QTC Infinitely Variable Titanium CR123 Clicky Torch

Tofty · **on:** January 09, 2012, 11:07:41 PM

Here are some early renders of something i'm really looking forward to getting stuck into making:

There's more infomation about the layout on the candlepowerforums but don't worry, i'll update here with new images as and when i have them.

Gareth · **Reply #1 on:** January 09, 2012, 11:45:13 PM

that looks exciting mate, keep us informed.

Mike, Lord of the Spammers! · **Reply #2 on:** January 10, 2012, 07:46:35 AM

Now that does look cool

Metropolicity · **Reply #3 on:** January 10, 2012, 09:17:23 AM

Dear lord!

Where are you getting internals?

Essexman · **Reply #4 on:** January 10, 2012, 09:24:49 AM

Paypal sent for 10 please

Love that, really like the way you've installed the tritium at the rear, that will look sooo cool!

You've got a lot of work in front of you with that, hang in there.

Tofty · **Reply #5 on:** January 10, 2012, 06:23:10 PM

Cheers Guys.

The Malkoff M61 light engine, lens, bezel and tail switch were bought from Oveready.com as it's the only place i found that sold the bits i was after.

The QTC pills were bought from a UK teaching supplies site called mindsetsonline.co.uk

The pill holder assembly will be made from brass and macor (a machinable ceramic), which i havent worked with before so should be interesting.

Getting the slots right on the tail will be one of the most challenging parts of the build along with getting all the threads perfect and o-ring channels the right depth.
All together it's fat too much work but it's made up of lots of smaller parts that will all require much attention, and each part completed will be a little victory.

Mr. Whippy · **Reply #6 on:** January 10, 2012, 06:42:45 PM

Really LIKE.

MT.O needs a LIKE button

scrappy · **Reply #7 on:** January 11, 2012, 03:30:49 PM

Awesome

edcgear · **Reply #8 on:** January 11, 2012, 03:32:15 PM

Quote from: Mr. Whippy on January 10, 2012, 06:42:45 PM

Really LIKE.

MT.O needs a LIKE button

+1

Tofty · **Reply #9 on:** February 26, 2012, 06:55:16 PM

Well after far too long i finally got round to making the first section of this torch; the battery tube.
It's not quite finished as the centre needs to be bored out to 17mm and a counterbore of 19mm needs to be added to one end, but apart from that it's pretty much done.
I don't have enough o-rings of either type right now but i think i'll go with the GITD ones when it's all finished as they will complement the green tritium vials.

Hopefully progress will be a little more frequent over the next month.

Gareth · **Reply #10 on:** February 26, 2012, 07:22:55 PM

That's looking excellent Tofty.

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #11 on:** February 26, 2012, 07:36:07 PM

I'm looking forward to seeing this as it develops!

Def

Essexman · **Reply #12 on:** February 26, 2012, 08:03:31 PM

Too cool by far, can't wait to see how this goes. Don't rush this Pete, take your time and enjoy the progress step by step.

Tofty · **Reply #13 on:** March 13, 2012, 10:05:13 PM

I just had to show this off as it came out much better than i expected:
(i'll take some better pictures in natural light tomorrow)

Talking of taking my time, this took huge concentration so as not to mess it up.

Does anyone know the thread tpi between a surefire z44 (6p, z2) head and the lens holding bezel ring?
I'm finding it impossible to get a possitive reading as the bezel ring i have only has one turn of threads. I think it's between 20 and 24 tpi.

gunga · **Reply #14 on:** March 13, 2012, 10:08:29 PM

Wow, that is amazing work!

Make sure you take into account the fact that QTC degrades fast, the pill should be slightly adjustable to take that into account.

Peak uses QTC in their lights and the pills don't take this into account. As the qtc wears the light becomes more on and off with no ramp. One has to shim the qtc in the pill to restore proper operation. This is because the pill edges touch, before proper compression of the qtc is achieved.

QTC is neat, but flawed.

I have a bunch of Peak lights. Takes some care and feeding...

