What are the differences between A30 and A30s?

This blog post explains the precise differences between these two variants and provides our recommendation.

As many are likely wondering when to choose the A30 and when the A30s, we've compiled a brief guide for you. First, however, let's quickly review the essential differences and the rationale behind this new model.

Why A30s?

We are also continuously learning and, over time, have developed an increasingly comprehensive understanding of other manufacturers' products. Furthermore, we have an ever-growing pool of individuals who provide us with practical feedback and point out aspects that are difficult to identify during testing.

This, combined with our own (at times perfectionistic) ambition to build an even better system than the A30, prompted us to fundamentally consider an additional model line. However, we have also come to understand that a great product is useless if there isn't a customer base for it.

So, who needs it? Well, we repeatedly encounter customers who are very sensitive to haptics and for whom 'good' is simply not good enough. The A30s is our answer to that. And yes, this model series is our response to all the other manufacturers and their top models out there. And I would say we've succeeded quite well.

differences

From the outset, the focus was on haptics. Everything else, in our opinion, is 'nice to have' but offers no benefit to the customer and does not justify a higher price. We put the entire A30 back on the test bench and meticulously examined every single surface that is or could be haptically relevant.

No, we won't reveal the details, but many small things were relevant. It largely involves corner radii of approximately 0.1 mm, which we precisely scan on the component using small ball-end mills on our 5-axis machining centers (as the expert would say). The advantage is that no one can quickly replicate this, as it is very complex and requires significant machine runtime. By the way: If someone tells you they can achieve the same result with vibratory finishing, ask if their abrasive media can reach the small corners of the components – our 1mm ball-end mill is incredibly diligent in precisely those corners 😎

Finally, it should be mentioned that instead of the previous 2 process steps between plasma nitriding and PVD coating, we now implement 5 process steps. During development, we conducted and evaluated various experiments with countless roughness measurements over the course of a month. Ultimately, there were over 300 measurement protocols, the evaluation of which provided us with the relevant insights. The result is 5 harmonized process steps that ensure an almost ideal surface.

decision aid

I always tell our customers that anyone who understands the concept of haptics, or who is simply sensitive, who is active in PRS or NRL hunting, who often needs or wants to repeat quickly—all of them should choose the A30s.

You should also keep in mind the absolutely fair price difference. Yes, at the end of the day, it's your hard-earned money. Considering the total cost of such a project, my recommendation is still to choose the A30s—you won't regret it!

Oh, and if you simply want a TiN-coated bolt for aesthetic reasons, you don't have a choice anyway 😉