Titanium Aleph & E Series compatible heads/tubes/tails**Announcing TnC Ti EDC-Flex**
EDIT: This thread began as an interest thread for both Ti and Aluminum parts. The Ti folks showed more interest and we are focusing now on Ti parts but aluminum parts will follow with enough interest. The thread solely for aluminum parts is located here: ***Aluminum E Series heads & tubes/tails***TnC EDC-Flex Interest/Sales Thread***
Please post interest as parts will be available in the order interest was shown.
EDIT: I've posted ***Titanium 27, 20 & 19mm Aleph & E Series compatible heads /TnC EDC-Flex Sales*** Very soon I will be posting the complete 27mm Ti EDC-Flex heads on the thread in the link above. We are currently working on the EDC-Flex Ti tubes and tails and these will be machined soon. Please see drawings and details below while we choose what design and direction to take.
Since the creation of the TnC SF-Series line of flashlights and parts we've received regular requests for E Series compatible parts. Some of this stems I think from confusion regarding the "SF" included in "SF-Series". "SF" wasn't intended it to be short hand for Surefire. It's true the SF-Series tail cap switches are Surefire E Series compatible and we have an adaptor to use E Series compatible heads (Alephs) on SF-Series tubes using TnC canisters, but still the SF-Series was not intended as an E Series compatible product.
Thus the purpose of this interest thread; to seek out what our customers truly want directly. For those who wish to have the most modular Lego set of lights built (in aluminum), compatible with a number of custom parts, there is the SF-Series. For those who just want Surefire E Series compatible Ti light/parts with fewer parts there is the new TnC EDC-Flex Series.
Unlike the SF-Series with four body parts: tail, tube, power pack (adaptor) and head, the EDC-Flex will likely only have two parts: tail/tube in one part and the head. The exception is with 18650 and 18500 tubes which require an adaptor for optimum performance and contact. We will also build our own one piece E Series compatible canisters (with enough interest). These will be cross compatible with other popular E Series parts and vice versa or will be easily upgradeable.
The first run of heads will be 20mm, then 19mm, and then 27mm, and/or a very small run of 38mm heads. All these heads will be built to use McGizmo reflectors which are in short supply at this time and will be avialable as an option, as well as will lenses.
The tubes will be 18650 and then CR123 to start with. In the future, with interest, we will build CR2, 17670, AA and 18500 sizes as well as extenders for popular sizes for those who wish to use 2x or 3x AAs, or 2x CR123s, 2x 18650s etc.
The advantages of an integrated tube/tail are significant and thus the reason TnC has been machining this configuration for some time. On tubes such as the 18650, there are large variations in the battery sizes that are available. With a typical E Series tube an oversized battery may bottom out on the end of the tube. With an integrated tail/tube the tail spring can take up the excess length. If a builder allows for the extra length of the larger cells, it can become problematic to get the shorter cells to work without extenders or contact points being added. Another advantage is integrity which is obvious. The less parts and seams the better integrity. Lastly there is cost. This is also obvious, the less parts/threads/masking, the lower the cost as well.
We will maintain support of TnC's original canisters for use in E Series lights using SF-Series power packs (adaptors) for those who wish to have the most in modularity, adjustability and ease or swapping components in the field; however the advantages with the EDC-Flex will be important to those who already own E Series parts.
Below are drawings of the 38mm EDC-Flex Ti heads (without bezel). There are only going to be 14-18 pcs. available with reflectors. The rest can be purchased as empty heads (including 0-rings and bezels), or with lenses and/or with heat sinks for customs multi LED setups.
We are sourcing Saphire and UCL lenses for these heads. We are going to try to match the lenses to the A3 Aleph specs. so folks can order these lenses as well for use in their existing heads.
Below is a drawing of the TnC EDC-Flex 18650 v5-2 Tube with TnC 38mm Head
Below are pictures and drawings of the TnC EDC-Flex 27L (27-L, 27-XR, 27-S) Ti heads. Below is a picture of Long heads. On the left is the v1, the second from left is the v3, then the v1 followed on the right by the v5.
