With the usual ~70 Day turn-around for Chips that puts you a little past mid January for your first silicone.
the usual 70 day turn-around is for people who don't pay extra to the fab to expedite the process
Turn around is commonly closer to 60 days, and we are expediting the process in several different ways. Ever since mock tape out we have been streamlining every piece of the manufacturing process so that we can deliver at break neck speed as soon as we receive chips.
Isn't that risky? It's like one guy wood carving the male end of a piece hoping it'll fit into the shape that this other guy is wood carving in a different building without the two seeing exactly what the other is doing.
If it doesn't go right, then a new tape-out must begin?