Leef
Enlightened
It is with great excitement and no small amount of relief that Leef and Milkyspit announce the Gotham.
We've been collaborating on this project for...oh...about 300 years now. Or so it seems. Finally, here it is! My hat's off to anyone who sets out to create a work of art from scratch.
But now, adolessly, here's the official press release for the Gotham, as seen on API, UPI and Reuters (yep -- right there along with the sightings of three-headed Elvises from Mars...)
===================================
The Gotham is the result of collaboration between Leef (Lee), who conceived it, designed the prototype and managed the project; and Milkyspit (Scott), who designed and assembled the electronics and provided innumerable good ideas as the project emerged.
The Gotham offers state of the art output combined with excellent run time, resulting from its highly efficient electronics. Additionally, it features a good throw/spill mix. It's optimized for the 18650 rechargeable LiIon battery, a good compromise between power, runtime and size. It also runs well on 2xCR123 primaries. The Gotham is small enough for every day carrying, yet powerful enough for service belt carrying.
The Gotham's "headless" design makes it simple, securely sealed and very rugged. In addition to the ipx7 test (see below), a running prototype was dropped onto a concrete floor head first, tail first, and flat, starting at one foot and going up to seven feet, in one foot intervals (Kids, don't try this at home...). After the 20th drop (seven feet), the light ceased to function. It was disassembled and the battery was found to be damaged and the lens was shattered. A new battery was inserted and the light ran fine.
As the design evolved, the similarity of the body pattern to the crown of the Chrysler Building in New York City suggested "Gotham," and the unique place in modern, influential architecture that edifice embodies captured the spirit of our light. The design came largely from the artistic creativity of John Buerfeind, the man at the CNC shop with whom I work on such things. In addition to being a fine machinist, he's quite an artist, and the result shows -- the Gotham is a work of art, but one that is rugged enough for hard use.
Gothams are hand made works of art and, as such, will have tiny, light to light variations typical of any handmade works of art. None of these affects the Gotham's function.
Specifications:
1) 1" diameter x 5.4" long (3/4" shorter than the SF U2).
2) Body and tailcap made from 7075-T6 alloy, which is 83% stronger and 45% harder than the 6061-T6 alloy typically used in high end flashlights. The finish is electroless nickel.
3) Bezel made from 6AL-4V titanium, alloyed with aluminum and vanadium for greater strength and hardness.
4) Powered by 1x18650 battery or two CR123 primary cells.
5) Seoul Semiconductor P4, USWOH emitter, hand chosen for output.
6) Highly efficient micro controller based circuit (on-board computer) derived from the Milky Candle MC2 project. Average efficiency exceeds 90% with 18650 battery.
7) 20mm IMS polished reflector.
8) Anti-reflection coated lens.
9) Two selectable user interfaces, each with four output levels. The high level is around 180 lumens, significantly brighter than SF's U2.
10) Run time at maximum output: 1 hr. 40 min. in flat regulation (18650) and 80 min. (2xCR123). See graphs below.
11) Water resistance: prototype met ipx7 standard (immersion at one meter for 30 min.)
12) The light will tail stand and the tailcap has a switch easily removable for replacement (the McClicky reliable tactical switch).
13) Supplies with two CR123 batteries.
14) Sold in a rugged, waterproof Otter hard case with lanyard and spare o-rings.
Here are run time graphs and beam profile graphs of the Gotham and other common lights of similar size (I can't understand the missing lines -- but see post #26 for a better rendering):
Per Scott's measurements, the drive currents with 18650 are:
Max (a.k.a. High): 900mA
Medium: 270mA
Low: 54mA
Ultralow: 2.3mA
We made a limited run of 100 Gothams consecutively numbered and bearing the Leef and Milky logos. They sell for $325 (I know...how can we do it?) and can be ordered from The Lighthound (www.lighthound.com). They should be on his shelves in about a week (be still, my heart!).
Japanese customers will be able to order directly from: Pro Light Japan, <http://www.pro-light.jp/>. They can be emailed at: < [email protected] >
We sincerely hope that you enjoy our creation. We welcome your input and observations.
Shine on!