This is version v1 Long. I will list all the long variation candidates v1, v3, v5 and v6 in a row followed by the short versions (McR-27).
Below is the v3 Long 27mm head.
Below is the v5 long.
Below is the v6 Long.
Below is v1 Short 27mm head (McR-27 reflector).
Below is the v3-2 short 27mm head.
Below is the v5 short.
Here are the last drawings for the 27mm Ti EDC-Flex heads for this run. Below is the v6.
Below is the v6-2 27mm short design.
To summarize the 27mm EDC-Flex options for interest are:
v1 short or long
v3 long
v3-2 short
v5 short or long
v6 short or long
v6-2 short
The head options are:
19mm $225
20mm $215
27mm $265 (fits McR-27 reflectors)
27mmL $265 (fits McR-27L, 27XR, 27-S reflectors)
38mm $335
larger head TBA
Prices include crenulated or smooth Bezels. McR reflectors without lenses are $18 extra (19mm, 20mm, 27mm). McR reflectors and UCLs for 19mm and 20mm heads is $28 extra. McR reflectors and UCLs for all 27mm heads are $30 extra. McR-38 reflectors and UCLs are $40 extra. Sapphire lenses and McR reflectors are $40 extra for 19mm and 20mm heads.
Shipping is $3 First Class CONUS, or $6 Priority CONUS, both with delivery confirmation. International is $6 First Class and $15 Priority Mail.
A vote was put to the folks posting in the thread and they picked from the versions below. V1 and V3 were picked more than V2 or V4. This is a tiny run, but we machined some V3 and V1 heads. A small number of bare aluminum heads will also be sold. The question was also asked if bezels should be crenulated or smooth and crenulated was picked unanimously. These bezels and lenses should fit Aleph and HDS heads etc. Heads shown below are without bezels.
Below is the V1 with Crenulated Bezel on the left and V3 with crenulated on the right.
The 18650 EDC-Flex Ti tubes/tails have anti roll, tail standing, lanyard holes, Ti clip holes, and a flare (lobes or ears) for finger grips, however the grips will not interfere with pocket carry as do grips on all the parts I've seen offered to date by others. We don't intend to build the same parts others have built and have additional innovations we'll announce if our efforts appear warranted. Below is a picture of an EDC-Flex 18650 Ti tube/tail with a 18650 extender and gold plated contact E Series head adaptor. EDIT: The two lobe finger grip is not feasible in Ti due to excessive cost, but we will build these in aluminum.
These tubes will be custom machined to fit buyers' expressed interest. Options Include: EDIT: at this time we are only building the Cr123 and 18650 v1 and v5 tubes for Ti, aluminum tubes will come next.
CR123 cell tube: v1 & v5-3 $225 (optional Ti clip $15 extra)
18650 cell tube: v1 & v5-2 $399 (optional Ti clip $15 extra)
CR2 cell tube
AA/1850
(Pricing TBA)
Tube extenders may be available in all sizes with expressed interest.
1. Wide or narrow tail guard (lip at the end, wide for better tail standing)
2. 0, 1 or 2 tritium slots. 2 slots eliminates the possibility of a pocket clip when milled in the same location of clip screws. An option of trits milled into wide tail guard may be available if interest is expressed
3. Pocket clip (for all tubes except CR2)
4. No pocket clip holes or Pocket clip milled holes without clip
5. full round finger grip or "two ear" finger grip
6. 0, 1 or 2 lanyard holes
Below is the EDC-Flex tube with anti roll, finger grip lobes, Ti Clip, integrated tail switch, and lanyard holes visible. Also visible is the 18650 EDC-Flex 18650 extender and E Series adaptor with delrin spacer and gold plated copper contact.
Below is the 18650 EDC-Flex tube with extender installed next to (2) 18650 battery cells.
Below is a drawing of the Ti EDC-Flex CR123 v1 tube with round tail guard.
In the pictures below I'd like to introduce the v5-2 Cr123 integrated tail design. EDIT: The latest revision is the v5-3 as pictured in the first Ti machined EDC-Flex Cr123 tube as seen after these next tube drawings.
