Finally, folks I have had mental block for weeks but it finally came to me. I won’t lie, I was getting a little nervous. This will be a different assembly than anything prior. Should be really cool
8/10/18
Facehugger…its alive…growing by the minute…waiting…muhahahahahahahahahaha
well, after seeing the first part of this come to life I honestly don’t know how I can’t name it facehugger
8/13/18
Facehugger is going well. I am thinking this will be an indiegogo. I am also hoping to have the design done on Friday but who knows. I had a mental block all weekend on the next phase but it came together well this morning. It is looking like it will be a 4 piece top. A perfect blend of crazy and classy and I am hoping it spins for a decent amount of time. THe facehugger part of it does create some resistance so I might have to change up ratios to protect that feature from the air as it spins. I love this part of my job. Having the time of my life right now
One of my goals with this top is to make the 2nd craziest stem ever. I doubt I could ever surpass the Wraith stem but I want to go angular crazy on this one. I have not even started the stem design yet but am looking forward to it
Who doesn’t want a face hug?
hopefully putting the tail on that beast tomorrow
sweet dreams y’all
8/14/18
Yeah, I have to post this lol
Well since the Indiegogo does not look like it’s happening for this top…
Wiped (click to watch in FB)
https://www.facebook.com/100009241864064/videos/2080217985629577/
Ok, grip is changed. Done for the day
8/16/18
I got two days to get this dialed in. The next pic you see will be of the final design. There will definitely be some small changes happening yet. Wish me luck and have a fantastic day!
Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
It’s alive muhahahahaha
https://www.facebook.com/100009241864064/videos/2081419935509382/
YouTube vid is uploading!! Rushed home from rainy Golf to giterdone.
YouTube video of the new top!!
Good night, sleep tight, don’t let the facehuggers bite
8/17/18
my first timed spin of the new top, guesses?
My guess was 6 minutes. 5:06 dem fan blades really catch the wind. I am sure I got a 7 in me, this was literally my first real spin.
Congrats Juston Mars, you did not win anything but were the closest
8/19/18
Tomorrow I am going to make some very subtle changes to add some weight to Xeno. You would not even notice if I didn’t tell you but I can add a little weight to get a minute or two more on spin time. Again, spin time is not a focus on this design but I want to do everything I can to provide the best product I can. I have to optimize the machining processes so I will kill two birds with one stone.
I am also toying with the idea of offering a solid disc version in addition to the current design. So instead of the 8 spoke discs it would have two solid discs. This option would provide a substantially longer spin time and you would still have the rockin stem. It would also be a tiny bit cheaper.
I think options are good but want some feedback on the solid disc “performance” model. Again both options would be available if we go this route. Could do aluminum disc on top and tungsten on the bottom. People could really get creative.
8/20/18
Well I made a little progress! Took a little here, added a little there etc. I will take some good pics later today and I doubt you will be able to tell I did anything. I am getting consistently over 5:30 now for times and for a design like this, I am happy with that! Sounds like the performance option is a go so I will start getting all the combo’s and stuff ready. Going to take a long time but I will keep you posted!
One thing for sure, this top spins smooth. This type of assembly is just really really nice.
Yup, I got a new favorite design. So in love with this one. Combos are going to be so much fun
FB you suck for ruining a good vid.
BilletSPIN Xeno! Tons of combo’s will be available and most will be exotic. Standard material combo’s will be $150. This is a 4 piece top with a 1/8 carbide bearing ball. Spin times for the material combo pictured is 5:30 with me spinning it so spin times will vary. 1.23″ in diameter.
Sales will begin sometime in mid-late September. Sales will be combo by combo similar to how the Matrix was sold. A chart will be provided before sales begin of all upcoming combo’s so you can plan accordingly. Sue and I will be attending the USN show in Vegas next week and will have some available there. All other sales will be through www.billetspin.com
This top was themed after the Xenomorph from the movie Alien, hence the name, Xeno. Stay tuned for more details and let me know if you have any questions!
