Community Focus Knob - Group Buy - 2 packs left

[rhd]

STATUS: Everyone who has been burned by StevieDezie should go here:
Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) | File a Complaint
Report him to the FBI!




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Original Thread Content (it was a great design and idea, shame that Steve scammed us)

The Design Files:
CURRENT DESIGN: http://laserpointerforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=32677&stc=1&d=1305252126
Software to open is available here

The Cost:
$30 per 5 pack, shipped worldwide
$50 per 10 pack, shipped worldwide

Who is onboard?
-Steviedezie - 10 $50 PAID
-rhd - 10 $50 PAID
-JakeGT - 10 $50
-BhWollen - 20 $100 (wanted to pay me cash + no shipping since he lives in my town so i made his new total $90)
--CoherentRays - 5 $30 PAID
-532 with envy - 5 $30 PAID
--Drew - 5 $30 PAID
-netmon22 - 10 $50 PAID
-jib77 - 5 $30 PAID
-Yobresal - 100 $385 PAID

The cost details (transparency ) An order for 214 parts ensures that we will receive 200 (they give you a +/-). For that order, the total cost is $754. This equates to about $38 per 10 parts. With shipping (anywhere in the world), and paypal fees, this boils down to $50 per 10 pack. Truthfully, the American buyers might be overpaying by a buck or two, and international buyers might be getting a few bucks of their shipping paid for by those overpaying americans. Thanks guys

EDIT: added a $30 for 5pcs option.

In all seriousness, $50 makes it easy, and if the +/- works in our favour (IE, we get MORE than 200 from eMachineShop), then we'll give the extra focus knob in order of priority to participants domestic to Stevie first (that means US). Hopefully that will account for the fact that US buyers are paying the same as others, even though they'll be cheaper to ship to.

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Old / Original Thread Write-up

Ok guys, so here's the idea. There are great resources on this forum for getting custom made focus knobs. What we lack, are quick and dirty replacements for Aixiz knobs, when you just want "something" fast, that looks better than the stock nuts. This isn't meant to supplant the great custom work done by anyone on these forums. This is mean to be something cheap that we can have a dozen of on hand as a better alternative to what we get with aixiz modules. The objective is to have these come in at under $5 in the end (and hopefully close to $2.50 or $3)

A community designed focus knob that we collectively design, and contribute feedback to. We'll figure out things like an optimal size (for the most universality) and design features. We can specify materials, and the finishing (if any). We'll keep the design "open source", and any modifications go back into a community file that anyone can play with it.

Whatever comes of this, can be organized into a group-buy, but doesn't have to be. Anyone will be free to take the CAD files and do their own run of the final product if they'd like to. At the same time, we'll make an effort to organize an actual purchase of these at a reasonable quantity, so that they're affordable. As far as I'm concerned, this will be a fully public domain - free for anyone to use - endeavor.
Below is a rendering of my suggested basic starting point, with some of the dimensions and details included. If this is stepping on anyone's toes, or if there are already designs that this duplicates, bring that to my attention. I have gone to my best efforts to make sure I couldn't find any other focus knob for sale on these boards that looks like this. My apologies if I've missed something. *Please tell me* and we'll fix it

From here on out, it's up to community consensus as to what we want to do/change/modify/add/remove etc:

Details:
Diameter: 19mm (with 1.5mm "lip" indent to allow use on 16mm hosts)
Material: Aluminum (6061 T6)
Finishing: None (can select things like buffing etc if we want)
Knurling: Not factored into the price (no option in software). Extra request. Extra cost unknown.
Lens thread: M9x0.5
Lens bore depth: 3mm

(older concepts / renderings)
PREVIOUS DESIGN: http://laserpointerforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=32613&stc=1&d=1304829348
http://laserpointerforums.com/attachments/f55/32600d1304755411-community-focus-knob-group-development-group-buy-take-two-rhdfinal.png
http://www.picdrop.net/images/taketwo.png
http://www.picdrop.net/images/side.png
http://laserpointerforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=32311&stc=1&d=1303074302
http://laserpointerforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=32310&stc=1&d=1303074524

 

[daguin]

Re: Community Focus Knob - Group Development / Group Buy - Take two

Keep it on topic, guys.

We've lost this thread once already. :cryyy:

Peace,
dave

 

[anselm]

Re: Community Focus Knob - Group Development / Group Buy - Take two

Hmm OK, I had a different idea.
A focus ring that could be used both flush angainst the heatsink,
or it could be turned around and be used on a lens that is somehow recessed into
hole and hard to grab onto. Think something like the Kryton Groove for example....
So there'd be thread for lens on both sides, top and bottom so it could be mounted
either way round...
What do you think?
Not so pretty, but more versatile and thus more practical, and thus a good choice
for a large run to fit the most possible number of situations.

