FW3A, a TLF/BLF EDC flashlight - SST-20 available, coupon codes public

What a genius you are! Acknowledge a potential reason for them not being on board, suggest they burn themselves again, regardless, just so you can get a light.

That’s what this is really about isn’t it? You want a light, thought it would be ready by now so instead of showing patience you get all butt hurt and come on here sulking about it.

Grow a pair.

Tom Tom might be in a downer mood. We should just let him be. We all get this way sometimes.

We’ve probably noticed that lots of folks just like to vent on the forum. It’s not helpful or constructive to any of us, but it helps them to get things off their chest. You just have to roll with it and pay no attention.

If this is still active I’m interested in one if we are still using the +90 CRI Samsung LH351D emitters.

What new emitters and drivers? Why are triples and quads outdated?

Why would it be a “mechanical monstrosity”? What is different - and inherently less reliable - about the FW3A as we’ve seen it so far?

@Toykeeper
Cawi posted at 20 September that a lamp arrived.
But no pic, no first impression.
Did you got your 3th prototype?

To FW3A Team, Please put me down for 3. DarkerInSol Thank you

No, it seems only two were made and Neal sent them to Fritz and Cawi. I don’t know why they haven’t posted anything yet.

Because that makes so much sense, Neal :person_facepalming:

I have Faith that this Flashlight will be Built to the Best Specs posted by everyone involved before the Holidays! I’m still in for 2 and will probably wish that I had put down 4 after I get One in my hands. :+1:
I’d be willing to Bet it will happen soon and when it does it’ll be Quick!

Perhaps it’s because “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say it”

Which is not my way, as you know.

I hope that I am wrong, but it’s been a couple of weeks now.

Yeh, we all hope you are wrong but I have to admit the silence does seem odd :question:

From memory tk mentioned issues with durability/longevity of the sleeve and shorting issues. Maybe that explains the delay in feedback :question:

Sux being left in the dark but it’s so close :frowning: :expressionless:

There’s no such thing as this for a flashaholic :sunglasses:
:smiley: :smiley: :smiley:

Lol, didn’t even cross my mind when I wrote that :laughing: :person_facepalming:

Man im getting so antsy for these guys. I love my PFlexPro triple, but I want a shorter eswitch model and this is perfect, especially with the firmware direction its heading.

Ive been eyeballing some Zebralights as of late, but im holding out for this guy considering I can get 3 for the price of 1 Zebra, and im sure the beam pattern will be more desirable.

If possible id like to up my interest to 2 lights if there will be multiple emitter options. Hopefully the LH351 wins over the Nichias

1x LH351D (High CRI)
1x XPL-HI (Throw)

I think balanced discussion is good, I would definitely like to hear more about your concerns. What do you think about the design is out of date or potentially unreliable?

* crickets *

(waiting on third prototype test results from Fritz and Cawi)


- TK

:+1: … Amen to that…… :person_facepalming:

.
Memo to Neal: Send prototype to TK next time. :wink:

Amen to that too :smiley: :arrow_right:

I don’t want to come across as being overly negative, but my concerns are primarily about the mechanical design, which was the whole point of this “special elegant … flashlight” in the first place.

Putting the e-switch in the tailcap, with the co-axial inner tube for signalling, will require great precision and consistency in manufacture. Long-term reliability of this arrangement will depend on this. Even the design of the tail switch concerns me, if it is to be a bespoke assembly, rather than using a known-good component. Making reliable switches is not easy, though they appear superficially simple.

I have no idea how the design has progressed since the first rendering was shown in the first post. But the original concept may have become diluted:

“For a lot of us mere mortals, seeing the cool things machinists make on their lathe is just a dream.
Hence the finish of the FW3A will be clear anodizing, no sanding/beadblasting before anodization.
The idea is to give all the chance to have a light looking like it came of a lathe with the protection of anodizing.
(surface finish details are still being worked out though)”

I have confidence that DEL’s driver will be good, and admire the x1, xn 7135, plus FET, architecture. I’d like to see more of this sort of thing.

As I have confidence that TK’s firmware will deliver, preferably fine-tuned to the characteristics of the production LEDs.

Both have been ready for a long time.

It is however disappointing how long this has dragged on, the gestation period of an elephant, or two humans. So far.

In business this just won’t do, workers have to work and be paid, and bring up their families, factories have to keep their machinery running profitably, production slots booked, workers trained, test procedures and equipment in place, marketeers have to market, distributors have to commit to buying stock and be prepared to service warranties, supply chains have to be ready, long-lead and critical components procured, commodity items checked, in case the buyers need special instructions to make sure they get the right ones, Bills Of Materials signed off, firmware committed so the MCUs can be factory-flashed before delivery (mucking about with clips or even pogo pins at the last minute is not an efficient option, except maybe for first-batch)

Designers have to be competent, productive, and motivated to sign off each project, on-time (that means having a plan), with confidence (or be prepared to can them, if it isn’t going to work), then look forward to moving on to the next one.

Otherwise it looks more like a hobby, perhaps where the process, and finessing, is more interesting than the end result.

Meanwhile time moves on, and other interesting things appear, for example the latest Fireflies torch is piquing my interest.

I have been informed that Lumintop are ready to go, just waiting on TLF people and intermediaries to validate the design. Which is a serious decision, not to be rushed.

Fingers crossed that all is well.

Glad you’ve got it all worked out!