ARCTIC HOST feeler! interested? READ

[jakeGT]

i would not go with an arctic at all for anybodys first laser, you should try to find some low powered ones on here first, unless your getting everyone goggles and making 110% postitive they are worn at all times in doors i would not get a 1W+ for there first laser. Try 100mw or less for there first lasers, it will still astound them and give them that wesome wow.

And if you want to build one try building a nice red or violet first

 

[skygear]

I agree with you on the first laser.... No we have used and built around 15 lasers that were labbies and portables. Even use an Argon for welding on a weekly basis and have taught the boys proper safety with that beast!

They have been asking for quality portable lasers for about a year now. When we are using them, we ALWAYS use protection! I take them hunting with me and they have IR sites for our boar night hunts. We even built a few UV torches with maglight hosts.

My Idea was to get a few of the Artics then gut them and replace with a more efficient system. Came here to look for the pertinent info and specs/ DTR will be getting an order from me once I map out my options.

When I came here looking for the diode's I saw a few of your replys with the GB in the sig. Now I'm here looking at getting 3 hosts for less than the cost of a new S3 if they pan out in a reasonable amount of time. I'm not here to blow smoke up peoples asses, I'm here to learn and teach my children new exciting things that they are interested in. My daughter wants a "purple"laser as she calls it but I feel she is not matured enough to handle a portable laser yet.


definately appreciate the concern though. If these were ready, I would have transfered the money already and wouldn't be having this conversation!

I must say though, I like this version- better than the second pic. The head looks much more menacing and to say the least I was dissapointed with the differences between the two- The surface area looked greater on pic 1 for better cooling

I dont think I read if these hosts were going to be waterproof or not.

 

[JaiNobeZ]

^ The original S3P hosts were supposed to be waterproof. Nobody dared find out though. I forget if the Arctic was advertised as waterproof.

I'm assuming the Pontiac hosts will not be waterproof?

We need a special name for these hosts. What about... the Spyder III Pontiac? Or the Pontiac III Arctic?

 

[JimBolder]

^ The original S3P hosts were supposed to be waterproof. Nobody dared find out though. I forget if the Arctic was advertised as waterproof.

I'm assuming the Pontiac hosts will not be waterproof?

We need a special name for these hosts. What about... the Spyder III Pontiac? Or the Pontiac III Arctic?

Yeah, I think it was advertised as "splash-proof" or something along those lines. There's a youtube video out there of somebody dropping their stock Arctic into a bucket of water while on, and it didn't die.

Frankly, I'd be happy if it was just sealed up enough to not fizz out if I use it in the rain or accidentally spill a can of coke on it or something. Complete waterproofing is entirely unnecessary, IMHO.

As for the name, I think it should be up to Pontiac. But I kinda want to cut off any references to the original arctic, just to avoid all the beef.

 

[rhd]

The "Antarctic" ??

 

[JimBolder]

The "Antarctic" ??

Genius. :bowdown:

 

[Sparkles]

How abut Sabre Tooth?

 

[hakzaw1]

@ skygear I applaud everything you are doing with your youngen's.. All dads could take a lesson from you.

'A family that lase(s) together stays together'

Hunting with my dad , uncles and grandpa was one of the best times of my life IMO.


one suggestion however-- re-size photos before posting them-- it gets tedious to need to scroll from side to side to see them and read your post.

+rep for you sir!!

\hak

 

[skygear]

Reps appreciated! your right on the hunting and guiding in the right direction. Encouraging positive actions and supporting their interests has gotten us far. With 4 kids its alot of work but so rewarding in the end.

I use a 3 x 30' display setup and tend to forget about the pictures. I CP'd (copy, pasted) the url's from wicked lasers site and neglected to modify them.

On the waterproof issue- I saw a first run prototype in person and the head was triangular and looked more like a tactical flashlight head. The waterproofing isn't something that should be hard to integrate into the design. I have experience with a lathe and cnc machines- an extra groove for an 'O' ring here and there with proper threading and a little silicone lube is all thats needed. Button switches should be rubarized and 'O' ringed. then the lense cap should be 'O' ringed also.

If the housing is pressure fit together, normally the fit doesnt require any additional 'proofing'. So with that being said. from the rear to the front. 1 'O' ring inside the pushbutton housing, 1 on the housing in the battery cap area, silicone the led battery display area, then 1 on the lense threads, and just to be careful you can even integrate a couple inside the host for a snug secure fit to help with shock and movement of parts in normal use and acidents.