Tofty · **Reply #15 on:** March 14, 2012, 04:29:35 PM

Thanks Gunga,
I'm planning on using three pills together and have added a bypass system which also stops them getting over compressed. They won't be hard to change when they get worn out either.
It's a shame about qtc not being all it could be but it doesn't really matter. If it really annoys me i'll just have to remove it completely.

There are some slightly better pictures of the text that is on the soon to be top head section, where the bezel ring will attach.

Mr. Whippy · **Reply #16 on:** March 14, 2012, 04:48:38 PM

Fantastic work!

Is this a one-off project or do you make small batches of lights?

Tofty · **Reply #17 on:** March 14, 2012, 04:58:21 PM

This one is most certainly a one-off.

However the more i make, the more i learn and the easier things are to do next time.
Knowledge gleaned from these projects may eventually culminate into a production model of some sort.

Sparky415 · **Reply #18 on:** March 14, 2012, 05:40:46 PM

Just WOW!

Tofty · **Reply #19 on:** March 20, 2012, 11:10:09 PM

Sneaky Peak;

More pictures to follow tomorrow.

Gareth · **Reply #20 on:** March 20, 2012, 11:39:35 PM

Roll on tomorrow.

edcgear · **Reply #21 on:** March 21, 2012, 12:25:59 PM

Quote from: Gareth on March 20, 2012, 11:39:35 PM

Roll on tomorrow.

+1

Tofty · **Reply #22 on:** March 21, 2012, 07:35:08 PM

Well here they are:

I've tested the light and amazingly it works. From here i have two choices: either to just continue and finish the end cap as i'd originally planned with the qtc system or make a simple twisty tail cap so that i can use the torch and start testing it's waterproof...ness while making the main tail cap.
Not everything turned out exactly as planned but i'm really happy with the way it's turned out so far.

Sparky415 · **Reply #23 on:** March 21, 2012, 08:11:05 PM

Quote from: sparky415 on March 14, 2012, 05:40:46 PM

Just WOW!

+1 I have to repeat myself!

Nice Job

Gareth · **Reply #24 on:** March 21, 2012, 08:31:19 PM

Tofty that's just......fantastic.

mvyrmnd · **Reply #25 on:** March 21, 2012, 09:18:19 PM

So what you've got is a fully custom, Titanium, P60 compatible, QTC equipped host...

mvyrmnd · **Reply #26 on:** March 21, 2012, 09:21:04 PM

Quote from: mvyrmnd on March 21, 2012, 09:18:19 PM

So what you've got is a fully custom, Titanium, P60 compatible, QTC equipped host...

(Image removed from quote.)

Oops! Fat fingers + iPhone = quoting myself!

Essexman · **Reply #27 on:** March 21, 2012, 10:58:02 PM

Oh my that looks sooooo cool, nice work.

Make a simple twist cap so you can play......i mean test it out.

Tofty · **Reply #28 on:** March 22, 2012, 05:21:30 PM

Thanks guys,

mvyrmnd; you forgot dive proof and tritium encrusted but yeah it's got alot to recommend it, nice picture by the way.

After i have finished making it (and testing it) i will release the drawings in case anyone is interested in having a go at making something similar. Thats the best i can do really, i don't have the kind of set-up that allows for production and i think the lathe is starting to suffer in any case as cutting thick titanium is pushing it close to it's operational limits and wearing it out quickly.

Your right Mark i must make a simple end cap so that very serious and not-fun-at-all research can commence.

muddysuki · **Reply #29 on:** March 28, 2012, 02:26:37 PM

Hi Tofty,
Cool looking torch, clearly a lot of hard work.
I must say despite all the machining, I think its looks very clean and tidy. I did think from looking at the first renderings that it might be very flashy, but in fact it is quite subtle in a way. All the details look very functional, not just for show. In fact I like it very much indeed.

Can you explain how the rubber boot for the switch will seal when diving? Surely the pressure will force it away from the sealing surface or have I missed something?

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QTC Infinitely Variable Titanium CR123 Clicky Torch

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