Good catch with mister fork lift bringing out castings.

Wood is being used to keep the rebar from shifting when pouring the concrete. Structural requirements require precise rebar placement.

Thanks Randy. 1:00. Casting. New gigapress footing. The timbers are there to correctly locate the machine hold down bolts. You can see a bunch of orange caps on the bolts each side of the timber placed east west. The timbers north south are to hold the east west sticks in place. These N/S timbers are screwed to star pickets driven into the ground. Good shot here in Jeff’s Day 382 of the same setup on another footing; kzread.info/dash/bejne/qoZm1q2Gcsa1hpc.html 1:40. South alleyway. Short section of pipe. Those are the first of the bore holes for the next row of footings. This row will be located along the same line as the 8’ drain pipe was, which is why the drain has been removed. You can the pipes that were removed at 10:02 under the east side of the GA building.

Nice work Randy. The Tesla Terafactory should hire you, as you know the details of this entire facility as well as anyone.

We've been seeing rear castings for at least a month now. We haven't seen any more front castings since then until today though. There is definitely at least two machines running now.

@ 15:39 (Left side of screen) looking more and more like a road bed heading for the offramp. Though they would have to raise the north end a few feet to meet the offramp.

Since Texas only have two casting machines and a third being installed, my guess would be that one is making the front and the other the rear.

20:20 Extra storage? Hopefully that means they will clear of Bobcat area and start digging foundations.

Great video, thanks Randy! 13:21 new road base, new trenching

@dalerichardson7202

2 жыл бұрын

David Johnson predicted this!

@dan_w3st

2 жыл бұрын

@@dalerichardson7202 So did Dessie Doolan

20:05 - Is that a HOUSE!? Someone lives there?? Would love for you to catch them moving one of the "space frames" from where it was assembled.

@robertcase4995

2 жыл бұрын

Apparently site security uses it.

@ 1:41 and 10:07 Don't think those are drainage pipes. More likely where the drilling rigs were drilling pilings.

@ivanprock624

2 жыл бұрын

I agree. You wouldn't have drainage pipes going up like that. I've seen circular rebar cages in this area. I think those cages are what will go into those holes.

Possibly the difference in the foundations being built are for larger giga-presses requiring larger foundations for the Cyber Truck. The wood could be placed simply to walk on temporarily during the stage of constructing these foundations

they had loose mud around the last pour, that's why they put 2x4 around it.. to keep dirt from getting kicked in. the edges of the press footer will be covered by the slab anyway

Thank you!

Love that beginning approach... great to watch

Hey Randy, it looks like those two new Gigapress foundations look to be significantly larger than the ones currently installed. These fill the entire area between the columns. 8 Ton foundations? 🤞🏾 Thanks for the high quality videos sir!

@ah64Dcoming4U

2 жыл бұрын

agreed

@gerrywithaG

2 жыл бұрын

That would be my guess

@stevencastellanos8063

2 жыл бұрын

I concur

@dantebarnes8187

2 жыл бұрын

Indubitably

@jonjon3829

2 жыл бұрын

8 ton concrete is relatively tiny.

Thanks Randy, there are a few front castings in that stack as well. :) Must have two machines up and running....

@robertcase4995

2 жыл бұрын

@@Exalta101 They have two presses running and a third one being installed.

The area on the eastside where you said they are digging out. I think they are preparing that for planting grass.

i doubt those castings were designed to be pushed around on the ground by the ends of the forklift tines. (@5:35) traditionally, they are placed on pallets and then the pallet takes the abuse.

@patr5902

2 жыл бұрын

These are just from the initial set-up test runs. They did the same thing front castings. They are off the be melted down back into aluminum pellets to be feed back into the presses.

The 8 ton presses for cybertruck manufacturing ? ? ?

@drew-azureperthwestaust4818

2 жыл бұрын

Yep could be. Its a 8000 ton press.

Its insane the amount of parallelism Tesla uses when castings are made before the building is even done

17:49 Finally traffic lights!

They seem to be getting the workers out of the main gates much better now, although it seems a lot are going straight under the freeway there, there is a massive queue heading off into the distance at 17:55, that must be creating some headaches for the roads/highways department, or whatever they call them in Texas

@DavidJohnson-tv2nn

2 жыл бұрын

Looks like they want to avoid tolls on the freeway or toll road or whatever it's called. Freeways should be free!

