MBI #3 - Codename: HF

[the_guy_with_no_name]

Hey my light has made it to the US. It now has departed Nashua, NH. Yes! But smart me when, I preordered this light way back in Oct, I Thought for sure it would be here before I left for Ontario on 12/14! Oh well at least I have my other lights to keep me company on my first vacation in 6 years. Guy don't get me wrong I'm not complaining, it's just one of those things. To all the Canadian members of "TTWNN"(the tribe with no name) let me just say you have a beautiful and very friendly country here! Minett is a wonderful place to visit.

Hi Zandar,

I'm sorry your light didn't make it in time to escort you on your vacation.

Oh Snap! Gotta have one in Ti for my Ti HF RAW. Love that it shows the diode, that's almost pure throw! XP-E? XP-G2? XM-L? Decisions decisions. I think the XM-L is ruled out by it's sheer diode size. So that definately helps narrow it down. But I do really like the diode pattern of the XM-L. Oh boy!

Nice work, can't wait! Thanks for those pics! Do you have a projection on price point for these? I'm dying to know, lol.

Dale

Hi DBC,

The first run of zoom heads will be aluminum until I know the shape/body is ready for the big time
Then I'll make a Ti batch.

Not sure right now on the price point. It could vary a lot depending on the final lens choice.
The current lens is a plastic temporary one, which I'm not that fond of.
I have some more expensive glass ones here (need to find them) that I ordered a while back and planning to install them to see how they fair.

Guy, Those pictures are just awesome. PLease, please send me that zoomable head!

Hi Zandar,
Of course I will, when the time is right

Hi Guy,
Those look about like what I was expecting. I guess it will be between the XP-G2 and the XP-E2 based upon your tweaked optics for flood. For distance the XP-E2. For beam quality, that's a decision thats needs some flood testing . Thank You for sharing the photo's.
GL

Hi GL,

Yes, some more testing and tweaking to be done for sure.

One thing that I should not mention..... (LOL)
As the Nichia219 is similar in size to the XP-G, I should get a proto made using one.


In terms of lux, which I haven't yet measured, the XP-E is easily the winner.
The XM-L would seem like it would just be a waste of lumens more than anything else.

So for now, the most likely candidate looks like the XP-E2 which is the better choice for throw, and then possibly the XP-G2 or Nichia219.

Tgwnn

 

[Cataract]

Any plan on copper / brass zoom heads? Not that I'd die if I was stuck with a Titanium head...

I'm a little curious on what the flood looks like

 

[the_guy_with_no_name]

I just tested the super high quality lens I have here.

Definitely better.

Looks like the lens in the proto is glass not plastic, but its focal point is further away so that the image on the wall is not as condensed as it could be.

The lens I ordered previously, is a little larger but the collimation is excellent, so that for the same emitter, the size projected on the wall will be smaller. Using the newer lens, the XP-G is about the size of the XP-E with the original proto lens.

Finding the perfect match for the lens/size will probably be the most critical factor.
Once that's done, beyond emitter choice, the rest should be relatively simple.

Tgwnn

 

[the_guy_with_no_name]

Any plan on copper / brass zoom heads? Not that I'd die if I was stuck with a Titanium head...

I'm a little curious on what the flood looks like

Hi Cataract,

Brass is easier to get a hold of than copper, so that would perhaps come first but for now, I'll start with Alum, then either Ti or Brass, and then...?
With the right calibration and lens, the flood will be mostly pure flood, ideally with the visible square getting larger until its just not visible any more.
Some better photo's when I can....

Tgwnn

 

[Got Lumens?]

Hi Guy,
Thanks for the update. I'd like the XP-E2 for more condensed throw, and probably would like the XP-G2 over the Nichia219 only for the lumens output. Those that don't mind lesser output, and demand a very good tint should consider the Nichia219s. Would you be able to post the tint bins of the Cree LEDs that you secure for these when you are ready?
Thanks
GL

 

[DBCstm]

^ what he said

Dale

 

[smarkum]

My Brass arrived today . . . and it is perfect.
And, my Core Ti is back to life!!! Thank you Guy. You Rock!

 

[f22shift]

f22shift,
Congrats and glad it finally made it to you.
Thanks again for your patience.

As its been a while, I'm not certain if it will work but if typically after a short cure time, soaking the "thing" with the adhesive in solvent for 24-48 hours will separate it. When it's totally cured, the NOA actually chemically bonds with glass so I'm truly not sure what the result will be with the tritium vials but the glass will certainly not melt.

On the trits, crooked? really?
I don't recall any being crooked (at least to the visible eye as I didn't use a protractor of course).
I'm sorry about that.
If its not too much trouble, I'd be grateful if you could mail or post a photo (so I can shock myself)
In case it is overly crooked , I'll be happy to send you a replacement tail.

I think you are about 17 from last :bow:

Prize....
hmmm its going to be hard to judge.
If I offer a prize for the last delivered, someone may never receive theirs (or at least tell us so).
I do have some prizes lined up though so you still have a chance.




tgwnn

am i too picky?

i too also can't get the hook in the light. not sure how to attach this thing on my keychain. it's beautiful. i want to carry all the time ha!


i like the xpe too for the zoom head thing. i wouldn't mind buying it as a separate light too. living in an urban environment, a thrower would be super cool.

