Introducing the 007 Tri-V CPF

[jch79]

Dave,

Love the progress pics and reading your thought processes on this. Very exciting that you already have proto parts in the works.

I have a 1/32" endmill for routing my logo into a ukulele headstock (which I've yet to do) - when it came, I thought the drill portion of it broke off, it's so thin!

john

[fasteddie]

I just re-read this thread. Besides having a totally unique look, this light may make everthing else I have obsolete. It covers every lighting need I can think of in one frame. I've had every other spy, I'm definitely in for one or two of these. Aluminum would be nice. Even now, I find that I prefer to carry a lighter weight upgraded 005 rather than the heavier 007.

[Long RunTime]

It will be a few weeks yet. I am making knobs right now and then it is on to the heads. Mike is making bodies and battery caps so we are getting there.


Cheers
Dave

I might have to get these 007 first, I have a feeling these Tri-V CPF will have a price tag >$1,500

[fisk-king]

I might have to get these 007 first, I have a feeling these Tri-V CPF will have a price tag >$1,500

guess I need to start saving

hopefully they will not arrive to soon. a beautiful flashlight Data.

[MSaxatilus]

Did I read somewhere/something about optics in this new light?!?!







MSax

[koala]

It seems I could hardly sleep on it now. Drawing me dangerously close... must keep myself from coming in to dave's forum...

[fasteddie]

This forum is the bug zapper to my wallets moth.

[da.gee]

You got to be kidding me. Talk about the ultimate light. Nice work so far.

[London Lad]

[Data]

The Tri-V prototype did make it to the photon fest, but just barely. I finished it that afternoon. If you want to see a pic of the finished head, look at Wade's Twitter in the PF12 thread. It is not the best pic so I will be getting some shots done soon and post them here.

That was Saturday and since then I have been thinking about all the great feedback I got there. I was genuinely surprised but the bottom line is that they think I should make some of these. I take it from the response here some of you agree.

From my playing with and carrying it around for the last week I am liking it too, especially the aspheric. We went driving in the country (we live in the country so we did not have to go far ) and it worked great as a deer spotter. I switched back and forth between the regular reflector head and the aspheric, what a treat to have such throw in an EDC. I do not like blowing my own horn so that is all I will say about this.

For now I will continue to refine this concept and bounce all the ideas and design changes off of you guys and lets just see where it goes.

There are quite a few details to work out before I can decide if this can be turned into a product. Most just deal with assembly issues and finishing off the lens on the reflector head.

One more thing, most people want a shroud/bezel to protect the MC-E dome. I have decided it would be nice to have too. Also, the shroud could act as a shield to push more of the light to one direction. I am thinking of something like a shield they used to put on car headlights many years ago. Any thoughts?


Cheers
Dave

[Data]

Did I read somewhere/something about optics in this new light?!?!







MSax

If I make one for you, I will pull that precision ground glass dual optical coated aspheric out of yours and replace it with a plastic TIR.

[Kiessling]

With a "little" modification you cound fit all three light sources under one lens, making assambly easier, too.

Great concept. A revolutionary light.

[Data]

With a "little" modification you cound fit all three light sources under one lens, making assambly easier, too.

Great concept. A revolutionary light.

bernie, it is funny you say that cuz I keep thinking that too but as I push for the details it gets so complicated.

[chipwillis]

You know I'm down for one. If I remember correctly the old cars had a chrome ring that was placed over part of the headlight. I think Volkswagon used them on the bugs. I think that would give the Spy a really nice look. Can't wait to see more.

[London Lad]

I am thinking of the chrome 'peak' or 'eyebrow' that sat at the top of the headlight?

I am definitely up for one of these. I love the 'weird' looking layout, all the leds under one lens would be clever but far too 'normal'

[Data]

Yea, that could look good. I will draw the eyelid up in CAD and post a pic so we can see if it goes.

[karlthev]

Sure wanted to see this in the flesh today but, too many commitments to get over your way... I remember the eyelids.....



Karl

[Cuso]

So, wheres the record button??