As was built into v5 head designs, below is a close up cross section of the fine detail in these fins. I don't believe I've seen these offered before the EDC-Flex Series.
Now we see what this tube looks like when mated with a v5 27mm EDC-Flex E Series compatible head for a complete light. Missing is the crenulated bezel on the head.
And one last view of the v5 head and v5-2 tube/tail
Below is the EDC-Flex Ti Cr123 v5-3 Straight tube with v5 19mm head.
Below is a drawing of a 18650 Ti EDC-Flex tube round finger grip, no trit, no pocket clip and wide tail for improved tail standing.
To recap we will be building tubes very soon and are seeking interest and input in designs on these integrated tube/tails. We are also open to taking interest on regular E series tubes (without integrated tails) as well as separate E Series tail caps. We believe we can offer novel designs in these as well. We are also taking interest in Cr123 tube extenders and 18650 tube extenders. We will probably build Cr123 tube/tails first and then move onto 18650 tubes. Other tube sizes such as Cr2, AA/18500 and extenders might also be built if there is interest. It might be a nice feature to have a multi AA tube for running E series parts on regular AA cells. Please chime in! All parts will be built in very limited runs. Please express interest in exactly what you would like to see and try to keep to that interest as we may not build more.
For those who want the most in capacity the TnC C-Flex aluminum AW C Li-ion tubes and E Series adaptors are already available on FS *C-Flex* C Li-ion battery Tubes, Extenders & Adaptors for E & C Series, TnC & Bulk and TnC C-Flex on the TnC online store. With expressed interest in this thread and the C-Flex thread we may build a very limited run of these parts in Ti.
EDIT: If there is interest in the future we will build TnC E Series compatible Canisters (LEs). When that happens we will seek input on the following below. Folks have asked us to focus our offering so we will start a specific thread just for Canisters in the future.
LED
Seoul
Cree
K2
Rebel
(depending on availability other LEDs may come into play)
DIY kit with or without LED
Driver
Piglets (original buck boost multi level driver if available)
FLuPICs
I can source other drivers as needed or sell as DIY kits with/without drivers
EDIT: This thread began as an interest thread for both Ti and Aluminum parts. The Ti folks showed more interest and we are focusing now on Ti parts but aluminum parts will follow with enough interest. The thread solely for aluminum parts is located here: ***Aluminum E Series heads & tubes/tails***TnC EDC-Flex Interest/Sales Thread***
Please post interest as parts will be available in the order interest was shown.
EDIT: I've posted ***Titanium 27, 20 & 19mm Aleph & E Series compatible heads /TnC EDC-Flex Sales*** Very soon I will be posting the complete 27mm Ti EDC-Flex heads on the thread in the link above. We are currently working on the EDC-Flex Ti tubes and tails and these will be machined soon. Please see drawings and details below while we choose what design and direction to take.
Since the creation of the TnC SF-Series line of flashlights and parts we've received regular requests for E Series compatible parts. Some of this stems I think from confusion regarding the "SF" included in "SF-Series". "SF" wasn't intended it to be short hand for Surefire. It's true the SF-Series tail cap switches are Surefire E Series compatible and we have an adaptor to use E Series compatible heads (Alephs) on SF-Series tubes using TnC canisters, but still the SF-Series was not intended as an E Series compatible product.
Thus the purpose of this interest thread; to seek out what our customers truly want directly. For those who wish to have the most modular Lego set of lights built (in aluminum), compatible with a number of custom parts, there is the SF-Series. For those who just want Surefire E Series compatible Ti light/parts with fewer parts there is the new TnC EDC-Flex Series.
Unlike the SF-Series with four body parts: tail, tube, power pack (adaptor) and head, the EDC-Flex will likely only have two parts: tail/tube in one part and the head. The exception is with 18650 and 18500 tubes which require an adaptor for optimum performance and contact. We will also build our own one piece E Series compatible canisters (with enough interest). These will be cross compatible with other popular E Series parts and vice versa or will be easily upgradeable.