8/21/18
Let’s talk xeno. I got the plan (watch in FB)
https://www.facebook.com/100009241864064/videos/2087046571613385/
This is my attempt at the 5 piece. Going to finish it tomorrow.
the question is 4 or 5 piece…
I will have to see how the 4 looks compared to the 5 and make my decision from there. I think I will make tomorrows top both ways and take pics of them and get feedback. My guess is the 5 will look nicer but it was gavin’s idea so probably not
8/22/18
Anybody else as excited as I am to finish up the 5 piece zirc/SS? Ups red can’t get here soon enough
Internaltool quick change boring bar .14 minimum hole with .4” reach…
5 pieces…
so many possibilities my head is going to explode lololol
5 pc
https://www.facebook.com/100009241864064/videos/2088264958158213/
8/24/18
So far we have all SS and this one going to USN. We will have some quantities available of each. All SS will be $150 and the Timascus/SS/Flamed Ti will $400. Both of these will be available online as well in a month or so.
And the last combo going to USN! 5 pc Xeno SS/Bronze $175
8/26/18
USN3
9/4/18
First performance combo. Any guesses?
Zirc with tungsten discs
It’s crazy heavy. I will get a bunch more combos and hopefully the chart tomorrow or Thursday
Live video with a butt load of details coming in 30 minutes
Big news about USN Gathering and the Xeno!
Ok all, big live video happening here at 6pm central for the Xeno. You won’t want to miss this one. Lots of pics and a GAW! Hope you can make it!!
Xeno with technical issues
I will be working on a chart showing the first 25 Xeno combo’s that will be for sale. Of those 25, some will be 4pc, some 5pc and the rest performance models. The performance models do not have the milled face hugger discs, rather they are solid and won’t have as much wind resistance. They will also be offered in exotics where the standard Xeno will only have titanium and zirc for exotics inner discs. FB will not let me post pics in a poll so there is another post titled “Xeno pics” that has a sampling of the 4,5 and performance variations. Keep in mind these might NOT be the actual combo’s and are just there to give you an idea of what they will look like. Please vote for how many performance variations you would like to see out of the first 25 combo’s!
Xeno pics
9/6/18
Sue Stadler High temp…
Do me a favor if you wouldn’t mind. Take a look at the 25 combos, reply to this post the pic of your favorite. This will help me figure combos in the future. Appreciate it!!
9/7/18
OK, it has been a long night but I finally have the chart for the first eight Xeno release tops. Please look it over and let me know if I’ve misspelled anything. I have been known to “fat finger” things and hit something wrong so let me know if I need to fix something. Thanks and have a great rest of your night.
9/8/18
Sue Stadler Monday’s Xeno release at noon (Central) on BilletSPIN.com
All Stainless Xeno featuring: Stainless Steel body, Stainless Steel upper and lower facehugger disks, and a one piece Stainless Steel stem. Weighs in at a nice 38 grams and will sell for $150. This will be a 24 hour sale ending at noon (Central) on Tuesday 9/11.
9/10/18
Sue Stadler Updated with release number. Don’t forget the all stainless 24 hour sale starts today at Noon Central.
Sue Stadler Here are the Xeno charts with the order in which they will sell number. No set dates yet for any of them except the all stainless selling today at noon Central.
Sue Stadler OK, OFFICIAL POST for what other combos you might be interested in after the original 25 are done. GOOOOOOOOO!
Xeno questions?
Aaaaaand our Integrex just went down. Not sure how long. This machine makes the facehugger discs. We have a little cushion right now compared to what has been ordered and we also have the next combo done so the timing is good. This is a good example of why I try to not commit to dates. I will keep you posted!
9/11/18
Machine problems, Xeno delays please watch
9/12/18
Important update:
Our Mazak Integrex broke down on Monday. This machine makes the face hugger discs. At this point we are not sure when it will be back and running but are hoping late today or tomorrow. I intended on running the facehugger discs on a different machine but I cannot turn it on to get the program out of it. As of right now, we have enough made to assemble about half of what was ordered on Tuesday of the all SS. Our goal as of right now is to have the rest made and shipped on Monday next week.
We are not going to postpone the Timascus release (combo #2). I was going to limit this combo to what we had made already but due to the popularity of the Xeno I will offer more for Thursday’s release. I should be able to ship all of Combo #2 by the end of next week.
As of the time of this message, we do not know when combo #3 will be released but are hoping early next week. We will keep you updated. Thank you for your understanding and patience. If anyone would like to cancel their order due to this delay please message Sue Stadler on FB or email billetspin@tds.net.
