Maybe it will sound strange but am I the only one who thinks that almost two years for flashlight development and putting into production is way too long? I really dont understand why it take so long and why there is no feedback from manufacturer and members who assist in development (and production?) process about schedule of production and actual date it will be ready for purchase?
Looking to the specs its probably best ever EDC light that will (hopefully) be available (also direct competitor to Emisar D4 and many other similar lights), so I assume for manufacturer and development team this need to be priority number one. Instead it looks like manufacturer is not interested (maybe initial price calculation is wrong or other reason?).
Again, looking to the specs, its clear that this light will be one of the best available (for that price) and manufacturer should know that as sooner it will be available for purchase, more lights will sell.
Sorry if this all sounds dumb. I dont know anything about production, just wanted to know why its soooo long.
A few reasons:
- Turnover. None of the original project members are still involved.
- Communication issues. Remember when Ford Prefect wrote an entire book about Earth, and his editor shortened it to “mostly harmless”? That sort of thing happens a lot.
- Getting stuff manufactured in China is complicated. Many surprising things can go wrong.
- It’s being made by volunteers, not employees.
However, it’s still happening faster than many Kickstarter projects. My experience with those has generally been about 3 or 4 years between buy-in and actual product delivery.
Ok. But what about feedback from manufacturer? As I understand, some production samples where made and sent to few volunteers for testing. I see three reviews, but why there are no information from manufacturer like, what is the status and when they plan to make first 2000 lights? Can someone, who knows better, guess or just ask manufacturer actual status?
The best person who can give you that answer already gave you her answer. What more do you want? You just have to be patient and remember this is being done by volunteers on THEIR OWN time, so we should be grateful and learn to wait. 
Teacher,
From what I’ve been able to glean, even if the driver recess in prototype 3 had been correctly machined, only the very shortest of button-top cells would be likely to work. Is that your opinion as well?
Yep, it has taken a while, but we are all hoping it is getting close to production.
hm so even flat top cells can be an issue is that correct ?
You can wonder why it goes like this, figure out how the process would go better, even conclude that the improved process would benefit both manufacturer and customer, and you could be right in all aspects.
But the simple truth is that when working with chinese flashlight manufacturers the process does not follow common sense. Communication can be slow or absent at times, and that is just one aspect of the process that is troublesome.
What may just happen is that while we expect the latest feedback to be incorporated in a final design, the flashlight goes on sale without notice to the development team, without minding the feedback. Once customer complaints about the design/manufacturing flaws start rolling in, they just improve the next batch.
If you can not live with that, it is best not to get too involved in these BLF projects, or just wait until a finalised batch with all flaws ironed out hits the market.
Honestly, the only opinion I have is if the total length of the cell (battery) is 66 mm or under it should fit.
If it is over 66 mm total length it’s probably not going to fit.
“Total length” is referring to anything that makes the battery longer, whether that be a button top, a solder b(. )( .)b, …… anything.
That is honestly all I know. I just take what I read in the OP at face value. “Maximum length is 66 mm”.
It is what it is…….
See, there are 2 problems we face here:
1. We don’t speak mandarin.
2. We aren’t based in China/don’t go in China.
It would help immensely if there weren’t a language barrier.
Also, if we were all based in the same timezone, that would make communication much quicker.
Word! :+1:
Now let’s get back to the off topic jive…… 
Got it. When I return to Dallas (I’m currently traveling), I think I’ll measure all of my high-drain button-top batteries to see how this design lines up.
I’ll assume that the 66-mm max length applies WITH a correctly-machined driver cavity.
definitely want this! signing up for further information.
Wow, I’ve only been involved in a handful of Kickstarter projects and all have been completed within 4-9 months. Most of the work on those has already been done though.
If you are using a (Vernier) caliper: make sure you don’t short circuit the battery or you’ll be in for a surprise.
From what I’ve been able to glean, even if the driver recess in prototype 3 had been correctly machined …
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I saw the diagram a few times. If the space the driver fits in needs to be a certain measurement, and that measurement is supplied, how then do they miss it? Curious.
Sounds like a plan…. :+1:
I think that is a safe assumption.
I personally cannot imagine they would send out lights on a large scale with an improperly sized driver cavity. That would indeed creat a large mess for LT I think. A massive mess in fact. I have ever confidence that will be fixed. Here's to hoping I am right..... .
It could be a case of the driver cavity machined too small or it could be a case of the driver diameter being a tiny bit too large. The drivers are made by an outside supplier.
I am interested in one when available. Thanks.
I think you vastly underestimate the market for these lights. Its a niche product, the vast majority of customers use AA batteries or want to recharge the flashlight directly with a usb cable. People on this forum often say call 18650 batteries cheap, but to a normal person $5 is a lot of money for a flashlight battery.
The reality of sales is that customers don’t make informed decisions, how it is marketed has a greater affect.
I think its quite insane how much flashlight companies work with BLF. From what I can tell, companies like Lumitop are footing the bill, and starting production with just verbal agreements of forum members saying that they will buy one.
The keyboard community has it so much worse. They have to do group buys and gather all of the money first, then place their order with the manufacturer at a high markup. A custom keyboard is super expensive because 200-1000 orders is not enough volume to get a good deal from the manufacturers. Once a groupbuy is completed you can pretty much guarantee that you can’t get that keyboard ever again (unless the creator stocks extras that are sold at an insanely high markup, or decides to do another group buy a year or two later). Meanwhile, BLF lights continue to be produced and sold years after the initial run.
Also, when working with chinese companies, you need a lot of prototypes because they don’t trust foreign people/respect them and its not like we are making them rich with our 1000-2000 purchases of a $30 light. If their profit margin is 50%, they’d only be making $30,000 for their troubles. Thats nothing compared to the volume of business they do in a year.