New all copper host project

Hey LPF,
I'm excited to share the host project myself and my friend/housemate have been working on the past few weeks. We decided to build an all copper host from the ground up roughly the size of the Kryton Groove and see what becomes of it. The inspiration of the design was my time my wife and I spent living with the Shipibo-Conibo tribe in the lower Amazon of Peru from 2011-2012. The Shipibo are known for their psychedelic patterns in which they sew by hand on tapestry and clothing inspired by the visions seen during the ayahuasca ceremonies. I personally partook in over 20 ceremonies during my time in the amazon and it changed my artistic direction quite a bit. Much of my personal art has been heavily influenced by the Shipibo as well as many other indigenous cultures of the world and it was our hope to capture a piece of this inspiration in metal for this creation. The patterns seen and drawn by the Shipibo always have reminded me of a convergence of indigenous cultures meets futuristic alien technology.

We are going to start with the all copper, press-fit module version first and build it to completion to make sure its functional. Direct diode press fit versions may be something we explore as well and I would appreciate hearing your feedback regarding these two ideas. After we get one built and working we will have more made for various other versions such as playing with different copper patinas, powder coat or auto paint with and with out GITD inlays.

Below are some renderings to give a glimpse of what they will look like. The design was made on a 3D modeling program called MODA so it is ready to go for the machinist with a CNC lathe and mill. Luckily we have some enthusiasm and support of some incredibly talented people. There is even talk about building some of the host body out of Damascus steel which would be amazing. My friend working with me on this is a well known jewelry designer so he has some good friends and contacts in the metals industry and have some have taken an interested in our endeavor. So stay tuned for up-dates if you're interested.

We are excited about this project and the hundred hours plus of designing and modeling will all be worth it soon.

Re: nwfreefly- host project

Simply beautiful, that is so cool! Good luck on bringing this concept to life; love the GITD :beer:
Be sure to stock up on small end mills, there's a lot of details to be cut.

:gj: +rep!

Re: nwfreefly- host project

looks like a PITA to machine. I was thinking, no no no, you'll get dirt build up in all those crevices, but then scrolled to the GITD inlay, bad ass idea, I want one. you can get different colored GITD too. I currently have focus adapters in some of mine with GITD inlays that approximate the wavelength. purple for 405nm, green for 520nm, red for 660nm, yellowish orange for 638nm, etc

your experiences cause me some envy

Re: nwfreefly- host project

Thanks guys,
This is definitely a lot of detail work which is why we need a machinist with CnC capability. One big factor we have in our favor to make this project even possible is that the majority of cost on a project like this is the time spent on the computer getting it ready for the CNC. Since we have done all that and the file is ready to go it should only cost us materials and machine time. The machinists we are using to have fabricate the hosts is used to this level of detail and more creating jewelry. But yes, manually this would be a huge PITA.

As far as the GITD we are hoping to try something new in applying the epoxy generously to fill the grooves and then sand and polish so the GITD inlays are flush. This way it feels nice in the hand and doesn't collect lots of dirt and grime.
I have done a lot of research regarding GITD powders to find what will be best.

Re: nwfreefly- host project

yes I was actually going to suggest attempting to make it flush. it would be sweet if with the eyes closed, one thought they were holding a smooth cylinder. not sure if sanding would work or not. you dont want to make micro grooves in the powder that collect debris, obscuring the glow and making it look dirty. dont know if sanding would cause this or not. will be watching. btw, of the GITD powders I've seen, the green holds it's charge the longest and is the brightest.

Re: nwfreefly- host project

Wow, that is a beauty! Will definatly keep an eye on this, and hope it comes together.

Re: nwfreefly- host project

Shakenawake said:

not sure if sanding would work or not. you dont want to make micro grooves in the powder that collect debris, obscuring the glow and making it look dirty. dont know if sanding would cause this or not. will be watching. btw, of the GITD powders I've seen, the green holds it's charge the longest and is the brightest.

Click to expand...

