Ask Dave D about Innova Here!!!

[DreaminTree]

If there are no engineers on staff, who troubleshoots the equipment?, who tracks trends in data to see if equipment isn't working properly?, who removes bottlenecks?, who researches new technologies to make discs?

It seems that there are some pretty large variances between runs of discs that affect their flight. Anything from "poppy" orcs and the "dominess" of one disc compared to another. It seems to me that these discrepancies between runs good be reduced with a better engineered process.

So, I'm officially offering my services to be the staff engineer. I only require a modest engineers salary, and some free discs. I'll even take the x-out discs. Also, one of my job responsibilities will be to go out to the course and test new equipment.

There has to be a course on the Innova campus. A championship course with rolling hills, lush fairways, perfectly manicured foliage. A place where the beer flows like wine, and the women instinctively flock like the salmon of Capistrano. If it's actually more like a rundown warehouse in the middle of an industrial park, don't tell me, don't ruin my dream!

I wonder what kind of manufacturing line Innova is really running if they arent employing ANY engineers... I would imagine all tooling is outsourced. What kind of tool shop does a disc company maintain? I am used to examining defects from mold presses and assembly operations that are running daily quantities in the millions, with many molds being run at once in the same facility. It seems to me that most disc companies probably only run a couple molds at a time. Can you shed any light on this subject, Dave? I am interested to know how disc production really works. My experience with injection molding is thorough enough that I understand all the parameters of the process, but dont exactly understand the driving forces behind all the fine-tuning that operators do while they are preparing or stabilizing a molding operation.

On 2005-08-26, Dave wrote:
We have stock now in Champ. Classic Rocs. It is being moved to regular Champion Stock. It will not be discontinued as it has its own niche. It is our lowest profile putter approach disc. It is stable, and durable. It has no real faults, and has good assets. The market will dictate how desireable it is over time. They will most likely be available in two weeks.

It's now almost six weeks later, and I still don't see them at ZoneDriven or DiscGolfValues. Where can I find Champion Classic Rocs?

[mf100forever]

It's now almost six weeks later, and I still don't see them at ZoneDriven or DiscGolfValues. Where can I find Champion Classic Rocs?

Check out http://www.sunkingdiscs.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?

[davei]

Chase, the SB Wraith will be part of fundraising for the Pro Worlds. No time has been set yet for production.

[davei]

dreamin tree, we outsource everthing except general shop maintenance. The only thing we do is run the injection molding equipment. We don't do repairs unless they are very minor. We only run a few molds at a time. Our daily quantities are in the hundreds, not millions. Basic machines. No robots.

[davei]

Mark, if you don't see them at zonedriven or discgolfvalues, send them an email. They can get them, if they exist. The Champion Classic Rocs are stamped and in stock.

It was clear plastic.

Ah, but in that case, it has zero relevance to the accuracy of FrizWiz's description, because the question isn't whether or not there are candy Wraiths out there; its whether the opaque one one FrizWiz listed as being Champion is, in fact, "Champion" or merely Pro.

[accidentalROLLER]

Dave, can you give us a top-secret preview of what the stamps will be on the 2006 USDGC Rocs and how many different stamps there will be?
Thanks
Colin

[davei]

accidentalroller, I have only seen one piece of art that was in process for the SBs going on sale at the USDGC. It has been changed, and I have not seen it. The other stamps haven't been started, as far as I know. It's all done on the East Coast.

[Gimmie_tha_Roc]

Dave,
I just saw some of the new 5x aviar x in blue yellow and red, as well as white. Just wondering if you are planning on making any other colors. Also will you start selling colored KC aviars?

[thetruthxl]

Hi dave,
Gotta give you props on the champ wraith! Alittle tighter than the pro with tons of glide. pushing the limits of what I can do with the orc.
Nice job! Well worth the time and money!!!

[davei]

Gimmie, we mostly make white, but we do make other colors including yellow. Not planning on any KC Aviar colors, but not ruling it out at this point.

[flynvegas]

flynvegas, I would be interested to know too. It looks like Pro to me too. Maybe it's a bad picture, but it should not be opaque candy. That would make it SB. That has not be released and the tests were only in blue and white.

Got a reply from Kurt that this is Pro plastic. Bad description on eBay.

[esalazar]

he changed the description a couple days ago and stated the whole proline thing!!lol

[20460chase]

Ah, but in that case, it has zero relevance to the accuracy of FrizWiz's description, because the question isn't whether or not there are candy Wraiths out there; its whether the opaque one one FrizWiz listed as being Champion is, in fact, "Champion" or merely Pro.

This is true. My only thoughts are that I have seen several Champion Wraiths that have more "Pearl" in them than others,( I know its a stretch ) and this may be what he has. He could also be looking for another 40$, as well. I seen people selling Pro Orcs as Night Shifts. Unless you have both in your hand its hard to tell the difference. In hand its obvious.

he changed the description a couple days ago and stated the whole proline thing!!lol

uh.........dude it still says champion!!lol

[accidentalROLLER]

Dave, are fairway drivers slowly going the way of the buffalo? I don't see as many people throwing Gazelle's, Cheetah's, and Leopards as I did when I first started playing. I know in my case, when I started out I needed something in between my drivers and my midranges. But now that I can throw a roc, buzz, and coyote over 300ft. Anything longer I use a distance driver. Are a new generation of fairway drivers on the horizon or have teebirds, eagles, etc, become the new fairway drivers since we have discs like starfires and wraiths that push distances so much further?
I'd be interested to know your view on the subject as you have seen and contributed to the evolution of a new generation of midranges and maximum distance drivers. Thanks.

[20460chase]

Im hoping for Special Blend Leopards and/or CFR Glo Leopards. I dislike the new ones.

Dave, whats up with Des' disc? Is she still getting one?

Thanks as always!

Dave. You said SB rocs going on sale "at" the USDGC. Does this mean that the spectator rocs will be SB. If so, will they also be available early next year?

[davei]

accidental roller, the fairway drivers such as the whippet, gazelle and cheetah are not as popular as they once were when they also were used for distance. They have a smaller niche now. The Viper and Raven have become the dinosaurs, along with the Ram and Python. The Firebird, TeeBird and Eagle have taken the same niche for some. The Leopard will likely remain as the most popular of the fairway drivers as it is better than the faster discs for staying on the fairway in tight situations.

[davei]

chase, we will be doing sb leopards at some point. We have no plans for a des disc at this point.

[davei]

choke artist, yes, the spectator Rocs will be SB. A maximum of 1000 are available. They will also be available early next year.

[crotts]

Dave, any info on the color for the SB Rocs?

Any gonna be white?

: ) :

Dave, do you know if there are any plans to run SB USDGC Rocs in the standard mold or will they be sticking to just the Ontario (I think thats right) mold?

[davei]

SB Rocs were Ontario type. I don't know what colors will be offered at the event, but two other colors were added to the run. White was one color added to blue and red. I don't think I am supposed to say the other.

[accidentalROLLER]

I hope its safety cone orange! Or fluorescent Lime green!

[rhett]

Dave likes to run gold stuff.

Maybe not. That's usually only the first time he does something different.

[jpg420]

hey dave can you tell me the history on the michael jordan collection. like how many each year and how long they ran thanks alot joe pg

[davei]

jpg, sorry, no clue. Maybe you can ask Hawk. Or Felix.

[twoputtok]

I hope its safety cone orange! Or fluorescent Lime green!

You really thinkk that will keep you from losing them?
Just because they're a bright color, doesn't mean they will float.