D10 CLIPS ARE HERE!!

[Kanai]

Got my D10 clip today. I really like my EDC lights with clips. I think the clip design is really thought out. It is nice and seems strong.

 

[Armed_Forces]

..just got my clip. FINALLY ! ! !



Here's a crappy cell phone pic to give everyone an idea of what they look like installed on a D10:

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P.S. To everyone that is/will have trouble installing this clip, it is helpful to squeeze the circular portion carefully in a vise so that the radius better matches the flashlight body. The supplied hex wrench is a P.O.S. and I would highly suggest using one of better quality. The shiny finish can be dulled with wet/dry 400 grit sandpaper or a Scotchbrite pad. While you're at it, clean up the edges with a file to remove the die marks resulting from the stamping process. Because of the limited thread engagement I added some Loctite 242 to ensure a long lasting relationship with my D10. I'm just sick like that. :p


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[pyro]

What material are these?

 

[Youfoundnemo]

stainless steal

 

[EngrPaul]

Actually, I would suggest against making the clip match the curvature of the light before installing.

The reason is the screw has a very short free length. It's not enough length to get a good preload on the screw by itself.

A typical screw or bolt generates an axial load by the fact the screw stretches when installed. This axial load maintains the friction that keeps the screw from working it's way out.

Since the clip is more flat than the light, tightening the screw causes the clip to move closer to the curvature of the light body, generating a force by the spring rate of the entire clip width.

This gives you a healthy, maintained spring force which will keep the screws from loosening over time.

The only trouble is getting the right allen key. It must be metric (1mm?), my local Sears didn't have anything hex that worked (1/32" was just as bad as the one supplied, .050" was too big). The closest thing was a T6, which is hexalobular. But it still fits in and will allow more tightening.

P.S. To everyone that is/will have trouble installing this clip, it is helpful to squeeze the circular portion carefully in a vise so that the radius better matches the flashlight body.

 

[Armed_Forces]

Actually, I would suggest against making the clip match the curvature of the light before installing.

The reason is the screw has a very short free length. It's not enough length to get a good preload on the screw by itself.

A typical screw or bolt generates an axial load by the fact the screw stretches when installed. This axial load maintains the friction that keeps the screw from working it's way out.

Since the clip is more flat than the light, tightening the screw causes the clip to move closer to the curvature of the light body, generating a force by the spring rate of the entire clip width.

This gives you a healthy, maintained spring force which will keep the screws from loosening over time.

Sorry Paul, but I'm disinclined to agree with you.

The reason to squeeze the clip to better match the radius of the flashlight is to allow the screws to line up with the backing plate and thus prevent the average person from cross threading the screws while trying to wrestle with that little ******* of a clip. As the clip is currently manufactured the holes do not line up as they should.


I also disagree with the idea of having the clip exert additional tension to keep the screws from loosening. As you correctly stated, it is bolt stretch that keeps a fastener/bolt from loosening. The axial loads to the threads far exceed any additional force that could be added by any springyness of the clip. Because I doubt sufficient torque can be applied to this assembly to keep it from loosening over time is the very reason I suggested Loctite 242.

My primary reason for making this post was because of someone expressing their difficulty in trying to install their new clip on a different thread.


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[EngrPaul]

OK, we have different perspectives on it.

Both might work, but I wouldn't recommend somebody bend the clip and not use loctite.

Mine doesn't require any additional work, materials, or risk... and works with the way the manufacturer designed the clip.

Better for the reader to have all the information than only part of the story... ;)

I do mechanical design and FEA as a career. There's a lot of force available when wrapping that clip around the body, but not much from the screw itself...

 

[Armed_Forces]

OK, we have different perspectives on it.

Both might work, but I wouldn't recommend somebody bend the clip and not use loctite.

Mine doesn't require any additional work, materials, or risk... and works with the way the manufacturer designed the clip.

Better for the reader to have all the information than only part of the story... ;)

I do mechanical design and FEA as a career. There's a lot of force available when wrapping that clip around the body, but not much from the screw itself...

Washers (including "lock washers") and any additional components i.e. a spring clip placed in between a torqued bolt only present a greater likelihood of the fastener loosing. What happens is metal deformation due to vibration and/or stress to the assembly. Once the parts undergo a few stress cycles over time the initial torque value is lost and then it's only a matter of time until you have a failure. The addition of spring force only slightly increased the time to failure and actually hinders achieving the proper torque value in the beginning. Granted, we are only talking about a bloody flashlight clip, but since you brought it up I felt obliged to add my .02. Proper torque with a corresponding fastener stretch is the only thing necessary to prevent loosening. If that can't be achieved due to compromises in materials or lack in precision of manufacture then the only other viable option is an adhesive threadlocker.

