>>>THE GENESIS PROJECT<<<

Hi everyone,

This is my official entry for the 2013 First annual BLF Made From Scratch competition.
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~ In the beginning there was aluminum stock. It was void and without form, and Matt saw that is was good.~
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I decided early on all of the parts on this were going to be very thick, about double what your used to seeing. I wanted this for both durablilty and maximum heat sinking.
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For the body I ordered schedule 40 aluminum pipe, and standard round bar in 2” diameter for the head.
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With the right materials now on hand off we go…
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This may seem strange but I actually started with the tail cap for this light because it makes it easier to get the proper length on the body.
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Now we can move on to the body.
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Getting set up.
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This body will house a pair of 18650 cells, but it is going to be just a bit longer that what is needed for two reasons. The first is because I prefer the feel of a slightly longer barrel, and the second is I intend to double O ring all the joints.
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I love good knurling, and don’t care much for flats. While I am using this light as an entry for the competition really I decided that I’m going to build what “I” want for once and don’t worry about what is popular.
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That said this light will have a very rough sticky knurling. The best feel in the world to me is when you grab a hold of a flashlight and it seemingly grabs you right back :bigsmile: .

I dont have a scissor type knurler and the regular ones have a bad habit of leaving an uneven pattern on the work. I have found that its much easier to get a good match by running one wheel over it and then another.
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Doing this makes a spiral knurl from the first pass which is actually kind of neat too.
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Here is a short video for those who would like to see.
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Once the body is done its on to the heat sink. Now I considered using a block of solid copper for this to add a “bling” factor because we all know how the two tone lights, and the word “copper” attract attention in this business. See your getting excited already even at the mention of the word :heart_eyes: But the truth is I really didnt want the added weight or expense of it. Also when I really sat down and thought about it what “I” like better is a solid color for this light so that is what it shall be…
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Now for the top end. Of course some more knurl, and a few fins.
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What your looking at in this one is probly the opposite of what it appears. That hole with the copper pressed into it will be the top end. The driver will seat in that. And the heat sink for the emitters and bezel will screw on over it.
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This may make it more clear. I put the angle on the fins now.
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Next is the heat sink where the light engine will sit. This will be a plate that threads on over the neck piece and then the bezel will thread on over that. Kind of some extra steps to do it this way but it makes all the light engine components easy to assemble and access if I decide to upgrade them in years to come.
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Now for the bezel. Some threading on the inside.
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Quick check for a fit.
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And I am sure you can all guess by now what will go on the outside. :davie: A little softer this time though.
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I hate to seem like a broken record with this stuff but I just really really like it.
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All together now.
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~ And Matt said let there be a precious gem, and it was so.~
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Ya know with all this bling laid out, the machining done and the light engine installed you would think that this is where my thread would be drawing to a close……
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Perhaps we should think of this thread as if it were a movie. Ya know like say the marvel comics movies like Iron Man. You know, right now the credits are rolling, and a hand full of people are leaving the theater, but the true enthusiasts know the writers still have one more nugget to give….
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Right now your probly thinking aaaaw C’mon Matt, all this drama cuz your holding out on the beam shots? Really, so what… Nay friends I assure you this little iron horse still has much more to give….
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>>>>>>>>>>>>>> PLACE FINAL SCENE HERE<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
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:::7/13 UPDATE::::
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AND NOW ITS TIME FOR THE SHOW!!!
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.+ //////////////BEHOLD////////////////+
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Now you would think that after all this the show would finally be complete right? Well we have nearly come to that place, but once again this light continues to keep on giving.
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Some of you have been asking for a bit more detail on the light engine. Some of you may have a good idea what it is by now, but I think there may be a little bit of surprise left still.
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Its been alluded to already in the comments below that this PCB is something a bit special. Quite a while back member nickelflipper and I made a trade, and part of that trade was the gerber files for a PCB of my design.
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This board houses 3 XML emitters wired in parallel with thick copper traces on a thin board loaded with vias for maximum thermal transfer. Having the voltage lowered to 3.7 is one of the very key elements that makes this build possible. I really dont like the feel like having to carry a light with 3 full size li-ion cells. It seems bulky, so for me this coupled with a 4000ma buck driver was the perfect solution. This makes the light bright enough for most occasions, and running cool enough that high is usable in several real wold applications. Also this is more efficient than simply over driving one emitter.
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The board is based on using existing 3x XML optics.
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The awesome thing about that is the optics are now interchangeable. Yep popable swapable beam changeable optics on demand. IIRC these are Ledil, and they come in several varieties. For the beam shots I will show the narrow and wide.
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~ And Matt said let there be light, and it was so ~
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Narrow optic

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Wide

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Quark AA2 XML

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Genesis with narrow optic.

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Genesis with wide optic.

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~ And Matt saw that the Flashlight was good, So he blessed it and said be fruitful and multiply, go forth and cover the earth ~
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I hope everyone enjoyed the show!
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_Disclaimer: Please note that the referances to creation and the Bible in this thread are not meant to say that I in any way am saying I am a God. I have no such ego problems, and would never want to dishonor Him in that way, I just thought it was both very fitting and sounded really cool :slight_smile:

May the Lord bless you and your families with peace and everlasting life.

Matt Smith_

Awesome! I was looking forward to seeing this one turn up (sorry)

Yesss.....Laughing

Added link to the contest thread.

Another great VOB creation on the way… subscribed!

Awesome!! Subscribed! 8)

Man you guys are fast! I wouldn't get in a foot race or a game of slap jack with a single one of you. LOL!

Knurly dude, knurly…

Its terrific to see another entry here. Of to a nice start complete with video. Your right about the weight. Copper and other materials certainly dont make a light any lighter. I’m looking forward to the rest off your build. Cheers.

Nice knurling! I like the look of that light, and it should never slip out of your hand. :smiley:

Nice and shiny stock. I could use one if I can mod something.

I really love knurled parts. That is fantastic.

Nice looking light

+1…+2…+3……+1000

want to see it anodizing :slight_smile:

What a beauty!

Matt, you nailed (knurled) it! All the knurling gives off a soft looking sheen to it that is hard to describe, very cool. Look forward to beam shots.

Wow, handmade

That looks so orsm. I honestly haven’t seen a light like it. The grooves in the knurling break it up beautifully. The angles on the heat sink and the tailcap the way the angles flow inwards and the difference in size looks to me really good in there proportions. Its lights like this that make you want to build more, different looking lights and I’ve only scratched the surface about what is amazing about your light. Thanks for that.

best of DNA from Elektrolumens, HDS RA and Malkoff!

If you look closely at one of the pictures you'll find that I literally "couldn't have done it with out ya" Kent. Thanks man.