated Build Plate he sent, and it also matches a name/address/phone look up.
I'll try calling him on Monday ... er ... Today.

Looks like Frobs last visit to the forum was August 10.

[Enraged]

if any of you used Paypal, you should try getting your money back, hopefully it isn't too late.

[RSWeaverAz]

Well, I just tried the phone numbers that were on the "LAVA" Heated Bed "Pizza" Delivery Box.
Which I took delivery on 06/25/2012
Got a message in French & English that the number 514-484-7013 is no longer in service.

Just for the record the info on that delivery box was:

Frantz Robinson
Sota Design Inc
4837 Patricia Ave.
Montreal QC H4V 1Y7

From..Telephone: 514-484-7013 --> Google's to Eileen Robinson
To.....Telephone: 514-686-9570 --> Not my telephone, its a Montreal QC area code, tried 2 times roughly 30 minutes apart ... it was busy.

I'm checking on my payment methods to see if there is any chance of a reversal ...

[RSWeaverAz]

Just talked to Frantz for about 20 minutes using the x9570 number.

Health problems of a family member have caused severe time constraints and financial problems.

Of the 10 prototype Orduino boards he ordered and built up (using the Pololu A4988),
8 were delivered, I had told him in late July I didn't need my unit for like 3-4 months.
Many of the A4988 driver chips failed under testing and had to be re-soldered,
has lost confidence in using them in any future Orduino's. I think he's out of bare A4988 chips.

He has ordered some new driver chips (not A4988's and not I think the Toshiba 6560)
This new driver chip has about ~ 2x performance of a A4988, usefull for the bigger NEMA 23 steppers.
They are on back order, may be up to another 4 weeks (or longer) until delivery.
He mentioned thinking of putting the new chips on pololu like daughter cards for the remaining proto's.

The current Sota Designs web site is a dead end as he doesn't have time to play with it, looking for a web expert to fix it or start over.

He indicated that until the new driver chips arrive he cant complete delivery of the last 2 prototypes and any new Orduino's.

[orcinus]

He could've posted something, though. I mean, i'm sure he's not out to willingly scam people (considering he delivered on Lava beds), but at least some feedback would've been nice. I don't mind waiting as long as i know what's up.

Regarding drivers... From what i've seen, his design does have through-holes for headers for standard driver carriers, so that's always a valid fallback option, i guess.

[gfc62]

if any of you used Paypal, you should try getting your money back, hopefully it isn't too late.

I'm checking on my payment methods to see if there is any chance of a reversal ...

The limit for PayPal transactions is 45 days.

[RSWeaverAz]

I got a LinkedIn Notification that Frantz Robinson "Celebrating 11 years at SOTA Design Inc."
So I sent him a congrats along with a reminder that he never delivered my ORDuino,
of course its been like 7 years (wow, how time flies). So looks like he's moved on.
the website http://www.sotadesign.ca/ seems to have been taken over by some household goods seller,
but that seems dead as well (still hosted). The Facebook info is sparse (or I don't know how to use it)
see; https://www.linkedin.com/in/frantzr/ ... I was tempted to add in something into "Frantz's top skills"

anyway FYI