Maybe they do not understand what production means.
Tom is absolutely right. Anyone with any manufacturing experience knows that there are various steps to reach final production...even if it is just the first pilot run. It is a long and expensive endeavor because at each step there (should be) rigorous testing for each working prototype even before tools are even built for the production units. Then even after the off-tool samples are built there is more testing and, in some cases, tool modifications design changes, etc. Within that process, if you have something that is proven, you file for a patent to protect your idea. Most importantly though, an R&D firm DOES NOT go into production.
Now based on what we have seen over the years, it is easy to assume that Cyclone has no manufacturing experience or understanding. Harry probably thinks that FMEA is the Government agency that takes care of you after a natural disaster. But I think the Cyclone problem is more serious than that:
I believe that they know that they have a lemon. They have always known it. It is not a matter of being incompetent it is a matter of deceit. They sold a dream to investors and then realized quickly that the engine in any form would not work. But they got hooked on the money and exposure (Popular Mechanics, How It's Made)that having something revolutionary brings. To keep it going however, they needed to find more investors and money and sell more lies.
Now, working on one engine and trying to sell lies gets old quickly and you get found out quickly. Besides, not everyone may want your "technical marvel" in its current form so you make up iterations based on the "proven" first engine. You then start selling those ideas. This is how you spend more on admin than engineering. Most of the money goes to selling the next big thing and a little actually goes to the engines. This is because you know that they do not work and you can lament that you lacked funds to do all you could with it.
That is how you end up with a small "R&D" company with 6 engines that are "ready for production" but only if we could get the funding. And a race car with an engine that would hit Mach 5 if only we had the funding.
This is why there was never any real diagnostic equipment in the shop and the engine videos never showed actual useful output.
...and do not even get me started on the whole Cyclone Power paying Schoell marine for services and they have the same owner. I do not want to see the financials for Cyclone, I want to see the ones for Schoell Marine.
-Chuck