We've been collaborating on this project for...oh...about 300 years now. Or so it seems. Finally, here it is! My hat's off to anyone who sets out to create a work of art from scratch.
But now, adolessly, here's the official press release for the Gotham, as seen on API, UPI and Reuters (yep -- right there along with the sightings of three-headed Elvises from Mars...)
===================================
The Gotham
Concept and Body by Leef, Electronics by Milky
Concept and Body by Leef, Electronics by Milky
The Gotham is the result of collaboration between Leef (Lee), who conceived it, designed the prototype and managed the project; and Milkyspit (Scott), who designed and assembled the electronics and provided innumerable good ideas as the project emerged.
The Gotham offers state of the art output combined with excellent run time, resulting from its highly efficient electronics. Additionally, it features a good throw/spill mix. It's optimized for the 18650 rechargeable LiIon battery, a good compromise between power, runtime and size. It also runs well on 2xCR123 primaries. The Gotham is small enough for every day carrying, yet powerful enough for service belt carrying.
The Gotham's "headless" design makes it simple, securely sealed and very rugged. In addition to the ipx7 test (see below), a running prototype was dropped onto a concrete floor head first, tail first, and flat, starting at one foot and going up to seven feet, in one foot intervals (Kids, don't try this at home...). After the 20th drop (seven feet), the light ceased to function. It was disassembled and the battery was found to be damaged and the lens was shattered. A new battery was inserted and the light ran fine.
As the design evolved, the similarity of the body pattern to the crown of the Chrysler Building in New York City suggested "Gotham," and the unique place in modern, influential architecture that edifice embodies captured the spirit of our light. The design came largely from the artistic creativity of John Buerfeind, the man at the CNC shop with whom I work on such things. In addition to being a fine machinist, he's quite an artist, and the result shows -- the Gotham is a work of art, but one that is rugged enough for hard use.
Gothams are hand made works of art and, as such, will have tiny, light to light variations typical of any handmade works of art. None of these affects the Gotham's function.
Specifications:
1) 1" diameter x 5.4" long (3/4" shorter than the SF U2).
2) Body and tailcap made from 7075-T6 alloy, which is 83% stronger and 45% harder than the 6061-T6 alloy typically used in high end flashlights. The finish is electroless nickel.
3) Bezel made from 6AL-4V titanium, alloyed with aluminum and vanadium for greater strength and hardness.
4) Powered by 1x18650 battery or two CR123 primary cells.
5) Seoul Semiconductor P4, USWOH emitter, hand chosen for output.
6) Highly efficient micro controller based circuit (on-board computer) derived from the Milky Candle MC2 project. Average efficiency exceeds 90% with 18650 battery.
7) 20mm IMS polished reflector.
8) Anti-reflection coated lens.
9) Two selectable user interfaces, each with four output levels. The high level is around 180 lumens, significantly brighter than SF's U2.
10) Run time at maximum output: 1 hr. 40 min. in flat regulation (18650) and 80 min. (2xCR123). See graphs below.
11) Water resistance: prototype met ipx7 standard (immersion at one meter for 30 min.)
12) The light will tail stand and the tailcap has a switch easily removable for replacement (the McClicky reliable tactical switch).
13) Supplies with two CR123 batteries.
14) Sold in a rugged, waterproof Otter hard case with lanyard and spare o-rings.
Here are run time graphs and beam profile graphs of the Gotham and other common lights of similar size (I can't understand the missing lines -- but see post #26 for a better rendering):
Per Scott's measurements, the drive currents with 18650 are:
Max (a.k.a. High): 900mA
Medium: 270mA
Low: 54mA
Ultralow: 2.3mA
We made a limited run of 100 Gothams consecutively numbered and bearing the Leef and Milky logos. They sell for $325 (I know...how can we do it?) and can be ordered from The Lighthound (www.lighthound.com). They should be on his shelves in about a week (be still, my heart!).
Japanese customers will be able to order directly from: Pro Light Japan, <http://www.pro-light.jp/>. They can be emailed at: < [email protected] >
We sincerely hope that you enjoy our creation. We welcome your input and observations.
Shine on!
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When I read the title I was really expecting the light to be black, yet awesome job guys:thumbsup:
