manufacturing flashlights

[Nite]

whats cnc stand for?

ha is hard anodizing

whats needed to make these aluminum tubes we use for our surefire compatible lights?

anyone know the basic steps?

with demand so high how come so few people make them?

its a metal tube which also must serve as a conductor! and feel good in your hand!

 

[Marduke]

whats cnc stand for?

Try searching
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cnc

 

[Rossymeister]

whats cnc stand for? Computer Numerically Controlled

ha is hard anodizing

whats needed to make these aluminum tubes we use for our surefire compatible lights? Lathe, Mill, Tap and Die, A Creative Mind

anyone know the basic steps? Ask That Question Here.

with demand so high how come so few people make them? Not Sure

its a metal tube which also must serve as a conductor! and feel good in your hand!

.

 

[Rossymeister]

Also, A Good CAD Program Is A Must!

 

[Gunner12]

Do you mean custom lights or lights in general?

Also remember that the general public doesn't know the difference between 5mm and high power LED, much less Current vs last gen LED and the ligths we discuss here.

 

[Nite]

Im afraid I must admit I am one of the general public, but I carry a SF P91 with leefbody 2x 18500, and a jetbeam MK1 IBS as a backup.

Do you mean custom lights or lights in general?

Also remember that the general public doesn't know the difference between 5mm and high power LED, much less Current vs last gen LED and the ligths we discuss here.

now How would someone find somebody to make alot of flashlight bodies? In the USA!

just a thought...dad asked.

 

[Rossymeister]

Im afraid I must admit I am one of the general public, but I carry a SF P91 with leefbody 2x 18500, and a jetbeam MK1 IBS as a backup.



now How would someone find somebody to make alot of flashlight bodies? In the USA!

just a thought...dad asked.

If You Could Draw Up A Design, A Machine Shop Would Take Care Of It.

 

[Nite]

.

wow thanks

 

[Nite]

is this it?
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?p=2170586#post2170586

 

[Marduke]

One of many. There are tens of thousands of shops capable of doing such work.

 

[Illum]

Also, A Good CAD Program Is A Must!

theres pretty broad distinction between a CAD [computer aided design] software and CAM [computer aided manufacturing] software

 

[kramer5150]

whats cnc stand for?
Computer numeric control. In regards to machining and fabricating parts, Computers are used to numerically control the feed, speed, RPM and depth of cutting tools in a multi-axis coordinate system.

ha is hard anodizing
Yes


whats needed to make these aluminum tubes we use for our surefire compatible lights?
They can be made any number of ways. Typically body tubes are spun on a lathe from Aluminum bar stock. The can also be cast. From there secondary machining operations cut threads, mill flats... and do other odds and ends to complete the design



anyone know the basic steps?
I for one do not. There are a lot of trade secrets I'm sure, that are kept a secret.

with demand so high how come so few people make them?
Tooling investments outweigh the sales volume forecast. The return of investment is not immediate enough to attract.


its a metal tube which also must serve as a conductor! and feel good in your hand!
Well... theres more to it than that, but physically thats the gist of it.

Theres some cool footage in this vid...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Sw_uHNiywc

00:41!!! Ooooh me want one!!

Look up "lathe operation" and "CNC machining" on youtube. Lots of really cool vids of cutting tools in action.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyC9NAsIt3E&feature=related

 

[Rothrandir]

There are a few people/companies out there selling custom bodies, but I think for the most part there is simply not enough interest, or willing buyers for such an item. By the time you design something, pay to have a run machined, anodized, etc etc etc, it turns out to be quite a bit more expensive than you might think.

If you were to draw up a nice design and take it to a machine shop (you probably have several in your city), you might be surprised at the amount of money it would cost you to simply have the bodies cut.

The Chinese can manufacture a complete light for similar cost to what you'd pay to have the bodies made here in America.