Hi guys,
I think I am just about done with the Aleph series design; at least for the first go round. I knew I wanted to include a 1" OD head in the group and a couple months ago, I drew up some reflectors to get quoted. Since I had no confidence in my ability to draw a reflector that would work, I decided to wait until I got samples of the 38 mm reflector to see if I was even in the ball park. I designed a 17 mm reflector based on the physical size of the NX05 because I figured it would be a natural as a drop in replacement for some of the existing TIR optic lights. I also designed an extension on the same parabolic curve that stepped in segments up to a final OD of 25 mm. I figured it would be cool to have a larger reflector that could be "chopped" to suit. While I was in a holding pattern waiting for the 38 to be made, the IMS reflectors hit the scene and I began to doubt if I had any reason to pursue my own design. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon15.gif I told the reflector mfg rep that I was willing to commit to a production order on these reflectors only if I could buy a sample, uncoated, to gauge the beam pattern. If the reflector was satisfactory, I would continue on with an order. By this time, I knew that I was going to design a 1" head using the ES light engine and either one of my reflectors or an IMS. I got the raw and partially polished reflector samples yesterday.
I really only needed the 25 mm as it could have been cut down to the 17 mm but due to poor communications, I got samples in both sizes. The 25 mm works pretty darn good but I felt that it was too similar to the 27 mm to bother with a new head design for it. I decided to chop it down to 20.6 mm which I felt would still leave me enough room for packaging within a 1" OD head. To my untrained eye, my reflector is very similar to the IMS 17 and 20 in outward appearance. I think my reflector has a slightly longer focal length but then again, the IMS are not parabolic to start with. In terms of lux and beam angle, I believe I am very close in parity to the IMS but the proof will be in final production parts with the reflective coating. I also realized that by designing around a 20 mm reflector, I could always install a 17 mm with an extension tube spacer in front of it in the head if a broader beam angle were desired. In the spirit of the McLux, this head could serve as host to optics, 17 mm and even a McFlood reflector. When I get a chance, I want to make such an extension spacer and see how it looks and works. However, I am real pleased with the 20 mm reflector and figure that it is most likely what will be used in this new head.
This 20 mm reflector is slightly larger in diameter compared to the KL4 and Arc 4 reflector and is a bit deeper as well. Although the beam angles are similar, there seems to be less divergence with the 20 mm and I think it will likely out distance the other two, ceterus paribus.
I think I am just about done with the Aleph series design; at least for the first go round. I knew I wanted to include a 1" OD head in the group and a couple months ago, I drew up some reflectors to get quoted. Since I had no confidence in my ability to draw a reflector that would work, I decided to wait until I got samples of the 38 mm reflector to see if I was even in the ball park. I designed a 17 mm reflector based on the physical size of the NX05 because I figured it would be a natural as a drop in replacement for some of the existing TIR optic lights. I also designed an extension on the same parabolic curve that stepped in segments up to a final OD of 25 mm. I figured it would be cool to have a larger reflector that could be "chopped" to suit. While I was in a holding pattern waiting for the 38 to be made, the IMS reflectors hit the scene and I began to doubt if I had any reason to pursue my own design. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon15.gif I told the reflector mfg rep that I was willing to commit to a production order on these reflectors only if I could buy a sample, uncoated, to gauge the beam pattern. If the reflector was satisfactory, I would continue on with an order. By this time, I knew that I was going to design a 1" head using the ES light engine and either one of my reflectors or an IMS. I got the raw and partially polished reflector samples yesterday.
I really only needed the 25 mm as it could have been cut down to the 17 mm but due to poor communications, I got samples in both sizes. The 25 mm works pretty darn good but I felt that it was too similar to the 27 mm to bother with a new head design for it. I decided to chop it down to 20.6 mm which I felt would still leave me enough room for packaging within a 1" OD head. To my untrained eye, my reflector is very similar to the IMS 17 and 20 in outward appearance. I think my reflector has a slightly longer focal length but then again, the IMS are not parabolic to start with. In terms of lux and beam angle, I believe I am very close in parity to the IMS but the proof will be in final production parts with the reflective coating. I also realized that by designing around a 20 mm reflector, I could always install a 17 mm with an extension tube spacer in front of it in the head if a broader beam angle were desired. In the spirit of the McLux, this head could serve as host to optics, 17 mm and even a McFlood reflector. When I get a chance, I want to make such an extension spacer and see how it looks and works. However, I am real pleased with the 20 mm reflector and figure that it is most likely what will be used in this new head.
This 20 mm reflector is slightly larger in diameter compared to the KL4 and Arc 4 reflector and is a bit deeper as well. Although the beam angles are similar, there seems to be less divergence with the 20 mm and I think it will likely out distance the other two, ceterus paribus.