 

[the_guy_with_no_name]

Hi Guy,
Thanks for the update. I'd like the XP-E2 for more condensed throw, and probably would like the XP-G2 over the Nichia219 only for the lumens output. Those that don't mind lesser output, and demand a very good tint should consider the Nichia219s. Would you be able to post the tint bins of the Cree LEDs that you secure for these when you are ready?
Thanks
GL

Hi GL,

Still too early to know but happy to post that info once confirmed
I think with the right lens, the XP-G2 is going to be a close contender to the XP-E2 in terms of lux.
I can say that its going to definitely need another round of proto's before production.
A good balance between something throwy and flood is the goal but definitely need to go with a new, better lens.
Finding the perfect fit, and then putting it into a proto, with some other tweaks, at least 2-3weeks.

My Brass arrived today . . . and it is perfect.
And, my Core Ti is back to life!!! Thank you Guy. You Rock!

Hi Smarkum,

Thanks for the photo.
Glad your CoreTi is back to life :thumbsup:

am i too picky?

i too also can't get the hook in the light. not sure how to attach this thing on my keychain. it's beautiful. i want to carry all the time ha!


i like the xpe too for the zoom head thing. i wouldn't mind buying it as a separate light too. living in an urban environment, a thrower would be super cool.

Hi f22shift,

Thanks so much for the photo :twothumbs

Definitely crooked
It must have been very near sunrise to miss it as I add the NOA61 (adhesive) in about 6~8 steps, each time letting it cure, check, and repeat.

Its ok to be picky, we are after all, flashlight connoisseurs
I can send you another.

The hook, I think you have the first version hook/clip.
I can send you another one that will fit with the tail.

More tails, etc landing this weekend but just in case I dont have a spare in this batch, the next would probably be roughly mid January.

Tgwnn

 

[f22shift]

Hi GL,

Still too early to know but happy to post that info once confirmed
I think with the right lens, the XP-G2 is going to be a close contender to the XP-E2 in terms of lux.
I can say that its going to definitely need another round of proto's before production.
A good balance between something throwy and flood is the goal but definitely need to go with a new, better lens.
Finding the perfect fit, and then putting it into a proto, with some other tweaks, at least 2-3weeks.





Hi Smarkum,

Thanks for the photo.
Glad your CoreTi is back to life :thumbsup:




Hi f22shift,

Thanks so much for the photo :twothumbs

Definitely crooked
It must have been very near sunrise to miss it as I add the NOA61 (adhesive) in about 6~8 steps, each time letting it cure, check, and repeat.

Its ok to be picky, we are after all, flashlight connoisseurs
I can send you another.

The hook, I think you have the first version hook/clip.
I can send you another one that will fit with the tail.

More tails, etc landing this weekend but just in case I dont have a spare in this batch, the next would probably be roughly mid January.

Tgwnn

email sent..

 

[FsTop]

Hoping those Ti parts will include my replacement tail?

 

[the_guy_with_no_name]

email sent..

Thanks and confirmed

Hoping those Ti parts will include my replacement tail?

Hi FsTop,

There is one in there with your name on it
Hoping they all pass the test this time or my wall might develop some bolt shaped embossing

Tgwnn

 

[FsTop]

or my wall might develop some bolt shaped embossing

Nicely phrased.

 

[Cataract]

My Brass arrived today . . . and it is perfect.
And, my Core Ti is back to life!!! Thank you Guy. You Rock!

I like that holder for your key FOB... I might have to make something similar of my own, but I'm thinking it should also complement my lanyard project :naughty:

[...]
Hoping they all pass the test this time or my wall might develop some bolt shaped embossing

Tgwnn

Still waiting on that launcher with the extra-capacity nukes

 

[Got Lumens?]

Still waiting on that launcher with the extra-capacity nukes

Oh No, I hope we are not going to be doing Garage wall testing again, the last test photo showed the current capacity was more than adequate to go thru concrete walls! LOL.

 

[Cataract]

Oh No, I hope we are not going to be doing Garage wall testing again, the last test photo showed the current capacity was more than adequate to go thru concrete walls! LOL.

This time there will be a steel plate in front of the second wall and 10 cars between. The assistant is behind wall #2, has an apple on her head and is on her knees praying :devil: Nah, I'm not that cruel, the assistant is a special kevlar blow-up doll. The theory is that sh'ell fly hard enough to make an indentation on the third wall

 

[climberkid]

Kevlar and blow up? Where and how much? :naughty:

...gross

 

[DBCstm]

And here I was simply thinking the moon would have it's first Cree diode pattern on it.

Dale

 

[the_guy_with_no_name]

Still waiting on that launcher with the extra-capacity nukes

Working on it
This time I'm sending a rough concept proto to the lab.

Oh No, I hope we are not going to be doing Garage wall testing again, the last test photo showed the current capacity was more than adequate to go thru concrete walls! LOL.

Is an important part of testing to determine if it's worthy of the MBI logo

This time there will be a steel plate in front of the second wall and 10 cars between. The assistant is behind wall #2, has an apple on her head and is on her knees praying :devil: Nah, I'm not that cruel, the assistant is a special kevlar blow-up doll. The theory is that sh'ell fly hard enough to make an indentation on the third wall

Hmm.....
sounds similar the tests I was doing to get the bolt shape indentations on the wall.

Kevlar and blow up? Where and how much? :naughty:

...gross

reminds me....
add "kevlar" to the list of materials I'd like to use at some point in time.

And here I was simply thinking the moon would have it's first Cree diode pattern on it.

Dale

Definitely YES!!!!
I think that will be somewhere around product #8 or #9


I'm finally working on the next subscriber update.
That usually means something good is near.

tgwnn

 

[the_guy_with_no_name]

I was just testing the zoom heads.....

decided to use a freshly charged nuke with the XPE,
turned it on to high and the color on the wall started looking blue,
looked down at the led and smoke was coming out of it....
switched it off immediately...

still works on low but I think its almost fried!!

tgwnn