Tofty's Various Tritium Beads

Hi all,
After reading some quite interesting threads about tritium beads i thought i'd have a go myself.

Instead of designing them to be machined i went down the 3D printing route to allow abit more flexibility. They should all be able to be printed in brass, silver and titanium + all kinds of plastics.

Here are just a few:



Alternative attachment lanyard stud which uses 6 of the 1.55x5mm tritium vials (12mm dia by 13mm, central pin 4mm dia by 6mm).




Simple non-cylindrical bead that takes 2 of the 2.5x10mm tritium vials (15.5x13.2x7.3mm, centre hole 5mm).


.

Bird Cage Vial holder, takes 12 off 2x8mm tritium vials (12mm dia by 11.5mm, centre hole 5mm).


If there is any interest i can offer these for 3D printing via some of the established 3D printing websites. Although it would require self installation of the vials.
I doubt the price would be anything other than obscene though.

That second one is super cool!

^^agreed^^
it looks like a pedal!! Nice work!

nbp said:

That second one is super cool!

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ukmidnite said:

^^agreed^^
it looks like a pedal!! Nice work!

Click to expand...

Exactly my thoughts too, the pedal shape looks really cool, great viability for the trits.

Tofty

Amazing. How does the 'printing' process work?

Love the pedal & birdcage designs...nice

You would think that there would be just so many ways to make a cord-pull. I like the second one.

Very well done Tofty!
Some cool designs.

I like the pedal the most too

tgwnn

yes make that pedal shaped one I will buy 6 at least

I've been holding off in buying a tritium bead until I saw the pedal shaped one

nbp said:

That second one is super cool!

Click to expand...

+1

Another vote for the pedal-shaped one...

The way it's going you may end up with enough buyers to justify finding a machinist to actually whip up a batch of these. oo:

Well with at least 10 likes in less than a day the "tritium Pedal" looks to be the clear winner.
I will order some prototypes in various materials to ensure the design is good then release it out into the world.

The way it's going you may end up with enough buyers to justify finding a machinist to actually whip up a batch of these. oo:

Click to expand...

It's possible but the pedal would be quite hard to hold on a milling machine without a custom made holding jig and also getting the radiuses right would be time consuming.
I'll explain below why this should not be necessary.

Amazing. How does the 'printing' process work?

Click to expand...

Right then. 3D printing is the continuation of what used to be known as "rapid prototyping".
There are many different production methods but i shall run through just a few of them to clarify things:
Some of the first machines would make a laminated paper block with each sheet having a 2D pattern cut into it to build a 3D model that was useful purely for display purposes.
The next versions used a photo-setting plastic or resin; a platform would sit in a pool of liquid plastic and a laser would harden some of the plastic into a model layer on the platform, the platform would then move down a tiny amount allowing more liquid plastic to cover the model then the laser repeats the process hardening another layer and so on until the model is complete. Again mainly cosmetic purposes but the models could be used to prove design acceptability.
Newer printers are now using a printing head to physically print with the desired material just as if it was ink.
Some materials offered in 3D printing are not actually printed but cast using a mold made around a 3D printed wax model.
To be honest wikipedia will give you a much better description of 3D printing as a whole.

There are a number of websites that will print one-offs or small runs at a fair price from an uploaded 3D model and they are what a plan to use.
Sites i have looked at are:
Shapeways,
i.materialise,
kraftwurx
These sites have shops attached that allow designers to provide their models for the public to order, earning themselves some design commision.
The model is then produced and shipped by the website.

Hope this clarifies things a bit.

I too, love the second one (the pedal). Count me in!!

The pedal one is great - would be even neater with a slot in the flat edge of the pedal. Interested if you make sone (with or without the extra slot).

Hi Tofty,

A small suggestion/enhancement if I may be so bold (I hope you dont mind)

A little side visibility?


The angles are not precise but I think you get the idea?

tgwnn

Pedal design looks great especially with the site opening

With the UK's cycling success at the Olympics, the pedal design is apposite.

Count me in for pedal as long as it available for shipping worldwide! :twothumbs