FW3A mod thread. Post yours!

I was at that point 6 years ago :person_facepalming:

Yes it is! I’ve been using it for years for reflows, dedoming, etc. When I was a young teenager I would use it to tie fly hooks but haven’t for many years.

Man, I could use a weekend of fly tying, or something.

True. Here's how if anyone's interested ;)

First I made a template from an old 20mm triple MCPCB to match up with a Carclo 105xx optic. 65mm steel box lid.
This is the most difficult & time consuming part but only needs done once.

A piece of sticky tape placed on the steel surface sticky side up.
6mm x 2mm and 3mm x 2mm magnets, three of each for the optic & leg holes.

Place the 6mm magnets onto the sticky tape using the template.

Then add the 3mm magnets and remove the template, apply non stick grease carefully around the magnets & tape.

Template back in place and thin 20mm ID x 2mm outer ring fitted around the template with four large magnets to keep it from movement.

Carefully remove the template again and now we have a mould.
Mix up some GITD powder and UV setting glue.

Apply the mixture to the centre of the mould and allow it to slowly bleed out to the extremities on a flat surface until even.

Next is setting the glue mixture using a UV light source and then slide the tape and moud from the steel.

Carefully peel the tape from the back of the mould and press out the magnets with something like a thin screwdriver.

Remove the outer ring and sand down the surfaces of the gasket.

A little tidying up the well holes with a scalpel blade and it is just about done.

I've found these to be superior to the tape method, although initially more effort.

Very impressive CRX… :beer:

:+1:

^ Patience of a saint. :person_with_crown:

Most of the time :innocent:

Awesome!

I’m waiting for the $30 model because I’ll be immediately swapping to rosy Nichia emitters too. :slight_smile:

Will you be offering these for sure Lexel?

How about colors rendition ?
Don’t you see a huge difference between a CRI70 XP-L HI and a 219B ? I’m a little worried for your retinas. :stuck_out_tongue:

I was planning to make a mold with an external ring and fill it with epoxy charged with glow powder and then use a guide (from carclo datasheet) printed on paper to drill holes.
The mold with magnets for making several is clever, this is the true CRX’s touch.

Where is the best place to get 90+ CRI 219B?

Guy called azhu (BLF name) or Andy Zhu on Facebook has it. But they are going fast and no resupply planed…:confused:

The Nichia 219B SW45K D220 (link to AnhTran’s sell thread) has a destinctive rosy tint that you may like or dislike but is something that every flashaholics into high CRI neutral white LED should try to have a reference point.
You could also wait for Clemence’s triple for Nichia E21A LED that will show up in his store one day.
Both will need an FW3A firmware modification to not burn LEDs.

You could also wait for the FW3A SST-20 4000°K that will have a different tint and colors rendition but with comparable high level of colors rendition than the 219B, if not slightly better but above and on BBL.

Swapped the leds of my FW3A to FA3 bin SST-20 leds that I got a few from to test from Texas_Ace. Really nice tint and 1550 lumen just before stepdown (10 or so seconds). (tint evaluation here)

It is a pity that this tint will not be freely for sale at the moment.

omg that glow in dark insert…
want

How would the Luxeon V2’s work in the FW3A?

I mean, can the V2s take direct drive? or will they die?
Does anyone have experience with direct driving the Luxeon V2 leds?

I have plenty of DD Luxeon V2 in my lights, mainly the L1V2-3070000000000 and the L1V2-5070000000000 (arrow.com). Not a problem. Best beam outcome was with tint mixing (3/4 and 5K mixed).
edit: all on copper dtp boards, of course

Thank you M3CSL.

I also have some 5000K V2 from arrow and really like them.
It’s good to know I can use them in DD.

FW4A I wanted the clip at the head for bezel up carry, opened the front bezel opening about half of what it was, tuned up everything, it’s pumping out over 4000lms in the T/A Maukka Tube. :+1:

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Drilled out the legs on the triple for Ice Blue Trits for the wifes light, too cheap to buy them already done up, saved a few bucks, (BLF right?) I was thinking on doing trit’s for the quad too…. maybe….