True, when I say sanding I mean like 1000-1500 grit wet sanding and then mirror polish so we won't scratch the epoxy and dull it. I haven't seen anyone try this method so we will test it out on something else first but I don't see why it shouldn't work. Regarding GITD powders another factor for max glow is particle size. The larger the particle the brighter the glow. We found a company that sells up from 15 to 1000 micron particles so we ordered a few different samples to find what the largest micron we could use and still have it visually appealing and workable in epoxy. We are also ordering powder that under normal lighting is day glow as well as GITD. I think that would look nicer than just milky white epoxy in day light conditions. Plus I love day glow colors.

The green is the brightest then aqua, then blue. The red is so so and purples are so dim I don't think we will use purple at all. One company has a day glow pink powder that glows yellow in the dark. That might be interesting.

If anyone wants the companies names that has the various Uv reactive and GITD powders PM me and ill send you the links.

Re: nwfreefly- host project

I love this idea! If these were available for purchase I would definitely be buying a few.

You should be able to get the epoxy to take a polish, I have been able to sand it with similar results to copper, however I no not have the equipment to polish it.

Re: nwfreefly- host project

Oh boy that will be a royal PITA. Cool as heck though! What would you think about a red brass exterior with a copper hestsink? May be cheaper, and the color would look very cool.

Heck it will look amazing either way!

Re: nwfreefly- host project

TheGreaterWatt said:

I love this idea! If these were available for purchase I would definitely be buying a few.

You should be able to get the epoxy to take a polish, I have been able to sand it with similar results to copper, however I no not have the equipment to polish it.

Click to expand...

Thanks that's good to know. We hope to work all the bugs out of the design and have a solid method to GITD them then we can talk about making them available for purchase those that are interested.
Currently we have hit a small bump in the road with converting our file to what the CNC is set up for. So that's what we are working on now. We may have to buy a plug in to convert it but they aren't cheap so are going to contact the software manufacturer that created ISOG for a solution.

Re: nwfreefly- host project

Hey Jeff the final rendering looks fantastic!

If it helps I did try the "epoxy first" method and then polishing, but the polishing makes the epoxy look dirty. Yes you can clean it with i-propanol, but the finish still wont be as good as polishing first and then adding the epoxy. I did lots of experimenting with the grooves, to get it right, and I found that polishing and then the "masking before epoxy" method best. Unfortunately polishing after epoxying resulted in microscopic particles becoming embedded in the surface of the epoxy and epoxy after polishing, tended to scratch the polish. Masking after polishing was therefore extremely important.

If you get it right, the epoxy settles to a level shiny finish anyway.

In addition, I wouldn't suggest making the grooves too deep as you will need a lot of epoxy/powder.

Im definitely interested in a host, do you have any ball park prices?:beer:

Re: nwfreefly- host project

nwfreefly said:

Thanks that's good to know. We hope to work all the bugs out of the design and have a solid method to GITD them then we can talk about making them available for purchase those that are interested.
Currently we have hit a small bump in the road with converting our file to what the CNC is set up for. So that's what we are working on now. We may have to buy a plug in to convert it but they aren't cheap so are going to contact the software manufacturer that created ISOG for a solution.

Click to expand...

What format is it in now? What format does it nees to be? I may be able to help.

Re: nwfreefly- host project

If you wouldn't mind a copy being made, I'd chip in for the cost of having yours milled for a second one being made

Re: nwfreefly- host project

CP- pm sent and thank you.

grainde- your experience with GITD is invaluable thank you. Ill be contacting you more for some info.

Alaska- Thank you for your kind offer brutha but I fully intend on making these hosts available to anyone that wants one once we get it all dialed in. It is my thank you to all of you who have been so helpful during my time here.

Omg, I am an avid knife collector and to get this host with GITD and Damascus steel would be incredible. I have never press fitted a diode before, as all my hosts are the ones that take a full module , but for this host, I would most definitely learn!!! Subscribed and waiting with baited breath. I am still in awe over the drawings.

wow, this looks awesome! Count me in for one (at least), too! Thanks!!

Also, I may be able to suggest another variation that could be interesting. I'm not sure if it is feasible, but hear me out. Make the grooves very shallow, add chrome plating to the entire host, and then shave down the host (with a lathe?) to flush. The goal would be to create a smooth Copper/Chrome host with that pattern. I know ehgemus uses this technique with his powder coating. Just a thought.