Modular pommel system??

[Marsupial]

I think for a bayonet style connection to support the stress of a double-bladed duel, it would require to be like 1 to 2 inch deep. I'm certain its doable but wonder if we want to have those machined (and at what price)

I fully agree that beauty is subjective. And I like how you mention that mine looks maulish, Maul's emitter inspired me this concept of mine.



As for the spring loaded thumbscrews, those are something that Corbin came up while chatting a while ago. I think he got a source for those, but I don't.

[Tenric Starkindler]

I cannot do a rendering of this idea, but....

using the bayonet method ,couldn't you re design them so that there were extended pommel cubes on the outside of the pommel. each would then fit together in much the same way, but when separated they would look much like a luke pommel.............

ALSO:
would it be feasible to marry both ideas into one unit?
the bayonet style could function as the primary lock and the "Claws" would give added support to the joint and increase the overall stress-load capacity?
though it sounds kinda like what Parks did when I say it that way...........

[TimeRender]

All of the modular pieces are held together with about half an inch of threaded metal. While a bayonet mount may need more than the quarter inch I gave it, I doubt it would need any more than what the threads use. The mechanical weakness of my design is in the peg and slot. However, if it was designed with a flat wedge shaped peg rather than a simple round bar it would have just as much strength as the threaded sections do. I'm not terribly good with the CAD software I have on my computer, so I wasn't able to draw that up, but go look at some kitchen appliances and I'm sure you'll see exactly the kind of fastener I am talking about. I know my food processor, coffee pot, blender and spice mill all use them. I think with a capable engineer drawing the design, strength will not be an issue. The real issue of my design is the cost of milling out all of the details. That is something I simply won't know unless Tim gets a price quote on it.

[TimeRender]

I cannot do a rendering of this idea, but....

using the bayonet method ,couldn't you re design them so that there were extended pommel cubes on the outside of the pommel. each would then fit together in much the same way, but when separated they would look much like a luke pommel.............

ALSO:
would it be feasible to marry both ideas into one unit?
the bayonet style could function as the primary lock and the "Claws" would give added support to the joint and increase the overall stress-load capacity?
though it sounds kinda like what Parks did when I say it that way...........

I think I see what you mean. I'll draw something up in the morning. It wouldn't be compatible with the MPS system, which by the way was a pretty good idea on your part, but overall it might be a better option to have a specialized pommel than a modular one. Thanks for the idea.

[Marsupial]

I think I like the bayonet+claw idea, this might prove to be a good way to explore.

Timerender, you might be right about the thickness needed. We need to think there's 6 areas on your design that holds things together. If its sturdy ennough, it might work. Altough I'd make more then one wedge - the sturdiness of the threaded metal on the MHS comes from the fact there's several parallel threads holding it together all around - a single thread would break.

-> I might be wrong. Again, I'm no mechanical engineer.

[DACOTA]

Im up for Timerenders idea.

[TimeRender]

Mars is absolutely right. I slept on it and came to a similar conclusion. Using Tenric's idea, Marsupial's claws, and my bayonet mount, I think we can make exactly what Tim is looking for. I'm feeling a little under the weather at the moment, but I'll start drawing as soon as I feel a little less sick.

[TimeRender]

Ok, I think I may have something that we can all agree on here. By using Marsupial's claw design I have strengthened the entire piece and made it more aesthetically pleasing. I realized that using a wedge shaped pin would be impossible. It would require the entire outside of one of the pieces to be milled rather than lathed. This would likely drive the price up well beyond what some of us pay for entire sabers, let alone a single pommel. However, the claws allowed me to increase the size of the pin. I'll mention more about this later. Overall, this new design should be much easier and less costly to produce than anything yet posted on the forum. Thanks again Marsupial and Tenric. Now onto the unveiling...

First an exploded view of all of the parts.

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h2...awBayonet1.jpg

Like my previous design, the spring and the tension plate fit inside the base. The base has male threading on both ends. The bottom screws onto the saber hilt, while the top will accept the pommel cap. The claws and the pins are attached by screws into six tapped holes around the cap.

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h2...awBayonet2.jpg

The claws have two holes drilled for mounting on the cap while the other end has a milled out groove that will lock it in place with a second pommel.

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h2...awBayonet3.jpg

The cap has six pairs of two holes drilled around its circumference. The holes are the same size for both the pins and the claw screws, simplifying the assembly. I do not know the exact dimensions of the Graflex style electrical pins, but they may be an option here.

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h2...awBayonet8.jpg

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h2...awBayonet9.jpg

Here is the assembled pommel. The tension plate in the center could be made to stick out nearly as far as the claws do, but I found that to be unattractive so I opted for a lower profile.

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h2...awBayonet6.jpg

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h2...awBayonet7.jpg

See? Not very pretty...

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h2...wBayonet10.jpg

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h2...wBayonet11.jpg

Here you see two pommels attached to each other. By necessity there is a small gap between them. This gap is equal to 2x the length of the L section in the grooves on the claws. To make the assembly more secure, this section should be longer. To make the gap shorter, this section should also be shorter. Some tests might be needed to find an appropriate balance, but I believe a larger gap is a reasonable price to pay for more stability and strength. You may also notice that the claws don't quite seem to line up correctly. I mistakenly designed them about .0625 inch too short. This can be corrected and will not be a problem on a finished pommel.

All of the particulars of the design are still up in the air, which is why I didn't include any dimensions. Still, I think this shows a fairly close approximation of what a finished piece could look like. I'm looking forward to hearing some feedback.

Parts list:
Double male threaded base, closed on bottom
Spring
Tension plate
Female threaded pommel cap with 12 tapped holes
3 claws with two holes and two milled grooves each
6 threaded pins, possibly short Graflex style
6 screws

[Marsupial]

Sadly, I don't have any CAD software available, but I like where this is going.

[supertrogdor]

http://www.thecustomsabershop.com/fo....php?pic_id=45
forgive the crappy paint drawing...
So the purple line is the spring loaded section, and the blue on the left is the button, blue on the right is the hole the button fits into, and the right hand peice is just large enough to fit snugly. if we had about an inch to an inch and a half fitting together it should be sturdy enough for double saber dualing and the release is just a simple button push.
you sometimes see this type of clip on furnature legs to adjust from kid size to bigger people size. What if you had one maybe on either side, the mounting would be simple and the button is likely enough(if sized to fit right) to keep stability for your saber, even if you had two for extra stability, say one on either side. This could be one of the more stable and fastest releasing ideas... Thoughts? Does the picture make sense?