Working on a school project where I need to research the materials and manufacturing processes of my old Mini Mag AA.
The aluminum parts are quite easy to find information on. I deduced that the O-rings and gasket are probably nitrile, and that the stock lens is polycarbonate. However info on the stock plastics and metal circuit elements seem non-existant.
Does anyone have information on the plastic types used for the spare bulb protector, the upper/lower twist switch assembly, and the reflector (and reflector coating)? Also, the types of metals/coatings used for the battery spring and switch assembly connectors?
I’ve seen that video and it’s quite actually uninformative apart from how supposedly the knurled pattern on the barrel was not intended for added grip.
Parts lists basically just say metal or plastic (if anything at all) and the part#. Hence my frustration looking for the types of alloys and plastics.
LOL, indeed! I didn’t realize there was so much aftermarket interest and modification until I started researching for this course assignment.
I needed to rip a product apart and analyse its components for my Design and Fabrication class. I just happened upon a old forgotten and seemingly non-functional Maglite in a storage bin that same day, so I went with it.
Looking at the “upgraded” aftermarket parts helps me narrow down possible materials for stock, but short of walking into the MagPlant and looking at the labels of their raw material orders, no dice so far.
There are standard procedures to find out which plastic (polymer) is used by burning it and examining the flame color, burning behaviour and amount/color of smoke.
Yes, really. You need that list. Do not inhale the smoke.
Here is a test of different spring materials. If it is steel it may be magnetic.
If the reflector is plastic it may be PVD coated (video).
I was hoping not to down the route of destructive testing. I noticed some little bumps on the plastic parts and was hoping they were indirect type markings. 2 on the Switch assembly which would point towards Type 2, but 8 on the spare cap.
Not everyone has a soldering iron with digital temp readout and adjustment, but if you have access to one it provides an easy and nondestructive way to quickly identify plastic material types by referencing Plastic Melting Temp Charts and identifying the temp that it requires to make a mark in the plastic.
Learned this one from watching too many AvE videos!