This is the basic idea, but it could use some prettyfying.

 

[Krogith]

Re: Community Focus Knob - Group Development / Group Buy - Take two

What A Awesome Idea to allow it to be Open source "Free for ANYONE to Use"

What would it look like if you cut 4 larger holes towards the center one and have a smaller set of 4 off set from the bigger inner ones so it has like a pin wheel effect look. Does that make sense?

 

[rhd]

Re: Community Focus Knob - Group Development / Group Buy - Take two

anselm:
I'm not quite understanding what you mean by:
"a lens that is somehow recessed into hole and hard to grab onto"
I'm still thinking of a focus ring intended for aixiz lenses in aixiz mounts.

Krogith:
I can't quite tell what you're getting at - since your description sounds a bit like some designs that already exist, and we don't want to go there. So maybe you could put forward a photo/drawing of your idea to explain it visually?

 

[532 with Envy]

Re: Community Focus Knob - Group Development / Group Buy - Take two

I'v been playing with that E-machine shop for a little bit now and it is a great service.
Still getting the hang of the simple program though, but it's looking like I may have to have my C-mount set-up made through them.

Either way, great resource!
I'd be in for a few at that price for sure!
Thanks:beer:

 

[anselm]

Re: Community Focus Knob - Group Development / Group Buy - Take two

I meant a focus ring that could be used in either direction, so it could be
used in a situation like this as well, where you can't have a large diameter ring,
at least close to to the lens....:

This is just an example, but I'm actually having a hard time thinking of ANOTHER
situation where this could be useful...
Maybe with flashlights that have some sort of protruding bezel on the frontend,
further out than the front face of the heatsink. Make sense?:thinking:

Also, with threads for the lens, it will not work for bottom-half threaded Aixiz glass lenses,
that don't have a thread on the section of the lens that sticks out the module,
that part that is "grab-able".

 

[daguin]

Re: Community Focus Knob - Group Development / Group Buy - Take two

One challenge I see to this concept is that not all hosts are the same diameter (or depth). Each batch would have to be individually designed for a specific host (or a couple of hosts) anyway.

What purpose would a "standard" design serve? Wouldn't we accomplish all that was needed by simply posting the measurements of the threaded recess?

Peace,
dave

 

[Krogith]

Re: Community Focus Knob - Group Development / Group Buy - Take two

This drawing stinks but gives the idea. Doesn't even have to be the same size just idea bigger in the middle and smaller ones coming off them, You could do 5 circles also instead of 4

Would look good if all the holes around Have a Beveled Edge.

 

[rhd]

Re: Community Focus Knob - Group Development / Group Buy - Take two

Oh - I actually get what you mean now.

Apart from the obvious problem of this potentially looking like a swastika (I'm thinking of that thirty rock episode)

Something like this ?

I don't think that's been done before - might be a cool way to go.

Give me a second to figure out how to screen record, because I think I have a neat design, but I want to be able to rotate it on video for everyone to see.

 

[Plan B]

Re: Community Focus Knob - Group Development / Group Buy - Take two

I hate trying to adjust focus with a fiddly little aixiz lens knob so I'm sure I'd be interested in a few of these. I do think the final design(s) should have a knurled outer edge for secure grip. Another nice feature might be the ability to lock the focus ring down once it's set where you want but I'm not sure how you could implement this.

 

[anselm]

Re: Community Focus Knob - Group Development / Group Buy - Take two

Another nice feature might be the ability to lock the focus ring down once it's set where you want but I'm not sure how you could implement this.

Maybe with a counter nut.

 

[rhd]

Re: Community Focus Knob - Group Development / Group Buy - Take two

Locking might be tough because I think it would depend on the host a lot. But the knurled outer edge would be awesome - I'll see if this software allows for that.

Take a look at this:
YouTube - 20110415_2351_18-D.avi

 

[Krogith]

Re: Community Focus Knob - Group Development / Group Buy - Take two

3 Looks good, the 1st set should be larger than the Laser exit hole and then smaller next and smallest last

It should be knurled,


And if you can make it lock it would Be the Best Focus knob out there, Being able to lock in any position wanted

 

[rhd]

Re: Community Focus Knob - Group Development / Group Buy - Take two

Oh, apparently we can put comments to the machinist to "knurl" the edges - even though the software doesn't support it.

 

[rhd]

Re: Community Focus Knob - Group Development / Group Buy - Take two

This would come to just over $3 a knob - same specs as before (no buffing, etc)