AA host renders

[kevinmassey]

Thats what I was thinkin; put the module in all in one piece. Not a diode pocket host. I have an idea to make it focusable too. It would be kinda hard to explain without pics but I could try if you like.

 

[Pontiacg5]

I could make it focusable by adding a second lens that screws onto the outside and adjusts for focusing, it wouldn't be as waterproof as the host, and might leak a little early (around 3m deep, like the rayfoss hosts do.) It could be removable for less power loss when focusing isn't necessary.
The problem with adjusting the only focusing lens from outside of the host for "focus on the fly" would be that there would have to be a o-ring somewhere. O-rings are waterproof to a certain depth, but they would be the weak point that leaks first. It would be best to use as few moving joints with o-rings as possible to make the host waterproof to the deepest depths.

However I don't think there would be too many situations where someone needed a laser that was waterproof for more than 3 meters, scubadivers aside

Pics of your idea would be helpful, brainstorming to find the best setup would make the best host in the end!

 

[Pontiacg5]

I know its a double post, but its an update

I've been working on a focusable waterproof pen, and this is what I have so far. Kevin and I have sent some PMs back and forth and this is a mix of both of our ideas.

I haven't added any textures or colors yet, I used paint real quick before posting this photo to "distinguish" the aixiz module and lens from the host.

Basically what is going on here is a cap over a housing that freely rotates. We discussed just having the threads run out which would let the cap spin freely but then there would need to be springs and threads are not exactly even and they might catch or rub, I didn't think it would work as smooth as it could. So, I decided instead to make a groove that 4 set screws in the cap will ride in. The cap can rotate freely around the housing that way without any catching or vertical movement and no springs either. Also, there will be no gap when focusing the laser!
How? Well its still a theory, but if you look at the drawing you can see a half circle cut around what is supposed to be the aixiz lens. There will be a o-ring that fits in that groove that will grab and rotate the aixiz lens allowing it to move up and down but the cap itself will only rotate. The only issues I can see would be...

1) If the cap was rotated clockwise too much the lens would be screwed into the module too much then the o-ring wouldn't be able to catch it anymore. However, that can be fixed with a stop of some sort inside the module or on the lens that would only allow it to "screw in" to its optimal focused to infinity setting. That would also make it easy to return the focus to infinity, you would just rotate clockwise till it stops!

2) The o-ring might not have enough friction to let the lens rotate. However, I think aixiz lens assemblys usually rotate pretty freely in the module and it would not require too much to get it to turn, but it could be a problem. Also too much friction might rub pieces of o-ring off which could get on the lens, but I don't see that being a big issue.

The other two semicircles cut into the housing would be places for another 2 o-rings. The little notch is where the set screws will catch and rotate.


The third problem is a switch. I could use a tail clicky, but I don't think that follows the "pen host" theme. I would like to use a magnetic reed switch that would turn on when a magnet is slid into place but I am having problems figuring out what exactly is the best way to do that. What I am leaning towards now would be a ring that rides in a groove around the host that would hold the magnet. There would be a groove inside the groove to keep the ring from rotating, it would only slide up and down. You would slide it up to turn the laser on, and down to turn it off. The only problems that I can think of with this method would be...

1) The laser could be turned on really easily by accident. I could design a groove that would allow the ring to twist to the side and up, to lock it out of place. Or the ring could be removable, you could just take the ring off.
Also, any stray magnets would turn the laser on, even if the ring was out of the way. I think something like a piece of rubber or something could be placed over the battery terminals to break the circuit, but then to "ready" the laser you would have to unscrew it and remove that piece. You would then have to do the same thing to safety it as well.

2) Friction would be a problem and it would damage or ruin any finish that was inside the groove. I could use plastic for the ring but that wouldn't eliminate the problem completely either. I really cant think of a way around that problem.

Wait, I just thought of something! Not a ring on the laser, but a ring on your finger! I could make a ring for your thumb that held the magnet, whenever your thumb gets close to the laser it would turn on. It still would keep you from changing hands, and you would have to be careful to not turn it on by accident as well.

If anybody could think of a better switch idea, that would be great. I could waterproof a tail clicky pretty easily, but I don't want to use one of those!

I also had to bump this one up to AA batteries. It was getting so thick that I just decided I should take advantage and use the extra space. At the moment, it is 16.5mm around but I can probably squeeze some of that back as I get closer to the finished design.

