Quickie review: CPF ORB

[4sevens]

Got my Orb serial #12 today.

Nice sleek design however it wasn't exactly what I was expecting as
the pictures on the orb site was much more flattering than what I'm
posting here.

What I like
- the smooth curvey design
- glass lens
- runs off on li-ion 14500 with spring.
- sealed
- nicely done CNC

what I don't like
- very very soft aluminum - you have to be careful with it
of you'll scratch it even with your finger nails
- reed switch in the back flickers when you insert the magnet in
no biggie, just annoying
- my magnet pellet came complete stuck in the hole - i had to use
a lot of force to get it out. also a gentle tug on the lanyard
detached it from the pellet. but I just super glued it no problem.
- reflector i believe in an ims 17mm - which is perfect but a
bit too small for me.
- the etched letters "orb" and "cpf" and "#12" was sub quality -
rather rough for such a finely made light. see pictures.

okay.. on the to the pictures:

Here is what was promised:

Here is what I got: (big pict here)

Here is the rough ORB logo: (big pict here)

A whole gallery of picts with large images are available here:
web page

thats all - maybe I'm to critical, but I really was expecting more.

btw - if anyone is interested in buying this from me, email
me an offer

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[greenlight]

I see what you mean about the orb logo. It must be difficult to engrave a circle on a complex surface like that. Regarding the capsule, I'm sure if you burned the end of the lanyard it would sit nicely.

 

[oldtimer]

Just out of curiosity, what type of rechargeables will fit into this little guy?

 

[idleprocess]

I think I know the story on the rough engraving - assuming your complaint is the "jagged" look of the letters on the "CPF" portion.

There is a common font in AutoCAD (maybe in other CAD packages) - ROMANS. It's technically a TrueType font not, but I suspect it originated from an older AutoDesk-type font format - SHX. The characters are not composed of geometric eliptical arcs, but rather line segments connecting points on an Arc. It looks great at lower resolutions/smaller sizes, but the "jagged" look becomes apparent at larger sizes.

As for the orb logo - got me. Maybe the CNC tool just connected the dots rather than try to mill a smooth arc. As greenlight says - it's gotta be tough to engrave on a curved surface like that.

 

[MR Bulk]

GOT my Orb finally today (all the way from England, halfway 'round the woild!). I like it - it's different.

If it were not for the tether/switch it could be smoothly slid in and out when used as a dil - nevermind!

Have no issues with the serial number (muh eyes ain't that good no more anyway) as I can make out the CPF and 077 just fine, thank you.

Only observed a couple of downsides - I would bevel/chamfer both edges of the switch cylinder for easier insertion into the endcap hole when activating the light, and ... mine had an obvious ding on the edge of the bezel...

But hey, it's now unique, right?

 

[Chris M.]

<font color="purple">...bevel/chamfer both edges of the switch cylinder for easier insertion into the endcap hole when activating the light...</font>


According to Rob, the designer of the Orb, the capsule has been intentionally left with square edges so you have to deliberately feed it through the hole. It has been designed to eliminate unwanted activations- if the edges were smooth or rounded it could potentially slip in to place without you knowing.


/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[MR Bulk]

Understood - I'm talking about a minor radiusing of the very edge. It takes a bit too much of a concerted effort, using both hands, to activate the light right now IMHO.

One cool thing I did find out on mine anyway, is that if you continue pulling through a little on one particulat side after the light comes on, it will actually go into a dimmer, secondary level! Only does this on the one side while both pulling out, as well as pushing in (but only while approaching from that particular side). Just an anomaly of the particular shape/action of the switch on my light's switch, but cool nonetheless. Of course I have to keep both hands on the light and hold the switch in just that very exact position, but it does indeed go to a second, dimmer level.

 

[4sevens]

[ QUOTE ]
MR Bulk said:
Understood - I'm talking about a minor radiusing of the very edge. It takes a bit too much of a concerted effort, using both hands, to activate the light right now IMHO.

One cool thing I did find out on mine anyway, is that if you continue pulling through a little on one particulat side after the light comes on, it will actually go into a dimmer, secondary level! Only does this on the one side while both pulling out, as well as pushing in (but only while approaching from that particular side). Just an anomaly of the particular shape/action of the switch on my light's switch, but cool nonetheless. Of course I have to keep both hands on the light and hold the switch in just that very exact position, but it does indeed go to a second, dimmer level.

[/ QUOTE ]

Mine dimms to... however I have to wonder - the dimming is because
resistance is somewhere in the switch. Too much of that can destroy
the reeds switch inside - which is what i'm assuming is inside.

By the way, I hope the reed switch is rated 3 watts! I've never
seed a reed switch with that power rating :P

 

[The_LED_Museum]

I just tried this with my CPF Orb, and note it has a "two stage" switch too.
Since it uses a reed switch though, I will not intentionally dim the Orb this way too often.

Every time I look at or pick it up, I "hear" part of a song:

{sung like the Foreigner song "Feels Like the First Time"}
Feels like a flaaaaaash-liiiight...feels like a FLAAAA-aaaash-liiiight!!!
Feels like a flaaaaaash-liiiight...feels like a FLAAAA-aaaash-liiiight!!!

 

[Hallis]

I fhink the review was a tad bit over-critical. If you were expecting the logo to look exactly like the picture then you needed a reality check anyway. That picture was a photoshop concept sketch. Bottom line, is this is a pretty well made light, the matching of the machining from the tail to the body is excellent. The function of the light itself is great, nice and bright and white. It's not like we paid a ton of cash for them anyway. how many people are selling custom 3-watt lights for $90? Let alone ones with custom ingraving on them. Complete with Tritium as well.

I must admit, though, that i too accidently pulled the lanyard apart trying to get the switch out the first time.