Which of these designs do you like best?

[GBD]

Ive recently finished a quick red diode module. its lasing quite nicely, but it needs a host.
This is probably also the first time ive even put a red into a handheld, so I am going to make a host for it which will more or less look something like this:
I am wondering how to finish it (paint job wise) for its final look, and I am stuck between these three:
(Please excuse the crudly drawn MS paint pictures)

1. Partially anodized (either gloss or matte black), the gray represents exposed aluminum that will be polished.


2. No anodization at all, all polished aluminum.


3. Full anodized (either gloss or matte black)


If you think all of these designs suck, please let me know and Id love to hear up some ideas of your own.
Im stuck between these three, and would like some advice.

Thanks.
:beer:

 

[laserpyro]

Number 3 definitely. Looks Sik

 

[Eudaimonium]

I can help you out with that if you need it done more ... realistically.
Just shoot me over the dimensions of everything and I'll render it out.

Here are my designs, I have all the dimensions and I will get the done sooner or later.

I have all the internals done too.

 

[GBD]

Thats just cool as hell Eud.
I really appreciate the offer, but im just trying to figure out a basic "look" and concept for the host really.

 

[Leodahsan]

The latter, GBD. But, some people may like the 'full polished', if you are going into selling. I'd personally get both :beer:

 

[GBD]

heh
I dont really have time to be selling stuff.. its just a build for myself.
well.. after seeing eud's designs of his own and thinking for a bit.. im now thinking between partially anodized and just full polished aluminum.

Just so you guys know, this host will be fairly big.
gonna be slightly bigger then the arctic (fatter and longer)

 

[Sinuhesieda]

number 1, whit matt black and rest polished aluminum.

 

[Eudaimonium]

Well, just to let you know, Anodizing a material takes a lot of time and effort, or costs a lot of money (or both).

Going with plain materials would perhaps not only be refreshing, but cheaper and quicker for you.

Also, if you need any help with designs of intrails of the host, feel free to ask, I'll share my ideas with you to make the apsolute best host!

 

[anselm]

Just my opinion:
I would anodize or maybe coat with a heavy duty paint (cheaper?) both the body and the tailcap.
In any case matte black, not glossy.
There are some good strong paints, some even can give you a texture.

The heatsink I think looks best polished.
I can see that being difficult though, with the fins and all....

So n.1 but with a black tailcap.

 

[Ash]

I like the look of an all-metal host. I think the polished aluminum would look better (and be cheaper)

 

[GBD]

Thanks for all your help guys.
I will do as anselm said. with the exeption of the matte finish.
Heres the thing with anodizing for me. it is quite easy to make a gloss and strong finish. but getting a high quality matte is something that I have been finding very hard to do recently.

I will try experimenting with scrap pieces that are anodized and some sandblasting.. maybe get the texture somehow (using very fine).

For now though, these is what is anodized. my 445nm build is right behind it for size referance.
The heatsink will be polished, and I will be starting a thread with more detailed pictures and stuff when I actually finish and get the laser working.
I still need to do a bunch of stuff.


EDIT:
Im a bit of a kleptomaniac for taking free AAs/AAAs given away where I work.. as a result of this, I have built a rather impressive collection of batteries. dont ask.. its an unhealthy addiction.
Anyway, I will make this thing powered off a battery holder I got, which holds 4AAs (for a 6V config).
Here are some pictures of it, with a 18650 for size referance. A neat with this thing is that the electronics get to be isolated from the host itself. I found these O-like laser module housing, with a bit of thermal grease to be fairly good electrical insulators. so both power supply and diode get to be isolated from the host.

6V actually works out perfect for me, as my driver is a step down buck coverter.

I rather these style of driving compared to the linear form of an LM317 I see so often. Reason bieng is the very high effieciency, and very little power wasted as heat in the process. This host is fairly big.. So I have more then plenty room to work with this style of driver. (although I still need to design a PCB for this one still, as the part count is more or less high then most of the drivers I have right now)

 

[Leodahsan]

are you a machinist, by a chance, GBD?
good work on there flashlight- I'd like to see it lasing

 

[GBD]

Nah, Im an electrician apprentice. and still doing high school. part of my apprenticeship program is that I have school for half a year, then work full time the other half, which is what im doing right now (still get my credits toward my diploma at the same time though).

I just have alot of tools and spare time once in a while and exploit it for all its worth
(also keeps me partially sane)

 

[Leodahsan]

Nah, Im an electrician apprentice. and still doing high school. part of my apprenticeship program is that I have school for half a year, then work full time the other half, which is what im doing right now (still get my credits toward my diploma at the same time though).

I just have alot of tools and spare time once in a while and exploit it for all its worth
(also keeps me partially sane)

I was going to take that way (electrician apprentice) last year, but when I found out what I wanted, the classes were already full.. so I'll join this year maybe.

Well well, you having the tools and using them, turns you into a machinist, am I wrong?? you're fully sane to my viewpoint.. but that is very relative isn't it?

 

[GBD]

What? How did you know?!?! are you hidding in my lathe?!! *checks*
Well.. this is still tied to my high school. so I wont need to take cources until I graduate. but I will be collecting all the hours needed so I wont need to do it after high school (the work part, just take the classes)

well.. okay.. fine.. I still cant call myself a machinist (I lack the percision and messurements machinists have, I pretty much wing everything and see how it goes).. but Ill call myself a metal manipulating tool enthusiast.

 

[Leodahsan]

What?? How did you know I was hiding in your lathe?? *flees from the lathe and hide behind you*

well well.. good part about the course. But if you're going to improve that you're needing waaay more years of studying :beer:

oh well.. it seems very precise IMHO. I'd buy it if you were selling (black please)
I'm no one to critize your work.. but if I had to I'd sure do it. From the pics, the thingy does not seem to be 'unprecise'.



btw.. you looked.. don't you?