MBI #7 - The MBI MatchBook, Got A Light anyone?

[KuanR]

In for a MatchBook with my thing!

I remember seeing a proto picture of this idea a few years ago...can't believe you got it to work!

[the_guy_with_no_name]

In for a MatchBook with my thing!

I remember seeing a proto picture of this idea a few years ago...can't believe you got it to work!

Thanks KuanR

The lights work nicely, it was mostly working out an aesthetically beautiful way to keep the magnets well adhered to the matches, a way to paint them or transform them (that wouldn't chip too easily and wasn't going to get me too high, lol) so no paint needed for this rendition, and have everything look reasonably natural as a single unit.

Tgwnn

[th8tredude]

Zeus is 18350/18650. Apollo is AA/14500.

[mcbrat]

Reminds me of the led lenser/coast micro that used a br435 battery

[lightlover]

Hi lightlover,
................
Of course, with pleasure. ...............
Tgwnn

Thanks - very much looking forward.
The MBI MatchBook must be a contender for "Cutest Light/s Ever".

And in the finest traditions of CPF:

Lovely And Useful!

[climberkid]

woohoo!

[Newguy2012]

AA / 14500

I heard it'll eat whatever you'll feed it with.

Zeus is 18350/18650. Apollo is AA/14500.

Zeus will support AA and 18XXX formats. I guess both Gods will support AA/14500 initial release.

We'll know when he spill his secret sauce soon-ish.

[the_guy_with_no_name]

Zeus is 18350/18650. Apollo is AA/14500.

Thanks th8tredude,

The Zeus plan is to support 18350,18650, 14500, AA
Apollo, 14500 and then AA, and possibly some other formats.

Reminds me of the led lenser/coast micro that used a br435 battery

Hi mcbrat,

I have one... I should post a comparison photo
The matches are significantly smaller.

Thanks - very much looking forward.
The MBI MatchBook must be a contender for "Cutest Light/s Ever".

And in the finest traditions of CPF:

Lovely And Useful!

Thanks lightlover

woohoo!

Thanks Alex, a big woohoo it is

I heard it'll eat whatever you'll feed it with.

Zeus will support AA and 18XXX formats. I guess both Gods will support AA/14500 initial release.

We'll know when he spill his secret sauce soon-ish.

Hi Newguy2012,

Pretty much that is my plan for a production version

Tgwnn

[th8tredude]

Thanks th8tredude,

The Zeus plan is to support 18350,18650, 14500, AA
Apollo, 14500 and then AA, and possibly some other formats.

Well, these things have been in development for so long, I guess I forgot!
The more compatible, the better!

-Th8tredude

[the_guy_with_no_name]

Well, these things have been in development for so long, I guess I forgot!
The more compatible, the better!

-Th8tredude

You are right, and no problem, I often forget these details too

Tgwnn

[Str8stroke]

Tgwnn, these sure seem like they may be a bigger hit now than before? I am excited about the possibility of getting one. I won't be greedy at first. I also like the idea of the plastic cover. How about a box? like the box of matches. If you did both, we could by from you: a Book, a Box, and some Thing! That is pretty MBIsh if you were to axe me.

[the_guy_with_no_name]

Tgwnn, these sure seem like they may be a bigger hit now than before? I am excited about the possibility of getting one. I won't be greedy at first. I also like the idea of the plastic cover. How about a box? like the box of matches. If you did both, we could by from you: a Book, a Box, and some Thing! That is pretty MBIsh if you were to axe me.

Hi Str8stroke,

Just received a quote for the plastic version matchbook and due to there being a high min. order, it's a few thousand dollars
Not so practical for at least the first hundred.

For speed, and to keep the price as is, I'm going to use a lightly laminated card. I can include a spare for free, and offer spares too.
Then, if demand is high enough to make a plastic version, I can offer spares of those too.
Unlike a typical matchbook, the MBI Matches are easy to remove and replace

A box, LOL.
Boxes are doable and I'll be happy to fill them with MBI Matches but perhaps lets give that just a few weeks so I can keep everything else on track, and confirm the V1 MBI MatchBook too.

Tgwnn

[Zandar]

O K sure a box of MBI "matches", you and I both know that to meet GUY'S lofty standards, this " box" at the very least must have the MBI logo and at the very most must be completely fire proof, so a Ti box is a reasonable option down the road for such an important tool.

[the_guy_with_no_name]

Match casing worked out perfectly!!

Will post some pics in an hour or two..

Tgwnn

[the_guy_with_no_name]

Some quick pics:








Tgwnn

[Tejasandre]

Nice. Change mine to 2

[Bigmac_79]

Very nice!

[the_guy_with_no_name]

Nice. Change mine to 2

lol, thanks Tejasandre

Very nice!

Thank you Bigmac!!

Working hard to have a first batch ready in ~2 weeks, in time for Christmas.
There's just one minor part I need to sort out for the MatchBook, a thin ferrous metal bar for the inside of the base.
I was thinking of a magnet but with polarity issues etc. a bar may be better. Alternatively, I may 3D print a small plastic bar and install some tiny magnets into it, may be a a more precise solution.
Will get to that as soon as I have a moment.