@DavidJohnson-tv2nn

2 жыл бұрын

Something I forgot to mention in my last reply... The problem of the backup at the intersection of highway 973 can be greatly reduced by widening Harold Green road all the way to 973 and having double left turn lanes. Also, if the 973 access road on the Southside is extended to serve the parking lots... That will also help relieve congestion.

@LinasVepstas

2 жыл бұрын

TXDOT - Texas Department of Transportation.

Thanks Randy!

I thought the larger castings were the rear of the car. Or is the casting with the gap in the middle the rear? And that gap is where the 1 piece fiber reinforced plastic sub trunk space container goes?

At 1:54 Did they run out of wood? Columns have forms on only 3 sides? At 2:50 the shape of this "new activity" just fits in with the surrounding habitat. Do you think this might be the "ecological paradise" Elon spoke about? After 19:00 traffic looks less congested. All the roadwork has helped! Thanks, Randy. Great video and music -- the last song, Stardrive is the best!

This video is much better than your others. I gave you a like looking forward to more like this. Have a good one.

Thanks for another great video, Randy! I really appreciate your efforts! Just one problem with today's video: the title says Sep-06, but I think the video was created Sep-07. Keep up the great work!

@TerafactoryTexas

2 жыл бұрын

Good catch! Fixed now, thanks Ivan!

I"m surprised that no more of those tall windows on the west side were installed today. The opened one of those giant crates, hoisted one into place the before the Labor Day weekend...and nothing since. The other panes in that opened crate are just sitting there, waiting for installation, and there are at least two other unopened crates in the same area.

@stevenfierberg457

2 жыл бұрын

It does seem to be a problem. Maybe they're just too big to be safely installed. It's a concern

@patrickkenny2077

2 жыл бұрын

Those are very large and expensive panes of glass, likely in the $30-50k range each. The installation is complicated, not to state the obvious: they need to get the process down and make sure everything is correct. Not something you want to rush.

@lengould9262

2 жыл бұрын

Could indicate a fit/ fab problem, have to get engineering out from the factory to work out a solution.

@tgoregon

2 жыл бұрын

Hanging the window is only one part of installing a huge complex custom window like this. I’d guess waiting for inspection and approval from the architects. They may also be altering the installation procedures and getting that approved with a dozen stakeholders. *** My bet is that there is an unexpected difference in color or something from the other windows on the building. (different manufacturer) ***

The Bobcat project area looks like getting closer to actual construction getting started.

@LinasVepstas

2 жыл бұрын

Not to me. The lithium supplier screwed up, and forgot to get permits. It will take a year or two to get those, and the cathode plant is useless without lithium to feed it. I think that's why they delayed construction. (Tesla is probably looking for another lithium supplier too, but I think they're all booked, full-up.)

Thank you

Merci👍👍👍

@ 2:39 probably will be used for storage right now.

Will the rains start up soon, it would seem if they can get the next two to three weeks with only light rain it will be clear sailing after that.

@DavidJohnson-tv2nn

2 жыл бұрын

The problem is they have the whole central alley. And no working central storm drain. Not a chance of the central drain being finished due to the foundation work (They just got done ripping out several hundred feet). That drain drains a good portion of the roof. But you are right regarding the east and west side. Those drains are working.

@robertcase4995

2 жыл бұрын

The rainy season was earlier. It should be dry now.

@ 2:01 and 12:06 (Left side of screen) My guess is that this stormwater pipe will go west all the way across the existing pond and connect with the river outlets on the other side. Though it may stop at the pond edge for now. Since the pond has to be filled in in order to continue across it. Note: River outlets are barely visible alongside the road. NOT the two pipes by the excavator.

10:55 Gash on bottom left in the green paneling. Been there for about a week with the insulation just flopping around.

@DavidJohnson-tv2nn

2 жыл бұрын

I'll bet nobody knows who did it :)

@dalerichardson7202

2 жыл бұрын

@@DavidJohnson-tv2nn when I first noticed it, I thought it could have been damaged by a passing crane. but on some videos it's clear it's a clean cut. if it were a rip damage, the green would have been more jagged and crumpled.

@DavidJohnson-tv2nn

2 жыл бұрын

@@dalerichardson7202 That's was my first thought, a crane swiped it. But you do have a point.

