Low profile bezel rings

[TranquillityBase]

A friend asked if I could make some low profile, non-crenelated bezel rings, and instead of sending photos via PM, or email, to show examples of my progress...I decided to start a thread. Everybody loves photos...

The ring on the HDS has a thicker reveal than the McG UV light, and my TB light. The rings in the second photo are the same as the one attached to the HDS, they're just not blasted.

Mini-lathe owners, these are not difficult to make in Ti...the roughing is the only difficult part of the operation...If you can drill and bore the I.D., you're home free.

 

[cave dave]

Not a bad idea to make the bezel as minimal as possible. I think most people don't realize how much the after market rings affect the spill angle. Going from a stock HDS ring to a McGizmo Ti ring reduced the spill angle from 69 Deg to 60 deg. At 10 ft the reduction in the total beam width would be 2.2 ft. Thats a beam width of 13.8 ft reduced to 11.6 ft (at 10 ft). In terms of area thats a 30% decrease in sq footage covered by the beam. (against a wall at 10ft). The SS bezels at Fenix-store were even worse.

I found this so annoying I went back to the stock bezel ring. I would love to have the additional protection provided by a rugged bezel without having to sacrifice the spill beam.

 

[TranquillityBase]

Not a bad idea to make the bezel as minimal as possible. I think most people don't realize how much the after market rings affect the spill angle. Going from a stock HDS ring to a McGizmo Ti ring reduced the spill angle from 69 Deg to 60 deg. At 10 ft the reduction in the total beam width would be 2.2 ft. Thats a beam width of 13.8 ft reduced to 11.6 ft (at 10 ft). In terms of area thats a 30% decrease in sq footage covered by the beam. (against a wall at 10ft). The SS bezels at Fenix-store were even worse.

I found this so annoying I went back to the stock bezel ring. I would love to have the additional protection provided by a rugged bezel without having to sacrifice the spill beam.

There is a trade off, the McG's and the SS bezel rings that David sells in his Fenix Store are more protective. There's very little chance that those rings will deform from a 3 foot fall on to concrete...The one that is attached to my HDS probably would...how much...I'm not going to test it, but it still would be greater protection than the stock HDS ring.

 

[TranquillityBase]

Here's some photos that will give you an idea 'how to' use all your roughed stock, right to the end...

Photo #1 shows a 'job specific' friction fit mandrel. I use the tailstock to press the parts on, and tap/smack them off with a scrap of hardwood.

Photo #2 shows the turning tool I use for just about everything I make, this is also used for the final facing cut, and a .030" plunge for the thread run-off area.

Photo #3 shows the parting operation.

Photo #4 shows pure luck, in parting blade sharpening...normally the thin ring is stuck to one of the parts.



#1

#2

#3

#4

 

[RCatR]

Gorgeous lathe work!:twothumbs

 

[TranquillityBase]

Gorgeous lathe work!:twothumbs

Thank you...

These projects don't always turn out, pretty-as-the-pictures...but it's always because I'm not being patient.

The press mandrel works very well for subsequent operations, just be carefull not to creep the mandrel in the chuck when pressing a part on to the mandrel, and the part location will remain dead-on, or good enough for this stuff.

 

[kenster]

Very nice TB and thanks for adding the pics. :thumbsup: I really like that 6 jaw chuck of yours! :rock: Although, it must have cost a pretty penny.

*** EDIT***

BTW, A taller, thicker bezel does block the beam a little and should protect things better if the light were dropped but in a Multi LED/reflector light like my Trilux Aleph 3, it can cause the "Wankel Rotary Engine Effect" as you can see in this beamshot

 

[TranquillityBase]

Very nice TB and thanks for adding the pics. :thumbsup: I really like that 6 jaw chuck of yours! :rock: Although, it must have cost a pretty penny.

I don't remember the exact figure, but I believe the chuck was around $700 with the adapter plate...I do remember it was a screamin' good deal...retail for the chuck, without the adapter plate was over $1000.

 

[kenster]

Scott, $1,000 is more than I paid for my Lathe which came with a 3 jaw and a 4 jaw chuck. I still plan on buying a 6 jaw chuck one of these days. Hopefully, it will be a 6" - 6 jaw chuck.

 

[Morelite]

Great work TB, an awesome way to use up those stubs. :twothumbs

 

[TranquillityBase]

Great work TB, an awesome way to use up those stubs. :twothumbs

Thanks D...

The press fit fixture is excellent for small, springy parts...