The Quest for the Unholy Beam!

[Wylie]

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I have mentioned a couple of time that I am looking for some help with some optics that seem to be very promising, so since I have been asked for some beam shots I thought I might as well post them here. I have grown tired of the holes in beams when the flashlights are focused to flood beams so I am going to fix the problem. I've started with the side emitters and think I am on the right track for the unholy flood beam. This is still in a very rough form but does show promise. The pictures on the top show an EverLed modified on the left is the flood and on the right the spot. The pictures below are of the same flashlight with the same EverLed unmodified and the camera’s light settings and all are the same.
The reason for the modified flood beam being so screwed up is my inability to make the surfaces that I am working with completely smooth. This flood does look a little better in person and will improve with the right tools for the job. Did you notice the light fixture?

Keeping it real, bright /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif,
Wylie

 

[Rothrandir]

i'd be greatly interested in seeing some shots of how you modified the se /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Wylie]

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink2.gif Rothrandir,
Besides the actual modding itself that would take video to explain this thing is so ugly right now I would be embarrassed to show it, really. This will be a permanent fix for the side emitters and not reversible but I kind of figure nobody will want to go back after I get this right. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon3.gif The EverLed is the perfect candidate for this mod because it can go from flashlight to flashlight very easily and utilize the unholy beam. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif The flashlight used in the pictures is a Responder 4AA handheld hung on the wall in the /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smoker5.gif. Craig should love that, I’m doing the bathroom beam shot thing because the window is the easiest to cover with some duct tape and a towel. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yellowlaugh.gif I think a 6 D cell might just brake that toilet if the nail in the wall lets go. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
Edited for full effect! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yellowlaugh.gif

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[Wylie]

Here is something that I have tried that does work but not as well as I would like. This a 1/4" acrylic sphere housed inside 5/16" latex tubing. See the bottom of the optics where it slides over the side emitters, don't do what I did and this should show some improvement with the holy beams.

 

[Wylie]

You probably didn't believe me did you? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hahaha.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rant.gif If I could get the bottom of this simple latex tube smooth enough there should be improvement here as well. Latex and heat? Yeah I know maybe a bad thing? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon3.gif The one advantage is this would be reverse able.

 

[Wylie]

Hey check out the NX05 optics on the EverLed in a Responder!

This kind of makes me think grinding down the bottom of the nx05 with a flat area a little Arcitc Alumina some Devcon and glow powder could be interesting. Glow powder and heat? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thinking.gif Maybe not a good idea? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon3.gif

Edit: I just ground an 05 down and it was not for the better.

 

[Rothrandir]

i'm eager to hear the results of your continued experiments /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

i don't think luxeons will provide enough heat to melt anything...especially 1watters.

 

[shankus]

Trial & error, Wylie. As long as you learn from the mistakes, Dude, all is well.

Those NX05 shots look promising.

 

[Wylie]

Rothrandir,
Thanks, I am going to keep at it, although the first pictures don't look all that promising they are the base I am working for my design that is actually finished now and ready to be built. I have been toying with the optics for about nine months now and have a few different things in the works.
Thanks for the interest.

Shankus,
The nx05 does look promising but they would not be able to move from flashlight to flashlight like I would like to set the optics up to do on the EverLeds. Through my trail and error I have found a couple different shapes that seem to be very feasible for just this application but like I have said the proper tools need to be available or I will not get much further then I am at this point. I now have concepts in mind for the low domes, high domes and side emitters. My first efforts at adjusting optics using a low dome emitter that were better then the pictures I have posted here. It's beginning to look as though I will have to get myself into the right tools to make these things work the way I want them to so this could be a long process. What I wouldn't give for the right jig and a drill press right now. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon3.gif
Thanks Shankus