@LinasVepstas

2 жыл бұрын

There used to be a temporary transformer on a pad there, just outside the green sheathing. Visible a few months ago. They tore into the sheathing to remove the electrical lines. The transformer is now gone, too, but I think the cement pad it sat on might still be there. The horizontal gash might be related to that. Seems in the right place for some kind of horizontal run of the temporary electrical wiring.

@DessieDoolan

2 жыл бұрын

They removed a line of wall sheets to access the frame in behind. Likely as part of the work required for part of whatever is being built in the alleyway.

Cybertruck 8000 ton press my guess

RE- Giga casting machines, two questions: Are the two foundations currently under construction intended for machines 4 & 5? I ask, because I have a memory that the foundation for casting machine #4 may have been completed several weeks ago [edit: counting the vertical columns in the view at 4:33 indicates plenty of space for foundation #4 from weeks ago. 2nd Edit: view at 5.35 confirms the *plausibility* of this theory.) and therefore these current foundations under construction in prep for concrete pouring are for machines #s 5 & 6....or am I dreaming this? Second those rear castings with the large spaces.....they look suspiciously like they're designed for a structural battery pack to be installed....only way I can see the system providing enough vehicle rigidity. This seems plausible because the present 2170 cells are only 10 mm shorter than the final 4680 cells will be, so I presume it's a relatively straight-forward design adaptation to grow the structural pack 10 mm when the 4680 cells are finally pressed into service....unless we're at the moment as we speak (is it possible?) Other thoughts?

@robertcase4995

2 жыл бұрын

That is my memory they dug a foundation for press #4 under the first half of the roof.

I wonder if they will change out any of the lattice transmission towers to monopoles; it seems like a few really get in the way.

@lengould9262

2 жыл бұрын

If they were going to do that, it would have been the first thing done. Not much point now.

@patrickkenny2077

2 жыл бұрын

@@lengould9262 It takes time to get that stuff coordinated and executed; a year or so would not be an unreasonable timeline.

So curious to find out what’s going on inside the building when you have a row of 50 porta pottys how many people are busy at work inside 200? 400? The photos from the next earnings report are going to be mind blowing

@LinasVepstas

2 жыл бұрын

You dropped a zero. One may count the number of cars in the lot.

@jasemashkanani

2 жыл бұрын

@@LinasVepstas unreal, this factor is going to be massive. Curious to see where it will rank among the largest auto manufacturing buildings in the world.

Maybe they are learning how to build the foundations more efficiently.

Did the guys installing the HVAC systems above the battery facility retire?

@aforman1951

2 жыл бұрын

There are sections just west that have been assembled awaiting installation. Will need a larger crane to reach.

@fargom54

2 жыл бұрын

@@aforman1951 Thanks for the quick response. My apologies for the flip remark. Do you know how many different areas will have HVAC systems installed?

@05:20 Surprising to see a plain forklift moving casings, risking damaging them. To move and stack casings, are there custom forklift supports and racks?

@dranthonyv5475

2 жыл бұрын

Castings …

@dalerichardson7202

2 жыл бұрын

@@dranthonyv5475 You can edit your comment by hovering mouse over the right side of the comment (on a pc it's a vertical three dot. Not sure on a phone or mac. And these things ARE castings, so a fork lift would have to hit them pretty hard to damage them. After all, these 400 lb chunks of metal are designed to hold up in crashes and support an entire 4000 lb car.

@dranthonyv5475

2 жыл бұрын

@@dalerichardson7202 Thank you. I appreciate your edit hint and comment. It’s just comforting to fantasize that some day soon one of those beautiful, high pressure Al castings could be inside my CT or Y. I’d hate to have any of their fine features or mounting tabs broken (definitely an OCD type fatigue symptom).

@dalerichardson7202

2 жыл бұрын

@@dranthonyv5475 no worries. Now that I think about it, they are probably less than 400 lbs. If you want to really freak out, go watch a recent Tesla Fremont flyover. They literally have 1000s of them stacked around the entire facility. This aluminum casting won't bend/deform. It will break first. I sincerely believe scratching them is incredibly difficult. It's probably why Tesla is so lackadaisical about how they treat them.

