Final Assembly Samples, Texture Finishes, and Certification Progress

We're excited to share some new updates on the BLEShark Nano! Let's dive right in.

1. Injection Molding (Assembly)

We’ve received the initial assembly samples! These aren’t full production units - they're for fit testing only, so they don’t include final textures or colors. We received both a black version and one in the plastic’s natural (raw) color.

The case fits perfectly! No more raised lid issues. The alignment is spot-on and the shell is solid!

 

 

Note: These still don’t represent the final look or feel - visible stress marks will be gone on the final texture.

2. Injection Molding (New Samples)

Our manufacturer is currently producing the final texture samples, which will feature our selected finish - SPI-D2. This finish is slightly textured, offering a high-quality feel. These samples will also include the final colors we’ve chosen for production, along with the silkscreen on the back of the case.

For the transparent versions of the BLEShark Nano, we’ll need to carefully evaluate the finish. SPI-D2, our preferred texture for the standard models, may result in a slightly foggy appearance when used on transparent plastic. In contrast, SPI-B2 and SPI-A1 - or potentially VDI-21 - may offer significantly clearer, almost glass-like transparency. 

We'll analyze the SPI-D2 samples and conduct a vote on our Discord server to ask you if it's too foggy or if it's perfect. Your feedback will directly help shape the final look!

For reference, here are images of the finishes: 

3. Final Production Samples 

We’ve ordered the final production samples for the BLEShark Nano - these will be identical to the units you’ll receive. Once certification tests are completed and these samples meet all our expectations, we’ll move to full-scale manufacturing. We’re getting very close now - just a few final steps to go!

4. Certifications

The samples have officially arrived at the testing lab, and certification testing starts Monday. We're crossing fingers for a smooth pass-through!

5. RoHS & OLED Displays

We recently discovered a small compliance issue with the OLED displays we originally ordered. These displays were made using leaded solder, which is not allowed under RoHS rules - something required for all products shipped to the EU. 

Once testing for electromagnetic emissions (called unintentional radiator testing) is finished, we’ll be ordering new OLED displays that are lead-free, RoHS-compliant, and fully approved for use in the EU!

6. Survey Progress

So far, around 70% of our Kickstarter backers have completed the survey. If you haven’t filled it out yet, please do! We cannot ship your BLEShark Nano without your address.

As always, if you have any questions or want to talk with our community, feel free to join our Discord server!