[R Deckard]

I just got my first samples of ASMs (Key West), and noticed this about them: the inlay is oriented exactly the same way with respect to the edgespots, i.e. edgespots form an upright "Y" when inlay is right-side up. Also, the inlays on both sides of the chip are aligned (top-to-top, bottom-to-bottom) with each other. Is this the case with all ASMs out there?

If so, I award ASM bonus points in the anal-appeal category for this feature. But I wonder: How dey don do dat? I certainly don't find this consistency in inlay orientation with the Paulson, Blue Chip, and even Bud Jones chips I have.

[jojobinks]

i don't know if that's true. but if it is, it's uber-cool.

i expect pocket rocket to come along any minute now and give us a little lesson about the manufacturing process and why ASM can do this and not anyone else.

[warewulf]

Probably done by a machine and not a drunk factory worker.

[Matthew]

I would image the presses/molds are loaded by hand (in one of jimb's earlier posts he talks about how the older molds are not economical to use since some can only do 9 chips at a time). The body and spots probably have a certain orientation in the mold - my guess is that ASM takes a little extra time to set the inlays in all the same orientation. This is a guess - but seems plausible.

Matthew

[Dimes]

My Key West ASM sample chips have the same feature - the three edgespots are always aligned in a Y (inverted "Mercedes"), and the two inlays are medal aligned. It's the only clay chip I've seen with this feature (except for the only other ASM I have).

The inlay alignment is not always 100%, though very close on most chips.

TT

[saoliver]

Of the 1000+ (including extras) customs that I have, every single chip is near perfectly aligned. Very cool feature.

And on my 1000+ (including extras) 3d14 customs that I just ordered, I expect the same.

[Kalimba]

I spotted (deliberate bad pun) the inlay orienation on my Key West samples, too. Don't know if ASM has always manufactured their chips like this, but my only other ASM chips are without inlays, so I never noticed before.

I was so impressed by the attention to detail that I had to modify the orientation of the 312 pattern in the Chip Forge tool. Look for this change in the next release.

Before: After:

-Kalimba
The Chip Forge

[DaBear]

The only ASM chip that i've seen that are aligned differently are the Palmas Chips.

On these the inlay on the $25 chip which has 3 edge spots aligns the same on one side, on the other side the inlay is reversed 180 degrees.

So if you flip the chip top to bottom the inlay is upright but the edge spots are reversed .

This is also true on the $500 with the 5 edge spots.

Different than the customs, but the same attention to detail in the manufacturing process.

[tripod22]

Yes, ASM seems to devote this attention to detail on ALL of their chips, which I find remarkably impressive.

As to why others can't seem to do it? I propose that they can, and choose not to, which is really a shame for a name like Paulson.

Originally Posted by R Deckard

I just got my first samples of ASMs (Key West), and noticed this about them: the inlay is oriented exactly the same way with respect to the edgespots, i.e. edgespots form an upright "Y" when inlay is right-side up. Also, the inlays on both sides of the chip are aligned (top-to-top, bottom-to-bottom) with each other. Is this the case with all ASMs out there?

If so, I award ASM bonus points in the anal-appeal category for this feature. But I wonder: How dey don do dat? I certainly don't find this consistency in inlay orientation with the Paulson, Blue Chip, and even Bud Jones chips I have.

[tripod22]

I'm not positive, but I think you've got it backwards (leaving out the drunk part).

I'd bet that ASM accomplishes this with human hands.

Originally Posted by warewulf

Probably done by a machine and not a drunk factory worker.