Welcome to the first Field Report
This is a log of the engineering and manufacturing process behind AW Labs.
Over the coming months, I will document the specific challenges of building "Origin" in-house, from the raw metal to the final assembly. You are receiving this because you requested access to the allocation window. When the project is ready for release, you will be notified here first.
Repeatability and Workholding
The difference between making a single watch and manufacturing a production run is entirely in engineering the process.
It is relatively straightforward to machine a single part using ad-hoc methods. However, relying on "one-off" setups introduces variables that make the outcome unreliable. In a precision mechanical system especially at the scale and tolerance of a watch, unreliability is unacceptable.
For the past few weeks, my focus has been on workholding validation.
I am finalizing the custom fixtures that will hold the parts during machining. The goal is to ensure that the manufacturing process is robust, repeatable and accurate so that the 50th case comes off the machine with the exact same tolerances as the first.
Materials
I have successfully machined the case assembly components using aluminum. This allows me to debug the CAM (Computer-Aided Manufacturing) tool paths and prove the design in a cost-effective material.
Validation requires iteration, and iteration consumes metal. Unless you have the coffers of a Swiss giant, prototyping exclusively in stainless steel is inefficient. Working in aluminum allows me to burn through material to perfect the geometry without the financial waste of scrapping high-grade steel.
With the workholding foundations nearing completion, I am preparing to migrate from aluminum to 316L Stainless Steel. This is the final validation step before the production model is revealed and the allocation window for "Origin" officially opens.
Timeline & Strategy
I am front-loading this engineering work for a specific reason: Lead Time.
Too often in independent watchmaking, orders are taken while the production process is still theoretical, leading to months of delays for the client. My goal is to have the manufacturing documentation, workholding, and tooling fully validated before the allocation window opens.
I am working to ensure that the gap between securing your allocation and receiving your watch is as short as possible.
What comes next?
In the next report, I expect to share the results of the initial stainless steel machining operations and discuss the specific Swiss caliber selected to power this chassis.
Thank you for following the process.
Mike Armstrong
Founder, AW Labs