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.
To whom are you directing this to?
It’s quite normal. Usually people don’t know when projects get started. Take Emisar for instance. It seems like they are just popping out new lights left and right, but the fact of the matter is that their lights have been in development for a very long time. We just didn’t see the development.
With the FW3A we can see the whole project go from a one off design to a full production unit. Being able to see this whole process is quite rare considering the hundreds of flashlight models that are currently on the market. Over the years there have been maybe less than a dozen models of lights where BLF was involved from the beginning. So it’s pretty rare to see it.
I’m sure you can understand why most product development is done in secrecy. A company would not want their design or idea to be stolen or duplicated by a competitor. Certain designs, like this one, are a bit harder to duplicate so we/they take the risk to talk about and show the whole process.
The flashlight companies still don’t talk much about the actual manufacturering process in order to keep their stuff secret.