Tgwnn

[Newguy2012]

Are these 1 time use only or Can the energy source be replace?

[the_guy_with_no_name]

Something like this:




Little round magnets inside the black base.

It does mean a wee extra bit of ensuring correct polarity for the magnets inside the black base (and the matches) but doable and definitely faster than getting metals chopped up for a version 1, along with ensuring perfectly positioned matches. This part will essentially not be visible.

The only thing to confirm is the height of the magnets in the base 1mm or 2mm, need to make sure no one looses any matches!!

I did also think of extending the base just a little so the matches could slide in but that will add a little width, actually I'll have to double check the resolution of my printer again. Printing on my own 3D printer is mostly just time for small parts (cost of the plastic is pennies).
Getting even a small part like this printed at fine resolution facility usually ends up costing > $10, possibly $5 with the 0.5mm walls.... (thinking outloud again...).

Tgwnn

[the_guy_with_no_name]

Are these 1 time use only or Can the energy source be replace?

Hi Newguy2012,

These are (essentially) 1 time use.
Runtime is typically ~8hours (varies with LED color as voltage requirements are different).

In theory, it may be possible to replace the battery but the batteries make up most of the cost.
Also as the sizes etc. are all so small, it's easy to break a contact in the process and making them truly replaceable, adds some size with a minor tradeoff of being easier to come apart (switch mechanism, etc).

So for an extra dollar, you can have a new battery, LED, etc... without the frustration of dealing with miniature parts.

("Things" on the other hand all have easily replaceable power sources, but as mentioned, I don't think anyone will burn through their first power source for a good while).

Tgwnn

[eraursls1984]

I think the thermal power source would work best for the Matchbook. They're not too terribly bright, so I imagine there's enough real estate to power it with your hand.

[the_guy_with_no_name]

I think the thermal power source would work best for the Matchbook. They're not too terribly bright, so I imagine there's enough real estate to power it with your hand.

Hi eraursls1984,

Thanks for the suggestion
I haven't seen any thermal modules yet that will fit in the match but if the thickness was doubled, to 6mm it could work (but then it would be a worm). Maybe next project

Tgwnn

[Got Lumens?]

Hi eraursls1984,

Thanks for the suggestion
I haven't seen any thermal modules yet that will fit in the match but if the thickness was doubled, to 6mm it could work (but then it would be a worm). Maybe next project

Tgwnn

Worm?, naagh. Dat's one of dem Fancy Fireplace matches, bring it on

[saypat]

I'm in....

[the_guy_with_no_name]

Worm?, naagh. Dat's one of dem Fancy Fireplace matches, bring it on

Thanks GL

I'm in....

Thanks saypat

Tgwnn

[the_guy_with_no_name]

Update:

First small batch of parts landed.

I made the first set of matches (8) but there's some minor thing I want to tweak.
These are a little time consuming to do each one.
For now, my best guess at full speed going like a madman might be 2 minutes per match (16min), plus about 5 min per matchbook on top of that as a minimum. 20 min a book, 3 p/hour.....
hmmm not sure I can make a large quantity at that rate (I could, but it will be a slow process).
I might be able to conjure up some help, still need to test the process a few more times.

I'll aim to complete the first book in the next couple of days, size checking, etc, post some photos and go from there....

I'll be back

Tgwnn

[lightlover]

............. These are a little time consuming to do each one. .....
hmmm not sure I can make a large quantity at that rate (I could, but it will be a slow process).

Tgwnn

Tgwnn,

I've just had a brilliant idea! (Perhaps ...)

Could you sell these in a kit form, for us to assemble ourselves?
(With a different warranty of course).

Could that save you some time+effort?

[You could always copy/paste a reply: lightlover, you are silly! ]

[the_guy_with_no_name]

Tgwnn,

I've just had a brilliant idea! (Perhaps ...)

Could you sell these in a kit form, for us to assemble ourselves?
(With a different warranty of course).

Could that save you some time+effort?

[You could always copy/paste a reply: lightlover, you are silly! ]

Hi lightlover,

Thanks for the post.
Wow, I totally agree that it's a brilliant idea!

No one has a monopoly on those, especially me

Not sure that it will work for step 1 (the 2 min part) as it requires a heat-gun or oven but I always love out of the box ideas and this one is right up there with the best of them.

I did already check further on step 1 (essentially adding the magnet at the base, and thin rubber coat to ensure the magnet is secure because the ones that were glued only, were a little too easy to break off). With enough quantity (perhaps 500-600 matchbooks), I can embed that step into the battery manufacturing process which would completely simplify things and eliminate the 2min each.

Perhaps for now, I'll just take a deep breath, and somehow bend time to make as many as I can, perhaps as a beta-run of sorts, then after feedback, I can consider aiming for a larger number.

Tgwnn

[Jay R]

Did these some time ago. Not as neat as yours but I was trying to go for a rough finish look so that it looks more like wood.

Close up.