Well, what do you think?

 

[kevinmassey]

Nice! I like the set screw idea. I have an idea to replace the set screws with something easier, but i think it would be to complicated. /: it involves small ball bearings. Instead of an o-ring gripping the aixiz you could have a piece of rubber kinda like if you cut the front off a dust cap, but harder, and tighter. That way there would be alot more more surface area.

 

[Pontiacg5]

Ball bearings? I would like to hear the idea, I can't think of any way to get them in there! It would be nice to have something not visible holding the cap on!

 

[kevinmassey]

Well ya know how ratchets have a spring loaded ball bearing that locks the socket in place? Same concepts using 2, or 3.
Edit: actually you can probably just use one. Alright all you do is drill almost all the way through the front cap so you could drop the ball bearing in and it would stay. They you put a piece of springy substance behind the ball bearing. then you would still have to a screw to put behind that, but you could make it almost flush. The problem with this idea is the cap would have to be atleast 4mm think....

 

[Pontiacg5]

That is a really good idea, I never would have thought of that. I'm going to do some research and see how those are held in without popping out, probably some kind of press...

I'll do some more revisions tomorrow and post some updates. I need to sleep now though.

 

[kevinmassey]

Read the edit when you get a chance.

 

[Pontiacg5]

The term for that ball on a socket wrench is a ball detent. Its pretty much just a spring, a ball, and a hole. I would like to put them inside the cap, but there is really no way to drill a hole in the cap so they will have to go in the module. Here is a quick sketch...

So, I've just drilled a hole clear through now. Once the module is pressed in there will be a backing to keep the spring and ball from falling out the back. To keep the ball from popping out when you pull the cap off you will need to use a punch to fold a little bit of the hole over. Since the material is aluminum that wont be too hard, I might even be able to make a punch that you would just center over the ball and tap a couple of times with a hammer. You could do without adding that little flare, but then every time you took the cap off the balls would go flying, and they would be a PITA to reset every time.


The smallest springs I could find are 2.4mm in diameter, so to use a spring I need a pretty big hole. I could use a smaller ball and something like rubber as a spring, but that is kind of cheap, and would probably fail at some point. I also had to move the o-rings down because water could leak through the balls if they were at the bottom.

Since the balls and springs are so big, the diameter is bumped up to 19mm now. Its getting kind of close to being out of pen territory now...

Any comments or other interest in a waterproof focusable pen like this?

 

[kevinmassey]

It would be so much easier to just make this not focusable :/. it could just be an unfocusable green waterproof pen. I'd be happy with that, and you would be able to keep it alot smaller.

 

[HIMNL9]

If you use ball-locks, remember to place a "lip" on the border of the hole where the sphere rest ..... otherwise, when you remove the cap, you lost them.

Also, the o-ring system for drive the lens assembly, can work better with a lens holder like the "half-threaded" one from aixiz, the one for 405nm glass lenses, cause the threads in the full-threaded models can quickly ruin your o-ring.

Anyway, with 2 o-rings on the sides, you don't need really it ..... just fit the lens holder on the top of the cap, and screw it in the aixiz thread, the o-rings are enough for take care of the water AND make the friction enough for keep the focusing stable

 

[Pontiacg5]

That is true, the o-rings would probably hold the cap on and keep water out too. I might add a third one and just trial and error this thing till I get it set up perfectly.

Making it unfocusable would make it a lot cheaper and easier to make, it also would be skinnier as well.

I'll see if I can get anything done this week, I would really like to make some of these!

 

[kevinmassey]

Me too! If you can make one to fit an o-like green module, and AA's that would be awesome.

 

[oikos]

wow nice Pontiacg5! now i see where your avatar came from! that host is beautiful IMO way better than WL spider

 

[Xplorer877]

Nice skills man!!! Looks awesome. I'm sure if you, or anyone else, wanted one you could send the drawings to Ehgemus and he'll hook you up. Needless to say, he does amazing work!

-Tony

 

[Ehgemus]

Nice skills man!!! Looks awesome. I'm sure if you, or anyone else, wanted one you could send the drawings to Ehgemus and he'll hook you up. Needless to say, he does amazing work!

-Tony

Thanks xplorer
Hay Pontiacg5 I would love to see what I can do with it if you have drawings.