MD Platform HW development progress
The next gen platform with tidier, more precise and streamlined build process is almost finished.
We just upgraded our tooling heavily, and effort for the past month has gone solely for tooling.
The big enhancements we are currently working on
- Fire-retardant, UL94 V-0 certified electronics enclosures and brackets for various pieces
- New wiring loom which is more flexible, faster and therefore lower cost to produce. Current estimates for the time saved per set is ~1hr (10-15% of total time)
- Constant power metering per platform, allows at a glance check of unit power consumption and lifetime energy usage.
We are starting to bring these features into production, there still will be some in the middle point with not all of these features installed probably, and we have inventory to clear out as well.
Some are waiting for additional parts deliveries to bring into full production, and are in proof of concept stage right now.
Smaller scale more granular power metering will help us better estimate the real world power demands in production. Estimates and bench testing can only do so much, and measuring full racks (or individual phases) still doesn't have the resolution required. We are currently seeing as high as 100% variance in power consumption between platforms. ie. one consumes ~double compared to other, with similar spec. Way more data needs to be collected. Oh, and those power meters also look cool. ;)
Once we got production set for all these features we will most likely spend some effort to upgrade the Gen0 and Gen1 platforms to this new platform. Those 2 were really proof of concept level and are wasting a lot of space, and are not as power efficient.
New Datacenter Progress Update
Work has continued, design has been finished close by and it's now all matter of execution.
This has proven more expensive and difficult project than anticipated, but we also gained a lot of invaluable experience for future project(s).
This has been designed for maximum airflow and density from start to finish. It is 8meters high space, with plenty of airflow potential.
Some of the waste heat energy will be used to heat rest of the building.
The current floor plan allows up to 9408 MD nodes to be housed there.
The design is mostly replicable for other spaces of roughly similar dimensions.
Phase 1 is targeting up to 2000 MD nodes, after which comes Phase 2 which calls for transformer upgrade and other electrical infrastructure installtions.
Sunday, December 17, 2023
