Factory Info: Parts with Laser Cut Holes and Potential for Cracks

[DonMcKee]

Was there any mention at the presentation about the current status of subkit shipments? Email to kitstatus@vans has gone unanswered (7/5/23, with follow-up 7/10/23).

I'm curious about what the plans are with respect to crating/shipping (e.g. don't ship until 100% punched parts are available vs. ship what's available now and backorder the remainder). I know they're still requesting final payments (I just paid for my emp), so hope that implies shipments are going out the other end.

I've got 3 RV-14A subkits that are "Assigned to Crating" (emp, fuse, wings), with the wings marked "Crating Complete Shipping with Fuse kit" since late May (BTW, the fuse kit is almost a month past the close of the posted crating window). While I'm feeling lucky that I won't need to redo work because of the laser-cut issue, I really want to get started on something, and hope to receive my first shipment sooner rather than later!

[RavenAero]

Here's a quick summary of my understanding:
- If you've already received laser cut parts, stop work involving those parts
- If you've installed laser cut parts, you may have to drill out rivets, remove the parts and have them replaced (Van's will give guidance later)
- They are working on a web form to request replacement parts, which will be live in a few weeks
- Testing will continue for the next month and a half (plus or minus) and guidance for inspection, removal, etc. will follow
- For QB kits, you may have the option to receive a kit that includes laser cut parts and do repair work yourself (if, for example, there is guidance to replace certain parts) or wait for a new QB without laser cut parts (my impression is that they're around a year out)
- They are actively considering what to do about sections like the elevator that have wedges glued in making spar removal difficult without ruining other parts

*This is just my understanding from tidbits that I picked up listening to the forum and informal Q&A. Take this with a grain of salt

[Brantel]

Originally Posted by AlexC

Great video - I got through half of the livestream, and then it went into "private" mode. Any way you can make the video public again?

Thanks,

Originally Posted by Jonnyb

Any chance of making the video public? Would love to see the presentation.

Should work now guys. It finally finished uploading.

https://www.youtube.com/live/gO1pKlyPqvk?feature=share

[Paul Thomas]

Originally Posted by Freemasm

Completely unscientific (depending on who you ask) but; most interesting defensive body language by the Vans personnel. Was the crowd confrontational?

I could see that turning into a meme and make me wonder if what appears to be positive news in the slides was not that positive.

Originally Posted by Brantel

Should work now guys. It finally finished uploading.

https://www.youtube.com/live/gO1pKlyPqvk?feature=share

I will watch it tonight. Thank you Brian.

[Jonnyb]

Originally Posted by Brantel

Should work now guys. It finally finished uploading.

https://www.youtube.com/live/gO1pKlyPqvk?feature=share

Thank you Brian, you’re an absolute star for doing that! Very much appreciated.

[DeltaRomeo]

Originally Posted by Brantel

Should work now guys. It finally finished uploading.

https://www.youtube.com/live/gO1pKlyPqvk?feature=share

Thank you Brian!
v/r,dr

[bertschb]

Originally Posted by Brantel

Should work now guys. It finally finished uploading.

https://www.youtube.com/live/gO1pKlyPqvk?feature=share

Yes, thank you!

[RV7A Flyer]

Didn't Van's even have a professional camera/mic setup to record and publish this? We have to rely on the good intentions of an attendee with a cell phone?

This isn't 1983...it's 2023. Shees.

[KatanaPilot]

Two things I found lacking in today’s presentation -

1. Although Rian explained how the mistakes were made by the third party vendor producing the defective laser cut parts, he offered no details on how these defective parts got past Van’s quality control. Given the pictures here on VAF of some of these parts (scorch marks and pronounced notches at holes), it would be good to know how/why these parts ever left Van’s.

2. It would also have been helpful to understand the change in position from “file out the notches and build on” to “stop building”. I did not hear any discussion about this.

I will say I was impressed by the obvious amount of effort being put into determining how big this problem really is. Unfortunate that the effort wasn’t made monitoring the processes of the third party parts providers.

[scard]

Originally Posted by KatanaPilot

Two things I found lacking in today’s presentation -

1. Although Rian explained how the mistakes were made by the third party vendor producing the defective laser cut parts, he offered no details on how these defective parts got past Van’s quality control. Given the pictures here on VAF of some of these parts (scorch marks and pronounced notches at holes), it would be good to know how/why these parts ever left Van’s.

I too am amazed at the recent tool path disclosure. Every cnc machinist on the planet knows the importance of tool path engagement (lead in / lead out).