Not that left, the other left...
This is typically said in fun and as a jibe but if you had told someone to shoot the bad guy on their left, one would hope the message was properly understood. :green:
On Under Water camera housings, the front glass that lets the light into the housing is typically called a port. It may be a simple flat glass (which does effect light path UW or it may be a dome which corrects for light being bent as it travels from water into air or it can be a lens such as a macro port which allows the camera to get closer to subject. I think it is a good term and there is no ambiguity in its use and context.
The use of
window on a flashlight is specific in defining its effect on the light but if it is not understood to be what it is in communication then it is a poor choice of term. Lens is more commonly understood and used as the term and that is fine provided the communication is about a part that exists and is being discussed. If the communication is in regards to a light that is being designed or component selection is at hand, lens might not be specific enough.
As a builder and designer, I have to identify the various components and their designation needs to be clear and unique enough to insure proper identification. In a parts break down drawing, either term, lens or window, could be used as a tag and the drawing would likely provide more information. In the absense of a drawing, an ambiguity in term could be a problem.
I.E. (and this will let me whine about SF's use or as I see it, misuse of bezel) consider the KL1
head.
This part consists of (from the front) a bezel (female thread so I consider it a cap), a thin washer, a window, a seal, the TIR lens and then the head itself. I leave out the light engine components in this example.
Now if you were to call SF parts department in need of say the bezel and said I need a KL1 bezel, just send it to me!! Well it is likely that you would receive the complete KL1 given SF's propensity to identify the whole head of a light as a bezel! :nana:
If you broke the window and called SF parts and in a rush just said send me a new lens for the KL1, you might get the window or you might get the TIR optic. If you receivd the optic and needed the window, you might not be happy with SF parts department.
I don't give a rats a$$ what parts are called; perhaps they should be named fred ted and ed. The only important consideration is that of communication and the required accuracy in identity in such communication. I just had my wife ship me some LED light components I need over here and one item I wanted is a LED light fixture which looks like a hollow threaded bolt. I got some pipe nipples in place of what I really needed. Forgive me my concern and perception for thinking specific and unambigious terms are best to use! :nana:
Now this poll seems to me to have two choices which are the two sides of the same coin?!?! :thinking: :shrug:
The layman can measure a lights length with a ruler. The designer or machine shop needs a more precise measuring tool. The layman can use the ruler or a caliper. If the machinist uses a ruler, I don't want one of his parts!
EDIT:
Now that I am on a roll, there is an underlying dynamic I see at play here and at play is a good choice of term. In a car load of people, all but the driver can take in the scenery and engage in discusions and focus their concentration on issues beyond the traffic and road. They have the luxury of levity and casual awareness that the driver is not free to assume. On this forum and in some threads, there are drivers and there are passengers at times and it helps to be aware of the various
responsibilities of the players. Oh yeah, plenty of back seat drivers too! :nana:
I have seen numerous examples of CAD renderings posted on this forum that look great to the casual and unskilled observer but are obviously flawed and faulty. The passenger takes it on faith that the driver knows what he is doing and will bring the group to the intended destination with no harm or mishap. The driver wants to enjoy the company of his fellow passengers but also needs to pay attention to the road being traveled and concentrate at an acceptable level. I think I had a point somewhere in here! :green: :thinking: