Experimenting with MDX 21700 Bodies

[Obi]

Been trying my hand at designing a 2x and 3x 21700 (75mm height) body for MDX threaded heads and protected cells. 3D Printed in PETG for now. Still need to work on some sort of knurling then getting an actual test run made in aluminum.

Looking for inspiration\ideas for the tailcap - I'm expecting that to be harder to design.

 

[Johnny Ryall]

this would be wild!!! I'm in haha

 

[aginthelaw]

Can’t go wrong with the Malkoff tricap…

 

[Obi]

It would not fit the larger body.

 

[Obi]

Not loving the first pass at the tailcap..

 

[thermal guy]

Keep at it. Will make you rich

 

[Obi]

Still struggling with the tailcap threading.. but i think i got the shape down..

 

[archimedes]

Looks great ... reminiscent of the SF "bakers cap" switches

 

[Obi]

Hmm.. you're right! I was looking at my Weltool's for inspiration and trying to ensure there was a good amount of material behind the thread.

 

[Obi]

First Knurling drafts going into printer..

 

[Obi]

Not too bad for print outs, I need to chamfer the lead-ins to the knurling and try a 3 cell print.

 

[archimedes]

Amazing work !

 

[Obi]

Next iteration going in for print - 2x and 3x cells

 

[NotRegulated]

Next iteration going in for print - 2x and 3x cells

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Beautiful! Really interested in the 2x design.

 

[Obi]

I wasn't loving the tailcap, so I added knurling there also:

..will still need to work on the internals to support the button, but I think I have the bodies where I want them for now:

 

[archimedes]

I really like the new tailcap knurling, but I wonder if you might consider extending those "flanges" out a bit wider to further improve hand-held retention of the light ?

I think it might look a bit nicer as well, though that is subjective of course.

 

[Obi]

Do you mean wider, deeper, or both? The current wire frame profile is:

 

[archimedes]

For lack of a better way to describe it, more like the SW01 "Fatty"

That would visually, and probably actually, help balance the flashlight better between the large bezel and (smaller) tailcap. Especially for the longer 3-cell design.

 

[archimedes]

Maybe also dishing the flat end surface inward (concave) to improve indexing of the switch boot ?

 

[Obi]

I'd have play around with the concept. The nice part about the body is that so long as the tail cap meets the lip just beyond the threading, I have flexibility in the tail cap design.