Are you talking about these convoys that despite the reflectors, are way off oversized than they need to be? Or is there any new flashlight that looks like the wish of this topic (second flashlight from right to left)?
Still looking for a direct drive, BLF X5 reflector on a 18650 body with tailswitch. Come on, no manufacturer made one yet?
This small little guy will have the most size/throw ratio of all 18650 flashlights ever. It will be the ultimate hiking flashlight where every inch and every gram matters.
It’s a good concept. Trouble is, many manufacturers and people in the business are still caught up in the e-switch hype, soda cans and large body form factor. To give you an example, take a good look at what Astrolux is doing now. They’re selling us products we don’t really need. Creating a demand for those ugly monstrosities as though they are really useful for practical purposes.
Internal space of the head will get wider from the orginal BLF X5 housing to accept to larger 18650 tube thread and that is it. Why would the head need to be longer?
You just cant calculate it right using another way. You just dont consider many things.
If you dont want to make full engineering drawing, just take a look at existing flashlights.
A6=120mm with 12mm reflector.
X5 reflector is slightly over 19mm.
M2=135mm with 22mm reflector. Yes it has little more spare place inside because first batches had pilled design, but it helps to fit longer cells (like 71-72mm).
X6=137mm with 24.5mm reflector.
So, based on X6 properties (bezel/o/ring/glass thickness and config, shelf thickness, cell capability), you can get 137-24.5+19=131.5mm length.
If things were so simple as you think, every *fire company have already presented 100mm flashlight with 18650 cell.
But that does pretty much match the desired lenght. Why did you pick X6 head properties? The proposed light has the X5 head with enlarged thread to match the X6 tube. According to the dimesions I got (80mm for the 18650 tube + 48mm X5 head) total lenght would be about 128mm. Ok, do you want add 1 or 2mm to the final lenght? That’s fine,130mm final lenght is still good enough.
That’s the whole point. The flashlight is already made. Widen aluminium wouldn’t work, it just need the machining of a new head.
Actually I want to do the full engineering drawing for this, but I need X5 and X6 drawings as reference. If someone could give me internal dimensions and tolerances I can make it work.
Does this have direct drive 1400 lumens output? What is the total lenght?
Any further developments on this or a product which fits the bill? I absolutely love my X5, its the perfect combination of throw and pocketability. Runtime though just isn’t enough for a longer walk, even on a lower mode so I find myself using something else or taking 2 torches, be really nice to get the runtime of an 18650.