Welcome to Laser Pointer Forums - discuss green laser pointers, blue laser pointers, and all types of lasers

LPF Donation via Stripe | LPF Donation - Other Methods

Links below open in new window

ArcticMyst Security by Avery

Spiderfire X-07

Joined
Apr 30, 2012
Messages
59
Points
8
I don't think a review has been done on this host before, so I will provide my recent experience with this little beauty...

The stainless steel Spiderfire X-07 is a slick little unit that feels great in the hand due to the heft of the metal. It's sleek and compact, but with enough space to insert a sizeable heatsink.

This model was suggested to me by Flaminpyro after some extensive back and forth discussions about building this with a Tank unit. Since I wanted to use a 9mm 445 diode, I decided to go with the Spider since there is more room in the sink to add the hardware and wiring. I just received it from FP (well packaged) a couple of days ago. (Thanks, Jeff, for allowing me to use a few of your pics :yh: )

The host:

8040-img-0446-600x450.jpg


The unit:

8028-img-0439-600x450.jpg


Here is the copper sink, machined by FP along with housing components. The tail cap is not pictured. The connecting threads are protected by rubber washers (also not pictured) making a nice, tight seal.

8032-edit-preview-3-600x600.jpg


Top view with sink inserted:

8034-edit-preview-6-600x600.jpg


This Spiderfire build has dual Micro Flex Drive V5s bonded to the inside of the sink at 2.2A total current output.

FP installed the drivers and grounding wire for me. Here, the drivers are being prepped for bonding to the sink and you can also see the battery connector to supply power to the drivers.

FP is using alcohol to clean the flux off the drivers so that the Arctic Silver will bond well to the Kapton tape on the inside of the sink (since the inside of the sink is curved and could connect with parts of the drivers and short circuit them...the Kapton provides protection). Kapton tape permits heat to pass through:

8031-edit-preview-2-600x600.jpg


Bonded drivers with wiring in place and ready to be soldered to the diode housing:

8033-edit-preview-4-600x600.jpg


I purchased a 9mm 445 diode with ESD protection and G2 lens from DTR and inserted it in the sink. I removed the barrel and had to shave a thin layer off the copper diode housing to get it into the sink - an easy task.

Once inside and tightened in with an Lwrench, I removed the lens temporarily so I could place the sink flat and work on the wiring. I soldered the red wire from the diode to the two driver blues, and the diode black to the other two driver blacks. The red battery connector wire was then soldered to the two driver reds. The exposed connections were covered with shrink tubing.

All the wires were tucked into the sink and the plastic battery connector attached to the bottom forming a completed laser module (note the earth magnets attached to the positive terminal of the battery in the pic...a big no-no...discussed further below:

8036-img-0438-600x450.jpg


The sink was then placed in the host with the G2 lens and a custom focus adaptor attached - made by FP. The laser was complete at this point:

8038-img-0441-600x450.jpg


Another pic:

8030-edit-preview-1-600x600.jpg


And yet another:

8035-edit-preview-600x600.jpg


Note how nice and compact the unit is, and as mentioned above, the heft feels great. And it's so gosh-durn shiny too! :cool:

8037-img-0440-600x450.jpg


My camera doesn't take great beam shots but here's one when I first powered it up in my tripod. The beam looks off-centred in the pic, but when focused properly it's perfectly straight:

8039-img-0442-600x450.jpg


Now, about that battery...

I didn't have an 18650, so I used a protected 14500 with magnets (too short) to close the connection. I made the mistake of connecting them to the positive terminal. The laser worked but FP since told me this could cause damage, so I then removed them and attached them to the negative terminal.

The laser made a faint whistle-like sound while operating and the magnets on the negative terminal got quite hot very quickly.

I grabbed my Laserbee 2.5W LPM and took a measurement. However, as I powered up with a freshly charged 14500 3.7V @ 750mA, the beam held steady for about 5-10 seconds, hitting 1.2W, and then started to flicker rapidly. As it did this, the power fell off quickly and then the beam shut down. I waited a few seconds and tried again. Same thing happened only the beam didn't last nearly as long. I assumed the diode was craving power and sucking it up quickly. I think that the 14500 just couldn't supply enough amperage for the diode at 750mA.

I checked the battery and the magnets were very hot, so I decided I wouldn't try it again until I got a couple of 18650s, which I have ordered - 2 GTL 2300 mA.

When placed in the charger, I realized after a few minutes that the 14500 was pretty much drained. I'm glad this was a protected battery and hope therefore that the laser isn't damaged. I'd hate to have to replace components on it already. Live and learn. I'll know in about 2 weeks when my new 18650s arrive.

Overall, I just love this unit and am looking forward to getting a lot of use out of it.

I also want to take a minute here to offer my extreme thanks to Jeff (Flaminpyro) for all of his excellent advice, top-notch service and professionalism. He is a first-class act and an all around nice guy who goes above and beyond to ensure a buyer is completely satisfied and more.

Thanks for everything Jeff, and I'll be giving you some +rep. We'll connect again when I'm ready to build the Space 1999 laser on my avatar as discussed.

I hope everyone enjoyed this review, learned something from it, and perhaps some of you are now interested in acquiring your own Spiderfire X-07.

Cheers!! :)
 





Joined
Apr 30, 2012
Messages
59
Points
8
Hmmm.....

That's really strange that the pics don't seem to appear?!?

I saved them in my LPF album and linked them into the post from there. I just went to have another look and realize I had the album set to private..perhaps that's what messed it up? I just set it to public, so please let me know if you can see the pictures now. If not, perhaps anyone interested can view them in my album. I don't know what else to try. Everything looks fine from my screen.

(Jeff, +rep for all of the great help you provided in this build)
 
Joined
Feb 10, 2013
Messages
2,125
Points
63
Hey, Zircarg, great review! I hope you have many hours of fun with your new batteries! It's always nice to have one of FP's builds in your collection.

+1 to you both.
 

gismo

0
Joined
Jan 8, 2013
Messages
758
Points
43
This particular Spiderfire X laser creation is a "shiny 445nm crawler"!

:bowdown:
 

BowtieGuy

0
LPF Site Supporter
Joined
Oct 14, 2012
Messages
6,090
Points
113
Zircarg, great looking host, and a nice clean build! :)
That "Spider" will probably be a monster with some good 18650's in it.

A +1 for a great build!
 

djQUAN

0
Joined
May 27, 2013
Messages
1,154
Points
63
I'm annoyed with all those xxx-fire flashlights out there (screams Surefire knockoff - no offense hehe) but this looks great!

The faint whistle you heard was the boost driver struggling to produce output from the low voltage. A well designed driver shouldn't have problems with that. Post beam shots once you get the batteries!
 
Joined
May 4, 2009
Messages
5,443
Points
113
I'm annoyed with all those xxx-fire flashlights out there (screams Surefire knockoff - no offense hehe) but this looks great!

The faint whistle you heard was the boost driver struggling to produce output from the low voltage. A well designed driver shouldn't have problems with that. Post beam shots once you get the batteries!

It was probably the magnets screaming, let me outa here it's getting hot :na:
 




Top