[saabgoblin]

That light looks like it's standard issue for all new Borg inductees. I know, Star Trek Geek!

[UnderTheWeepingMoon]

I just sold my 005 earlier in the week and am putting away a little bit each week for this light. I'm already missing the 005. Hopefully I'll have enough saved by the time this light is ready for release.

[kaichu dento]

bernie, it is funny you say that cuz I keep thinking that too but as I push for the details it gets so complicated.

If putting them all under one lens is possible but difficult, would it be easier to do with two lenses?

[littlerm]

Nice with the bi ooseven you could make a magnetic ayspheric holder to switch optics around

[fasteddie]

How about a grid or screen for protection? It would be close enough to the emitter so that it might not cast a shadow but merely difuse the light a little. I think I'd rather have that than lose part of the coverage. I'm thinking lantern use. In any case, I'm excited about it and cant wait to get one.

[gollum]

I like the three lenses,makes it look technically superior kinda.
but maybe a beermat sketch of what a single lens looks like?
I so want one and I'll have to save very hard,hopefully we'll have some time to save for it ???

[easilyled]

I like the three lenses,makes it look technically superior kinda.
but maybe a beermat sketch of what a single lens looks like?
I so want one and I'll have to save very hard,hopefully we'll have some time to save for it ???

Given the complexity of this project, I think its fairly safe to assume that there will still be quite a long lead time before
these make it into production.

[MSaxatilus]

If I make one for you, I will pull that precision ground glass dual optical coated aspheric out of yours and replace it with a plastic TIR.

Just the way I like it.... extra ringy!

Data, great work as always and you can count me in for one. I'll be watch this thread intently.

MSax

[Data]

. . . but maybe a beermat sketch of what a single lens looks like?
. . .

There is no sketch, I can't figure a good way to do it. The limiting issue is size. I wanted this Tri-V to not change the 007's dimensions.

If you put a round head on big enough to hold all this stuff, it would be huge! I am afraid it would not match the 007 lines either.

I did model a couple shields for the MC-E but got off track when the forums went down Saturday and I need to get back to it (BTW, thanks Greta and DM51 for getting us rolling again). One of them looks like an SLR lens shield. I will get them posted soon so you can give me your thoughts on them.

Cheers
Dave

[Rudi]

Dave, on the prototype you recently tested, how did you choose to program the six clicks?

[Data]

Dave, on the prototype you recently tested, how did you choose to program the six clicks?

Rudi, I will lay out what I did but it is by no means the best config for my liking. Have you thought about what you would try? If so please post it here and I may give it a spin.

At PF12 I had only one emitter on at a time. The code was hard wired cuz I did not have time to program anything else. So this is the only config I could play with and show to everybody.

Power level 1 was MC-E @ 3mA (flood)
Power level 2 was MC-E @ 30mA (flood)
Power level 3 was MC-E @ 1000mA (flood
Power level 4 was Rebel @ 250mA (reflector)
Power level 5 was Rebel @ 1000mA (reflector)
Power level 6 was XR-E @ 1500mA (aspheric)

The good: The Aspheric on level 6 is a winner. This really rocks and I don't see a need to have this on any other power level. It was set at 1500mA because I only have the one MK-II and I did not want to blow it up. However on the production board, I would set this at 2000mA with an auto cut back to 1000mA after a minute or so.

The bad: The flood starting on level 1 all by itself was just so different than a regular SPY that I did not get used to it yet. Maybe it would be better if the flood and the reflector were on together. Or maybe it would be better to start with a few levels of reflector only. I just do not know because I did not have time to try any other configurations yet.

The more I think about it the more options come to mind and I am anxious to try them all out. That can't happen right now because I riped the proto apart to do more testing on the MK-II. When we get done with the tests, Wayne will have a small batch of near production boards done and populated. Then I can try to blow a couple of them up.


Cheers
Dave

[Data]

Given the complexity of this project, I think its fairly safe to assume that there will still be quite a long lead time before
these make it into production.

That's a safe bet.