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View Full Version : Build Log: Manadono's '01-01' (CF8)



Manadono
01-25-2016, 07:03 AM
I think 01-01 is going to be a temporary name for it.

Hello TCSS forum, and welcome to my build log!

I spent hours trying to convince myself a Graflex build would be too cliche, and it worked! Although, this saber build does pull a lot of design influence from the Vader area of lightsabers (Anakin, Vader, Starkiller and these two custom sabers I saw on google image search http://i.imgur.com/Zk4K5IW.jpg . If anyone knows who built them let me know, they're awesome!)...

Anyway I pulled up the MHS builder and threw together a few concepts. I originally had the MHS Graflex shaped emitter on but I thought that a different emitter and a shroud would actually be much cooler, so I changed it out for Style 1 with the idea I would put a slanted end shroud over it to achieve the same sort of feeling. I also spent literally hours switching out frag and ribbed grip sections in and out of the design, as well as windowed sections by the emitter. I later scrapped the ribbing and windows for fluting and a choke. The final MHS builder stage looks like this:

http://i.imgur.com/BfIJPaW.png (http://imgur.com/BfIJPaW)

The fluting mirrors the rubber strips on the Anakin and Vader sabers and the choke will allow the shroud to create that kooky cut away look on the Starkiller (but without the crystal reveal :sadface:). I decided at this point that I wanted a mid-forward mounted speaker and the choke would be the optimal point at which to let the sound out. I originally considered ventilating kind of in-line with the saber, so the sound would scoot out forward and hit the other side of the choke and it'd be great. However, looking at the internals of the part and considering (best case scenario) it won't be me drilling these holes, I decided it would be less of a challenge to simply ventilate the choke itself with six small holes evenly spaced (two beneath the shroud, two facing down and the last two perpendicular to the 'top' of the saber). I also drew up a parts list of the items I would need to build the saber (including some low level electronics!).

The parts list is as follows:
http://www.thecustomsabershop.com/ViewWishlist.aspx?ViewCode=cc0c8ad6-131e-4d17-9fde-76805c785d45

[saber body]
MHS Blade holder 1
MHS Choke 1 short
3" Double female connector
Double ended male connector 1
3" Fluted double female connector
MPS Pommel 4
MPS Insert 13

[switches and sockets]
Activation box 18
16mm AV Momentary gold plated switch
16mm AV Momentary red ring switch
3.5mm RICE port
2.1mm Recharge port

[other electronic]
7.4v Li-ion 2600mAh 18650
RGRb Tri CREE LED star
2W 28mm Bass Speaker

[other]
MHS Heatsink and optic
MPS C clip
Brass Covertec clip
8-32 socket head screw (for covertec)
Kill plug 4
8-32 gold thumb screw (x2)

[soundboard]
CF8 (I was originally banking on a 7.5, but hey!)
CeX (for CeXy FoC and colour mixing!!)

And then I joined this forum! I took my idea apart in my head and put it all back together piece by piece, constructing the BEST prototype you could ever imagine:

http://i.imgur.com/tnJ2ijXm.jpg (http://imgur.com/tnJ2ijX) http://i.imgur.com/R6SykZVm.jpg (http://imgur.com/R6SykZV) http://i.imgur.com/JPcoeazm.jpg (http://imgur.com/JPcoeaz) http://i.imgur.com/9bzKampm.jpg (http://imgur.com/9bzKamp)

I'm still not sure about the collar on the shroud, it was originally open at the bottom, but I felt like I wanted a bit more of that graflexy feel... Anyway, this stick of card has a fairly in-depth teardown of the saber, where threads are, where screws and holes need to go, how long each part is etc. and I'm sure it will still be helpful when I start putting together (maybe not)!

Anyway, I've started getting things in for the build, first of all this!

http://i.imgur.com/WlqqTFNl.jpg (http://imgur.com/WlqqTFN)

for CeXy FoC :>

See you in the next update!

NanoRex
01-25-2016, 09:20 AM
In my opinion that emitter looks amazing with a slanted shroud. Good luck with your build!

Darth Nurse
01-25-2016, 09:35 AM
Can you pay Tim to drill the shroud holes where you first wanted them? That sounded like a great idea, and your original vision.

Manadono
01-25-2016, 11:56 AM
In my opinion that emitter looks amazing with a slanted shroud. Good luck with your build!

thanks, my main real worry is not burning the 'toast'. I'll bring my A game on the shroud! (frantically refreshing Erv's site)


Can you pay Tim to drill the shroud holes where you first wanted them? That sounded like a great idea, and your original vision.

kind of, I can't afford to make 40 or so separate orders at TCSS so I'll be ordering through JQ sabers who offer hole drilling and tapping too. If I'm nice enough they may drill these extraneous holes as well as the ones I actually need hehe. Otherwise, I have a drill and a hobby vice, I might be able to squeeze it out of myself. Either way, I'll make it work!!