Anywhere there is a thread, add a groove for the 'O' rings and that would (under normal circumstances) waterproof to 100meeters/330 feet given the lenses are properly sealed also.

lenses and buttons tend to be the fail point on hosts when liquids are involved

 

[jib77]

Ive ordered some prototype voltage monitor PCBs to play with.
I should be getting them the last week of Feb.

 

[skygear]

I may be jumping the gun here, however I picked up a few 18650 li-ion 4000mah batteries in anticipation for this new project-After I hit buy now, I realized there was a warning on the product that they were 69mm not 67mm (in length)- I assume the battery compartment wil have a little extra space in there and a spring in the rear to chew up extra space. I really am a fan of the S3 multi function switch in the middle of the host.

mabey we can integrate the same feature into the tail cap switch. anyone have a lead on one of the 'phaser' style lenses? looking for one for a different project but would be interested in possible integration in another lense cap for this project.

Will there be additional lense heads available for purchase? or possibly included? What color(s) and finish were you considering in the annodising process? My personal preference would be media blasted then annodised black with no external badging. Mabey a laser etched barcode but thats something I could do to my own hosts. By the looks of the renderings there is no text! thats +++ good- and I feel it should stay that way.

Looking further, I now see that there are grooves intentional or not where the 'O' rings would fit no problem

 

[jib77]

Multi-function requires additional circuitry and writing firmware for a micro processor.

Your best and cheapest bet is to use a multi-function LED driver from DX, but you would be limited to 445 diode and wont be able to use a side clicky without major mods.

 

[Krogith]

I may be jumping the gun here, however I picked up a few 18650 li-ion 4000mah batteries in anticipation for this new project-After I hit buy now, I realized there was a warning on the product that they were 69mm not 67mm (in length)- I assume the battery compartment wil have a little extra space in there and a spring in the rear to chew up extra space. I really am a fan of the S3 multi function switch in the middle of the host.

mabey we can integrate the same feature into the tail cap switch. anyone have a lead on one of the 'phaser' style lenses? looking for one for a different project but would be interested in possible integration in another lense cap for this project.

Will there be additional lense heads available for purchase? or possibly included? What color(s) and finish were you considering in the annodising process? My personal preference would be media blasted then annodised black with no external badging. Mabey a laser etched barcode but thats something I could do to my own hosts. By the looks of the renderings there is no text! thats +++ good- and I feel it should stay that way.

Looking further, I now see that there are grooves intentional or not where the 'O' rings would fit no problem

LOL, Read over the whole post and all reply's and you'll get most of the information you asked.

We will all get the Exact same Unit. The switch will not be stupid like the real arctic

EDIT: and i think this is going be into the end of march if not longer tell it's all done and the GB go's through

 

[rhd]

Wait a minute, you mean this switch isn't going to require AES 256 decryption sequences and an iris scan to activate?

Never mind then, count ME out...

 

[Pontiacg5]

Jib, do you think you could extend the sides of the board a little ways. I plan on making a "tray" for the PCB to slide into somewhat like the switch holder for most pen builds. Then all I would need to do is find a way to keep the entire assembly from rotating...

You could probably even include a ground contact on one side too, though that wouldn't be entirely necessary. It would be a lot easier than trying to grab from the case pin of the diode though.

I'll model what I'm thinking of if it would help at all, I can't explain things very well in words but I'm getting pretty good with solidworks!

 

[skygear]

I took the opportunity to register to ask questions and give feedback AFTER I read the WHOLE thread and replys. I didn't see clear answers thus my posts in this thread.

1. The switch- I understand the extra work involved and hardware/firmware needed to accomplish this feat. Personally if its for myself and my children, I am willing to put the extra work and effort in to get a desired end product. As far as the switch being 'stupid' - speak for yourself, I like having different power modes with children around!

2. The battery compartment- there was talk of too much extra space in the unit but I wanted to make sure that the section of the unit that houses the batteries wasn't blocked or separated in a way that would hinder the use of different cells.

3. Additional Lense heads- again I didn't notice this answered - I assume that they would be available but to be sure I ASKED!

SO I came to a specialist community to better my knowledge and ask intelligent well thought out questions to better my skills, have some patience and be helpful instead of condescending to people, we were all noobs at one point. My skillsets and knowledge is far from a noob but in the sence of me being on this board i am a noob

Unfortunately I had read the thread between 3-6 am my time and might not have retained all the information I read.

Now that I have ranted for no other reason other than I feel like I was being mocked, I'm going to read the thread over again for a second time.