Though only speculation, I doubt seriously that there was an intended inclusion of "spring tension" in the design of this clip. Having worked a long time in manufacturing and design within the motorsports industry what you must always strive for is ease of assembly because despite the most careful engineering, all is rendered moot through a botched installation. i.e. cross threading the fasteners.


Everyone reading this shouldn't be overly concerned with their Nitecore clips falling off. Just snug them down and keep an eye out for the screws loosening. Only time will tell. As usual, your mileage may vary due to "variables". Best of luck.


..back to your regularly scheduled broadcast because I'm sure we're boring the readers to death! :D


*edited out a comment I didn't intend to include. I should have proof read better, sorry about that. *

 

[EngrPaul]

Please consider the Belleville washer, which is used to improve fastener preload when inadequate grip length is present, or potential stress relaxation of the items being fastened. These washers are ADDED for reliability!

EXACT same concept as the clip body providing a reaction force when distorted. Instead of the washer being flattened, the clip is being curved.

I digress, let's celebrate, CLIPS ARE HERE! :party:

 

[Lite_me]

Amen to that! My clips arrived today and I'm stoked. I always felt my D10 was lacking something and this was it. My EDC is now complete. The clip has nice pressure and should stay put in my jeans pocket. And the now anti-roll is just as nice. I hate having my lights roll off the table. :candle:

 

[WadeF]

As far as comments about installing the clip, I may not have gone about it the right way, but I don't care. :P I put it on with the included wrench, but found it started to slip and strip the screw heads. I also wasn't getting the screws in tight. So I just grabbed a small torx driver and put a lot of pressure on the screw heads as I turned them in. This bent the base of the clip so it fits snug against the D10's body. I don't see them lossening very easily now. :)

 

[climberkid]

yeah it took me a few minutes but i got it on nice....it wont be coming off anytime soon.

 

[slowhand23]

Anyone try installing the clips on other lights? I'd really like a similar clip on my Fenix LD1 Q5.

 

[foxtrot29]

As far as comments about installing the clip, I may not have gone about it the right way, but I don't care. :P I put it on with the included wrench, but found it started to slip and strip the screw heads. I also wasn't getting the screws in tight. So I just grabbed a small torx driver and put a lot of pressure on the screw heads as I turned them in. This bent the base of the clip so it fits snug against the D10's body. I don't see them lossening very easily now. :)

Look closer -- I thought the same thing, but it looks like it's the included wrench that strips, not the screw heads. At least this was the case with mine.

 

[289]

Look closer -- I thought the same thing, but it looks like it's the included wrench that strips, not the screw heads. At least this was the case with mine.

That is the trouble with 90% of the "stuff" coming the ROC. Low wages are not 100% responsible for low cost goods, inferior materials and loose tolerances play a very big part in the bargains.

I will admit the D10 is way above average quality but I stopped spending money on tools made out East.

 

[foxtrot29]

That is the trouble with 90% of the "stuff" coming the ROC. Low wages are not 100% responsible for low cost goods, inferior materials and loose tolerances play a very big part in the bargains.

I will admit the D10 is way above average quality but I stopped spending money on tools made out East.

lol, I like the clip, but yeah, in most cases I would sooner pay more money and get a higher quality item -- I mean this as a general comment about many goods.

 

[BabyDoc]

I don't know if the clips made for the EX10 are differently made than those for D10, but I installed 2 of these clips on my two EX10s without any major problems. The included hex tool worked great without stripped screw threads or screw heads. It takes a little patience aligning the backing piece with the holes on the light and on the clip and then getting the screws in place, but my clips fit perfectly. I love these clips. They look great on the E10 matching the stainless bezel. The light now clips easily into my shirt pocket. As an added bonus, the clip make it easier to grip the light and it prevents the light from rolling off of a flat surface.

 

[g36pilot]

I too stripped the included allen wrench, but that's better than the screw head. Since it appears tight enough I haven't yet used a quality wrench. If it loosens I will. The extra set of screws is a nice touch.

The EX10 spring clips and mounting hardware are of high quality. The metal quality must be good as I didn't have a cross threading issue with the small screws or threads in my three installations.

 

[divine]

I didn't think I needed to say this:

I've done this on my two EX10's... I tightened it with the included allen wrench. When it got tight and there was still slack in the clip, I used a pair of pliers to squeeze the metal plate to the clip and tightened it more with the included allen wrench. No slipping and it is as tight as it needs to be.

 

[crocodilo]

Same here. Got my EX10 clip (full price, but 4sevens is so great, I won't be asking for any refund, international shipping was already for free), slightly bent the clip with a couple of pliers, and managed to press everything toghether in a very satisfactory way.

A really great light just got better!