Manadono
02-11-2016, 04:46 PM
So, I've booked in with JQ Sabers to hook me up with all the sweet TCSS MHS parts I need, but they said it might be a while. In the meantime, I've been browsing wires and cables and buying some extra parts! First up in probably a long blog of mail calls is my order from amazon.com for polycarbonate tube and rod!

http://i.imgur.com/1aFIprvm.jpg (http://imgur.com/1aFIprv) http://i.imgur.com/ocUDXMxm.jpg (http://imgur.com/ocUDXMx) http://i.imgur.com/3S55niWm.jpg (http://imgur.com/3S55niW)

I ordered these international economy (which quoted 12-17 working days) and it's been like, 4 days tops. Whoever delivered this wanted it delivered like woah! Anyway, I did some tests with my low-lumen LEDs I have just kicking around, and the diffusion on the rod might be ju~ust enough, with some greebly on top as an emitter, to stop a Tri-cree from insta-blinding people. Both pieces came precision made, and fit into each other snugly (which isn't necessary, but a good sign it'll fit into MHS parts too). I can't tell you how hard it is to find stuff like this in the UK guys, really tricky! The tube looks like it'll be great for building a wire-shroud / chassis for the oodles of electronics that go into sabers. I picked PC because (I literally couldn't find precision diameter anything else and it was cheap) because it has phenomenal physical properties, both in tensile strength and rigidity. The rod is a solid 1" piece which will probably never break, and the tube has 1/8" thick walls which will make it durable and allow it to be cut with slots to fixture parts into.

I guess I can start preparing pieces to make the blade plug now, and it will be filled with lovely greeblies!

CET
02-11-2016, 05:29 PM
Have you thought about using the choke for the crystal chamber? You couldn't get a lot of greeblies in there but it's easy enough to cut out a window. I like to use these discs (http://www.thecustomsabershop.com/Chassis-Disc-style-4-P793.aspx) on either end. It's not visible from a cut out window and there are plenty of places to run crystal posts, rods, etc.

Manadono
02-11-2016, 05:56 PM
Have you thought about using the choke for the crystal chamber? You couldn't get a lot of greeblies in there but it's easy enough to cut out a window. I like to use these discs (http://www.thecustomsabershop.com/Chassis-Disc-style-4-P793.aspx) on either end. It's not visible from a cut out window and there are plenty of places to run crystal posts, rods, etc.

I was literally just thinking of having a crystal reveal in the choke, but it's not top on my list of stuff to do. I'm mainly getting this saber build done for use, and a crystal chamber is just one small filamented item that can snap off and end up going into the speaker, or LED wiring, or out the sound holes, or just rattling about annoyingly and having to be fixed. Plus there's the whole how it gets mounted. I don't think there's a comfortable way of doing it really :/ ,the plate it anchors to would always be in the way of something.

But I am thinking of working on one as like a follow up project, for sure! when i know 100% how my saber goes together, and I'm ok with adding more stuff to it. Until then, it's meditating in the crystal caves :>

CET
02-11-2016, 06:06 PM
Just an FYI on crystal chamber stability, I've been dueling with this one for several months now. I check on the internals from time to time and it's good to go. Sorry for the lousy picture quality, I was using my tablet at the time, and it tends to give me lots of JJ Abrahms style lens flares. :rolleyes:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ni2RN40hAz91gEpRnAkiN98XovMI8rzlRDA7yJIIrM5BADP7d9 M6AR51Z9MFW3NjoaTncKXvclO1139pQrzraZTrO2S7PZOnkCOf 0BywXtyXcTOjy8Eic3r1YPx3meFPzDK0ap0eTfrc-cQCA-Z72nk6Q-GxBY2-6s0N5KWL4n3Ola9S632tEgN8kS2gDaWmShYEpJtefWnelK5h-F7YWw9PDpm-3_9jairZd7ZGnQW_4Zdryc3ZITb543XEdaCbczZqMMCSp176UW i6p5FidbrtBlF9w-U5CtDr9tjAzmSv273C_YLqbei0wZx1VLDjHYMGPMuTVifWRUZD RQqyv_T__kemOVb6YqYp46HCCsMPutZklsjoZKfnuz2tDIYpwD ESD8RjskjQ3MX-vVJoS7RfLnlEofWY0NcBei3pZ0i-IYDahjokb9zIFu2Qe9UlzWG77bQpDLJgpkeUx-En8H9GGjuhRvB0VPl4Z_bLyXAeRLtpkoa_gxZsDnoVgeFhnmIe 7PPmWYI4H89HMeDwGoO_l4e19oOq1L5cUKk6P1aybAgH-WEueEfphYk_tqD1CuDdmA=w890-h667-no

Manadono
02-11-2016, 06:13 PM
Just an FYI on crystal chamber stability, I've been dueling with this one for several months now. I check on the internals from time to time and it's good to go. Sorry for the lousy picture quality, I was using my tablet at the time, and it tends to give me lots of JJ Abrahms style lens flares. :rolleyes:


hehe, yeah I guess they can be sturdy, I mean, I've seen some crazy chambers out there that are 'duelling certified' I just don't trust myself to make one hahaha. Like I'm also not so keen on having windows in a choke too :<. At least with the CF8, I can wire it up and have spare pads ready to light a crystal when the time comes :>.