Thank you have have a wonderful rest of your week,
Rich Stadler
9/13/18
Good news! The machine was up and running late yesterday. Combo #1 will ship today! Combo #2 shown in this video goes live at noon central www.billetspin.com This will be a 30 minute sale or sell out, whichever comes first. These will ship today as well!! Combo #3 will go live Monday noon central, more details to come after today’s sale!
Machining footage, GAW, progress and a look into the depths of my soul (click to view in FB)
https://www.facebook.com/100009241864064/videos/2102383006746408/
you all are just awesome. THANK YOU for the amazing support. Man I don’t know if I just got the feels today or what but man I am welling up. We will do our best to get everything shipped out today!
Well you all outdid yourself. So much so that we will not have enough time to make the rest of the orders and get them shipped today. So that means all combo #1 ship today and all combo #2 ship on Monday.
Combo #3 will be released at noon Monday and will ship two day later on Wednesday.
I know this is a lot of details and hope my communication is doing an adequate job of keeping you informed! Thanks again and have a great day!
9/14/18
For those interested in #3, I will be doing a bunch of pics and YouTube video for it since it is the first performance top. Lots of cool stuff coming today for it. Stay tuned, stay awesome
BilletSPIN Xeno Combo #3
Flamed Titanium/spiro dammy/SS stem with flamed ti grip!
5pc Performance model
38g
$270 plus shipping
Going live 9/17 noon central www.billetspin.com
12 hour sale, unlimited
Hoping to ship all orders next week!
Timing my first spin of this combo now
Thanks all!! These will ship on or before 9/20!!
9/18/18
Combo #4!
Copper/Bronze/Bronze will be released this Wednesday 9/19 at noon central www.billetspin.com and will be a 24 hour unlimited sale!
$150 plus shipping
42g
These will ship on or before 9/24
Yo yo yo! (click to view in FB)
https://www.facebook.com/100009241864064/videos/2105454686439240/
9/20/18
The Ron Bates one off Xeno! It is happening today
Let’s try this again lol. The official Ron Bates One off Xeno post!
I was getting eaten alive or I would have done this better. Ron Bates you want me to take this home and get some studio pics or just send it out?
Heading back out to get a better vid
Much better
I think this was worth a new post. I hope you like it Ron Bates!
Reptilian Dammy/Dragon Skin/Modified Basketweave Timascus/Titanium/twist damascus
Spins dead true
Xeno Combo #5! This is our first semi-performance model meaning it has a solid disc on the bottom and a facehugger disc on top!
-Spiro Dammy/timascus/SS/flamed titanium
-38g
-$295
Goes live on September 21st at noon central. 24 hour sale or until sellout.www.billetspin.com
9/21/18
#5 is live!
BilletSPIN Xeno Combo #6! Going up for sale on September 26th noon central www.billetspin.com 24 hour unlimited sale. Will ship all orders on or before Oct 1st.
-$175 plus shipping
-SS/Bronze (5pc)
-38g
9/26/18
Something about bronze and stainless together really gets me. It’s just so elegant…
9/27/18
BilletSPIN Xeno Combo #7 being released on 9/28 noon central www.billetspin.com 24 hour sale or until sell out.
-3 Color Mokume/Bronze/Copper
-$250
-42g
-23 tops available
10/3/18
Ok all, I am back! Here is the plan for the Xeno. Sue and I are going to topcon next week down in texas. We are still going to release the xeno’s but shipping on all of them will have a 3 week lead time. This will allow us to keep our operators running while we are gone and do a mass shipping when we get back. If Lindsey has time, she will ship some while we are gone. All of these will be sold on www.billetspin.com. Here is the release schedule:
Combo #8-Oct 5th noon central, 24 hour sale or until sell out
Combo #9-Oct 8th noon central, 24 hour sale unlimited
Combo #10-Oct 10th noon central, 24 hour sale unlimited
Combo #11-Oct 12th noon central, 24 hour sale unlimited
Combo #12-Oct 15th noon central, 24 hour sale unlimited
Combo #13-Oct 17th noon central, 24 hour sale or until sell out
I assume we will continue with the mon,wed,fri sales until all of the combos are sold but we reserve the right to change that if needed. Here are the charts, let me know if you have any questions!