gChart's Hand Made entry - 7th Annual BLF/OL Contest

It would be interesting to integrate the QI coil into the appearance of the light if you’re going with a black and copper motif. If you’re planning on more than minimal current you probably won’t be able to etch it on the PCB, but putting it on the other side of the light in clear epoxy might be cool.

I suppose I could make one side panel acrylic/plexi with the coil stuck to it from the inside so that it’s (1) protected and (2) visible. Interesting idea…

I like the hand built lights amazed at what can be done.

2019-12-11 Update: some parts ordered (details in the first post)

Next up: creating a sketch of the body and circuit, order the pieces for the body

Initial assembly sketch:

Ideas coming together :+1:

:+1:

My thought with the two copper sidewalls is to have them layered with the inner being a couple millimeters shorter than the outer. That will create a shelf for the top and bottom panels to sit on. But getting the bends to match might be challenging. And I’m not sure how I’m going to stick everything together - solder the sidewalls together? Or use an adhesive? Kinda stuck on that part. Any advice is welcome!

I thought the double sidewall construction was going to end up with it being somekind of a battery using some sort of magical separator. :wink: :person_facepalming:

Seriously though, bending them together in a sandwich might be the way to get the bends to coincide. ???
What gauge metal?

Cut copper sheet to size and bend into the body shape, maybe use a forming block.
Clamp the inner copper to the outer when formed with a little solder paste and torch it.

Thanks for the input. Thats kinda what I’ve been thinking, CRX. As far as materials, I’m thinking of ordering some copper strips online. Probably something like 2mm x 15mm for the inner strip and 1mm x 18mm for the outer strip.

I wanted to get a feel for size and fitment before I started ordering strips of metal and PCBs. So I decided to make a scale mock-up.

I used Fusion360 and my 3D printer to make the model. But no 3D parts will be used in the actual build of the flashlight.

Legend:

  • Black: outer brass trim (I could find brass more readily than copper in the right size)
  • Blue: inner brass strip for making a ridge to mount pieces to
  • White, solid: base plate, likely smoked translucent acrylic
  • White, holes: main PCB with most circuitry
  • Gold: PCB with 8x 2835 LEDs (rated at 150mA, 4000K)

Shown with the battery, switch, and the Qi charging coil

Anything that would show the scale?

The mockup looks really good. Is the switch about 5mm square?

Here it is next to a 18650 and Tool AA for scale. The switch is 12mm square with a ~7mm diameter button.

Small. :slight_smile:

:+1:

Lookin good gchart

Among other things (see the OP), PCBs have been created and ordered using Oshpark’s After Dark service (black substrate with clear mask).

Main board

LED board

After dark for black magic?
They look good. :beer: