ASML delighted LEGO fans when it began selling a LEGO model of its computer chip manufacturing machine, then canceled the orders.
  • Zachariah@lemmy.worldEnglish
    10·
    2 days ago

    Dutch-headquartered computer chip manufacturer ASML plainly underestimated how interested the world would be in a LEGO version of its TWINSCAN EXE:5000 machine, which is used to manufacture computer chips and was unveiled earlier this year. It prints super-fine details on chips down to an 8mm size. In non-computer lingo, that’s seriously small and seriously impressive. No wonder so many people bought the $228 LEGO kit when it went on sale on December 1.

    Problem was, ASML only meant it to be available to its own employees, and it sold out like a golden Taylor Swift ticket. So yesterday, ASML canceled the orders, according to reporting by Tom’s Hardware, which itself was sparked by a tweet from user John Masters. For that crossover slice of LEGO fans and computer fans, it’s gonna be a sour Christmas.

    …

    • Zahille7@lemmy.worldEnglish
      4·
      2 days ago

      I figured it was some kind of company gift thing. I’ve seen other stuff like this online where big companies will either design or have Lego design a small set based on something the company is famous for, and give them as gifts to the employees at Christmas events and such.

      Imo I think it’s a neat idea, especially for very technical stuff like this (there was also the set of the Minifig Machine a couple years back).