CET
02-11-2016, 06:43 PM
You can't see it in the pic, but the crystal chamber windows are covered in the inside with an electronics shielding tube to keep the dirt and stuff out.

I know what you mean about chokes though. There's little room to do stuff and you have to worry about structural integrity. I'm currently doing 3 windows in a type 3 choke (http://www.thecustomsabershop.com/MHS-choke-style-3-P313.aspx), which are going to be 1/2" wide. Should be fine for dueling.

setelf3of5
02-11-2016, 06:44 PM
nice sleek look.

Manadono
08-09-2016, 05:54 AM
it just going to be a component by component image-fest, enjoy!

imgur's thumbnail scaling and gallery view seem to be broken but...



https://i.imgur.com/2lL8aL2.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/M5ttXntl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/kxIEVyJl.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/Qa3z9U7l.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/4eGYfW4l.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/nXeZHU7l.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/FkeF0z0l.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/bsX0Uwml.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/3oFeea5l.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/srerhGEl.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/QsGB7AYm.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/siVrgeNm.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/AiszQvtm.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/qyOFwK7m.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/RdYYhSDm.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/fruZrR1m.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/09rmWORm.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/jauu8Z0m.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/GJrcTD0m.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/ttUNCyTm.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/3WyJF5Hm.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/tFz3A8Dm.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/QVFhilE.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/oKTJfQrl.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/LcBu9uPl.jpg
(https://imgur.com/gallery/TLTeE)

Silver Serpent
08-09-2016, 06:37 AM
That knurled piece is interesting. Where does that go on the saber?

Manadono
08-09-2016, 07:17 AM
That knurled piece is interesting. Where does that go on the saber?

it's the heatsink, it screws into the LED optic holder :>

jbkuma
08-09-2016, 08:01 AM
it's the heatsink, it screws into the LED optic holder :>

I had the same question! It would be perfect for a build I've already been designing for a future build even though I haven't finished the first one (with two more also in progress..). I'll be keeping my eye out for a similar piece locally and see if I can incorporate it.

I'll also be keeping an eye on your build log to see what other ideas I can steal... er... see what a beautiful piece of art you produce! ;D

Manadono
08-09-2016, 08:51 AM
I had the same question! It would be perfect for a build I've already been designing for a future build even though I haven't finished the first one (with two more also in progress..). I'll be keeping my eye out for a similar piece locally and see if I can incorporate it.

I'll also be keeping an eye on your build log to see what other ideas I can steal... er... see what a beautiful piece of art you produce! ;D


;D keep an eye out for M4 brass thumbscrews for me too? never mind I got some on the way! They came :>!

Manadono
08-11-2016, 07:38 PM
some shots of it pristine and assembled before it has to get messy again as I fill it with holes:


http://i.imgur.com/QTUIsc4m.jpg (http://imgur.com/QTUIsc4)http://i.imgur.com/zPQJ6dSm.jpg (http://imgur.com/zPQJ6dS)http://i.imgur.com/JK8pW2Tm.jpg (http://imgur.com/JK8pW2T)http://i.imgur.com/rGLICICm.jpg (http://imgur.com/rGLICIC)
http://i.imgur.com/aG4favtm.jpg (http://imgur.com/aG4favt)http://i.imgur.com/mY11pv5m.jpg (http://imgur.com/mY11pv5)http://i.imgur.com/LIPNLiym.jpg (http://imgur.com/LIPNLiy)

and now all of you with a sensitivity to poor machining please look away!


http://i.imgur.com/LjnBfaml.jpg (http://imgur.com/LjnBfam)

and now for some brass, steel, and brass coloured steel


http://i.imgur.com/ZuboL6Em.jpg (http://imgur.com/ZuboL6E)http://i.imgur.com/fly0RDbm.jpg (http://imgur.com/fly0RDb)

If anyone needs to know how to colour steel like that, be aware the first step is "DON'T BURN YOUR HOUSE DOWN", every other step is also this.

[update]


http://i.imgur.com/I833vyPl.jpg (http://imgur.com/I833vyP)

The actual 6 screws I'll be using to mount the shroud and secure the internal chassis with, and a factory stock for reference. I polish the screws to a 600# satin and them buff them with gold compound. I hand torched these so the finish is a little uneven between screws but that's cool. I was worried that one had gone purple, but it seems to be ok :>.

Manadono
08-19-2016, 06:15 PM
https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/13651757_1252475111451306_680310518_n.jpg?ig_cache _key=MTMyMDM0Mzk3NTQ4NDAyNjIxOA%3D%3D.2

This is definitely how Obi-wan cut the holes in his 'saber on Tatooine

PhoenixHawk
08-20-2016, 03:38 PM
Are we having fun yet mate?....:lol: Looking good bro keep it up...oh and bro don't burn your house down...

Manadono
08-20-2016, 08:44 PM
Are we having fun yet mate?....:lol: Looking good bro keep it up...oh and bro don't burn your house down...

you know that hand bored hole turned out nicer than the one the drill did :>... I managed to not burn my house down too! bonus!!!