The first run of heads will be 20mm, then 19mm, and then 27mm, and/or a very small run of 38mm heads. All these heads will be built to use McGizmo reflectors which are in short supply at this time and will be avialable as an option, as well as will lenses.
The tubes will be 18650 and then CR123 to start with. In the future, with interest, we will build CR2, 17670, AA and 18500 sizes as well as extenders for popular sizes for those who wish to use 2x or 3x AAs, or 2x CR123s, 2x 18650s etc.
The advantages of an integrated tube/tail are significant and thus the reason TnC has been machining this configuration for some time. On tubes such as the 18650, there are large variations in the battery sizes that are available. With a typical E Series tube an oversized battery may bottom out on the end of the tube. With an integrated tail/tube the tail spring can take up the excess length. If a builder allows for the extra length of the larger cells, it can become problematic to get the shorter cells to work without extenders or contact points being added. Another advantage is integrity which is obvious. The less parts and seams the better integrity. Lastly there is cost. This is also obvious, the less parts/threads/masking, the lower the cost as well.
We will maintain support of TnC's original canisters for use in E Series lights using SF-Series power packs (adaptors) for those who wish to have the most in modularity, adjustability and ease or swapping components in the field; however the advantages with the EDC-Flex will be important to those who already own E Series parts.
Below are drawings of the 38mm EDC-Flex Ti heads (without bezel). There are only going to be 14-18 pcs. available with reflectors. The rest can be purchased as empty heads (including 0-rings and bezels), or with lenses and/or with heat sinks for customs multi LED setups.
We are sourcing Saphire and UCL lenses for these heads. We are going to try to match the lenses to the A3 Aleph specs. so folks can order these lenses as well for use in their existing heads.
Below is a drawing of the TnC EDC-Flex 18650 v5-2 Tube with TnC 38mm Head
Below are pictures and drawings of the TnC EDC-Flex 27L (27-L, 27-XR, 27-S) Ti heads. Below is a picture of Long heads. On the left is the v1, the second from left is the v3, then the v1 followed on the right by the v5.
This is version v1 Long. I will list all the long variation candidates v1, v3, v5 and v6 in a row followed by the short versions (McR-27).
Below is the v3 Long 27mm head.
Below is the v5 long.
Below is the v6 Long.
Below is v1 Short 27mm head (McR-27 reflector).
Below is the v3-2 short 27mm head.
Below is the v5 short.
Here are the last drawings for the 27mm Ti EDC-Flex heads for this run. Below is the v6.
Below is the v6-2 27mm short design.
To summarize the 27mm EDC-Flex options for interest are:
v1 short or long
v3 long
v3-2 short
v5 short or long
v6 short or long
v6-2 short
The head options are:
19mm $225
20mm $215
27mm $265 (fits McR-27 reflectors)
27mmL $265 (fits McR-27L, 27XR, 27-S reflectors)
38mm $335
larger head TBA
Prices include crenulated or smooth Bezels. McR reflectors without lenses are $18 extra (19mm, 20mm, 27mm). McR reflectors and UCLs for 19mm and 20mm heads is $28 extra. McR reflectors and UCLs for all 27mm heads are $30 extra. McR-38 reflectors and UCLs are $40 extra. Sapphire lenses and McR reflectors are $40 extra for 19mm and 20mm heads.
Shipping is $3 First Class CONUS, or $6 Priority CONUS, both with delivery confirmation. International is $6 First Class and $15 Priority Mail.
A vote was put to the folks posting in the thread and they picked from the versions below. V1 and V3 were picked more than V2 or V4. This is a tiny run, but we machined some V3 and V1 heads. A small number of bare aluminum heads will also be sold. The question was also asked if bezels should be crenulated or smooth and crenulated was picked unanimously. These bezels and lenses should fit Aleph and HDS heads etc. Heads shown below are without bezels.
Below is the V1 with Crenulated Bezel on the left and V3 with crenulated on the right.
