Update on Pickup—putting the final touches on development and preparing for production.
https://blog.supermechanical.com/2025/09/30/materializing/
Materializing
We’re in that lull I warned about last update. We’ve been focused on production setup, and such a range of emotions we’ve been through.
Buttons
Exciting! Got sample silicone buttons. They fit nicely and diffuse light well.
Disappointing! The action on these is really stiff with too much
Got a brood of new Pickup alpha testers.
What better way to test new database code than using Pickup to check whether popsicles will stay frozen in my cooler for the afterschool party? Trying to prove that dry ice won't be needed.
Got gifts in the mail! We're adjusting from injection molding to MJF printed parts. These can't do the same level of detail so these prints are helping me tune things, but they look great! Additive manufacturing has come far.
https://blog.supermechanical.com/2025/05/12/a-path-forward-on-plastics/Measuring fruit offgassing with Pickup's VOC/particulate cartridge.
Pickup getting some air. Testing lenses for the spectral cart in outdoor light.
Testing Pickup distance sensor carts — bouncing lasers off that far wall.
Assembled spectral sensor, plugged into a preproduction Pickup! Got color sensing working, though it's still uncalibrated.
First samples of our sensor cartridge boards are done! And cases are being printed as I type.
It's neat that contract manufacturing lets you make products without a lot of experience. But making innovative products requires that first-hand experience. Here's how hard it is.
https://blog.supermechanical.com/2024/12/23/your-first-hardware-product-is-a-supply-chain/
Your first hardware product is a supply chain
You may have wondered why businesses can be built on importing existing products from overseas and marking it up a lot. Importing is an arcane process! You need to find a reputable source, get and test samples, arrange shipment (if large quantities, it’ll be by boat, which can take a few months) and