@LinasVepstas

2 жыл бұрын

@@dalerichardson7202 There is also a theory that the ones that we see, on the dirt, are bound for recycling. Basically, they have to calibrate pressures on about 50 pumps to get the casting just so, and during bring-up, most castings are defective. Question in my mind is: why don't they have a shredder on site, and just feed the bad castings into the shredder, and right back into the furnace? Seems like the obvious solution...

Thanks for the great update. Isn’t Idra building a larger Gigapress for the Cybertruck? It would likely need more reinforcement. This probably why the Cybertruck is delayed until late next year

@acmefixer1

2 жыл бұрын

The Cybertruck needs special steel and the steel company is building a new steel plant nearby. Probably has more to do with the Cybertruck delay.

@davidharris7249

2 жыл бұрын

4680 battery supply is likely the most limiting factor.

So is the battery plant part of the main building or is it going to be separate like Berlin and has it started?

@LinasVepstas

2 жыл бұрын

Part of the main building, its the northwest corner.

@LinasVepstas

2 жыл бұрын

The cathode plant, for refining lithium, has not been started. It's the large storage area to the east. I don't think Berlin has a cathode plant. Apparently, the lithium supplier that Tesla signed a contract with forgot to file for mining permits! They were supposed to be getting ore out of the ground about now, but that won't happen for a few years, now. The local regulatory agency says they're ready to approve the permits and are happy to do so, but none have been filed!

Why does everyone call the machine that creates the large single castings a "press"? It is not a press. Presses, take sheet metal and form in under pressure, by pressing it. These parts are high pressure die castings, so if you want to call the machine anything it would be a Giga Casting machine.

@DessieDoolan

2 жыл бұрын

That what IDRA (the manufacturer) calls them. Idra video here: kzread.info/dash/bejne/dGmayMqHlLW9dso.html

Do you think Tesla will have retail sales on site ? Thanks for sharing.

@TyPope

2 жыл бұрын

No. They can't legally sell in Tesla. They can show you cars but can't talk price. At least, that's what I remember about it.

@robertcase4995

2 жыл бұрын

@@TyPope in Texas!

The new casting machine want be bigger

@ 8:41 Why dig out on both sides of a retaining wall?

@mikezwonitzer7184

2 жыл бұрын

they are preping it for grass

@LinasVepstas

2 жыл бұрын

@@mikezwonitzer7184 Not likely, they'll need all the parking they can get. But also, building integrity is helped by keeping the foundations dry, i.e. by having an apron all around the building.

Lot of scrap Mouldings wonder what the rate is don't think its mastered yet.

@LinasVepstas

2 жыл бұрын

There are something like 50 different pumps that are injecting aluminum into the mold. The pressures on each have to be adjusted just so. In the meantime, lots of scrap is produced.

@ 5:24 I will never buy a car containing castings until they have a proven safety record and a proven reparability record. Right now, the only thing known is that they save the manufacturer money.

@Russ1956

2 жыл бұрын

Actually, you rant against Tesla and Musk pretty consistently and you are only here to see the building construction (as you frequently say). So it's irrelevant whether the car uses castings or not, you won't be buying a Tesla. Isn't that right? It doesn't matter whether you buy one or not, many others will.

@PhrugalPhan

2 жыл бұрын

I think the safety testing has shown they are perfectly safe. As for reparability you may have a point, but are you that bad of a driver you are constantly damaging the framework of your car? I have driven over 40 years and never damaged my car that the base framework needed a repair. YMMV (or in your case: Your Wrecks May Vary)

@dalerichardson7202

2 жыл бұрын

David, you choice of "cars not containing castings" is going to get limited pretty fast as this looks to be like the new wave of bigger parts. kzread.info/dash/bejne/omSfqLxyc7myfso.html Here, Sandy is showing the huge aluminum MachE rear casting as it compares to the Tesla rear steel frame assembly. So, I guess this means Ford's are no longer in you buying path.

@DavidJohnson-tv2nn

2 жыл бұрын

@@Russ1956 I just hope these castings don't spread like a virus to other manufactures. At least not until they are proven to be safe and repairable.

@DavidJohnson-tv2nn

2 жыл бұрын

@@PhrugalPhan I would prefer real world safety data. On reparability you miss the point. When you spend $50,000 on a product, it should be repairable. Or at the very least, not less repairable than existing cars.