The 18650 EDC-Flex Ti tubes/tails have anti roll, tail standing, lanyard holes, Ti clip holes, and a flare (lobes or ears) for finger grips, however the grips will not interfere with pocket carry as do grips on all the parts I've seen offered to date by others. We don't intend to build the same parts others have built and have additional innovations we'll announce if our efforts appear warranted. Below is a picture of an EDC-Flex 18650 Ti tube/tail with a 18650 extender and gold plated contact E Series head adaptor. EDIT: The two lobe finger grip is not feasible in Ti due to excessive cost, but we will build these in aluminum.
These tubes will be custom machined to fit buyers' expressed interest. Options Include: EDIT: at this time we are only building the Cr123 and 18650 v1 and v5 tubes for Ti, aluminum tubes will come next.
CR123 cell tube: v1 & v5-3 $225 (optional Ti clip $15 extra)
18650 cell tube: v1 & v5-2 $399 (optional Ti clip $15 extra)
CR2 cell tube
AA/1850
(Pricing TBA)
Tube extenders may be available in all sizes with expressed interest.
1. Wide or narrow tail guard (lip at the end, wide for better tail standing)
2. 0, 1 or 2 tritium slots. 2 slots eliminates the possibility of a pocket clip when milled in the same location of clip screws. An option of trits milled into wide tail guard may be available if interest is expressed
3. Pocket clip (for all tubes except CR2)
4. No pocket clip holes or Pocket clip milled holes without clip
5. full round finger grip or "two ear" finger grip
6. 0, 1 or 2 lanyard holes
Below is the EDC-Flex tube with anti roll, finger grip lobes, Ti Clip, integrated tail switch, and lanyard holes visible. Also visible is the 18650 EDC-Flex 18650 extender and E Series adaptor with delrin spacer and gold plated copper contact.
Below is the 18650 EDC-Flex tube with extender installed next to (2) 18650 battery cells.
Below is a drawing of the Ti EDC-Flex CR123 v1 tube with round tail guard.
In the pictures below I'd like to introduce the v5-2 Cr123 integrated tail design. EDIT: The latest revision is the v5-3 as pictured in the first Ti machined EDC-Flex Cr123 tube as seen after these next tube drawings.
As was built into v5 head designs, below is a close up cross section of the fine detail in these fins. I don't believe I've seen these offered before the EDC-Flex Series.
Now we see what this tube looks like when mated with a v5 27mm EDC-Flex E Series compatible head for a complete light. Missing is the crenulated bezel on the head.
And one last view of the v5 head and v5-2 tube/tail
Below is the EDC-Flex Ti Cr123 v5-3 Straight tube with v5 19mm head.
Below is a drawing of a 18650 Ti EDC-Flex tube round finger grip, no trit, no pocket clip and wide tail for improved tail standing.
To recap we will be building tubes very soon and are seeking interest and input in designs on these integrated tube/tails. We are also open to taking interest on regular E series tubes (without integrated tails) as well as separate E Series tail caps. We believe we can offer novel designs in these as well. We are also taking interest in Cr123 tube extenders and 18650 tube extenders. We will probably build Cr123 tube/tails first and then move onto 18650 tubes. Other tube sizes such as Cr2, AA/18500 and extenders might also be built if there is interest. It might be a nice feature to have a multi AA tube for running E series parts on regular AA cells. Please chime in! All parts will be built in very limited runs. Please express interest in exactly what you would like to see and try to keep to that interest as we may not build more.
For those who want the most in capacity the TnC C-Flex aluminum AW C Li-ion tubes and E Series adaptors are already available on FS *C-Flex* C Li-ion battery Tubes, Extenders & Adaptors for E & C Series, TnC & Bulk and TnC C-Flex on the TnC online store. With expressed interest in this thread and the C-Flex thread we may build a very limited run of these parts in Ti.
EDIT: If there is interest in the future we will build TnC E Series compatible Canisters (LEs). When that happens we will seek input on the following below. Folks have asked us to focus our offering so we will start a specific thread just for Canisters in the future.
LED
Seoul
Cree
K2
Rebel
(depending on availability other LEDs may come into play)
DIY kit with or without LED
Driver
Piglets (original buck boost multi level driver if available)
FLuPICs
I can source other drivers as needed or sell as DIY kits with/without drivers
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