rtrski

Well, first draft is finally finished.

Dropped down from the 10.5mm lightpipes (the focus lamp pipe) to 5.6mm for the strobe light carriers...8 or 9 10.5mm pipes were too stiff. 8 pipes each lamp off the z240 for 16 total. 3D printed the 'cuff' for the port end and the strobe face cover and pipe mount. The strobe face cover attaches to the z240 with stainless hardware using the same threaded holes as the diffuser that comes with the strobe.

This might almost be too much light. Shots at 1/160th, F10-12, ISO400, and the strobe set at minimum manual setting (EV -6.0, 1/64th of full dump) are about as brightly lit as I think I'd want in a dark room. I actually have to use the focus lamp in that condition*. That leaves plenty of headroom for even narrower apertures and/or lower ISOs.

Sending one off to a beta tester in the next couple of weeks, hopefully can get some feedback of things that need changing before my own first dives with it (trip in late April planned).

Pics up at Flickr:

...using the Ikelite 5505.58 for a Sigma 105mm macro and an Inon Z240 Type IV.

The Saga ring flash (certainly much better built, with more but much smaller fibers - no idea of relative light transmission) runs something like 800 euro I think. This one, if I chose to sell it, would come in at significantly less than half that, if there was any interest. Will await my beta tester's comments and my own experiences in April before I consider it for real....but feel free to PM me if you just must.

[* My camera is the Sony SLT-a55, which was from their first generation SLT's with the electronic viewfinder (EVF). These cameras have a 'helpful' feature that takes into account the exposure settings and darkens or brightens the view in the viewfinder accordingly, kind of a pre-shot preview or 'what you see is what you get'. UNFORTUNATELY the camera doesn't know when you have a manually attached strobe (no TTL communication)...so manual settings like the above result in a black viewfinder, although the camera has plenty of light to autofocus etc. The SLT generations that followed have a menu setting to turn off this 'help' in the EVF so it always shows a reasonably ambient picture (I don't think they cared/thought about underwater phtogs but studio photogs sure complained that the first generation didn't work with remotely triggered strobes), but mine alas does not, hence I get to use the focus light under circumstances like this. I may have to adjust a subsequent build of this part to have fewer pipes and provide a little less flash (and just don't get to dial the strobe down as much).]

Guys, did you have to restore from a backup or something?  Seems a bunch of posts from about 04 Dec to today have flown the coop....

Bought a compass some time ago on a retractor, when the wife and I gave up our console computers for wrist mount, and switched to just small SPG's on the braided HP hoses.  (Yes, I know about the recall - they're swapped already).  Compass on retractor was kind of bulky and frankly I never really liked it, it was obviously the same unit they also just put bungies on for wearing on a wrist, but I didn't want to do that either since I also wear a dive watch as a backup time/depth unit.  Rarely do we get out of sight of the boat, even on trips to the Flower Gardens where navigation is 120% the responsibility of the 'buddy team', but I still didn't want to not carry one.

So, this was the obvious first easy project for the new 3D printer.  Aside from all the endless projects just making it functional in the first place...:grump:


compmnt_assmbled_use2 by rtrski, on Flickr

More pics with descriptions of the design approach are in a small set at Flickr:


Might also work on a 'clip' to wrap around the SPG boot to mount one on the back for the wife, although the SPG isn't on a swivel at the end of the hose, so that might not be the best treatment of it.....

p.s. WHOA!!! The new Forum software auto-plays Flickr set links as a slideshow??? Too cool,  and a bit showoffy.  Sorry, just meant to provide a link for the curious, not force-feed you all. :/

Wife and I are upgrading regs.  Have our about 8-year old, but every-year serviced and only about 160 dives each regs up for sale.

• Two (2) Oceanic Alpha 8 Sports with the NON DVT first stage (this model preceded those).  New A8Sports with DVT go for about $250.  Asking $140 each.  Will include copy of lastest service receipt.  One has a formed Seacure mouthpiece on it but I can throw in another (unformed as yet) Seacure with the package for another $15, or a plain rubber mouthpiece (ugly green, unfortunately) for free.
• Two (2) Oceanic Swivel-180 Low-profile Octo 2nd stages.  Ditto on age and service.  These are not the newer 'magnetic' keeper versions.  New go for about $100 street, asking $50 each.
• Two (2) HP hoses with the Oceanic Quick Disconnect coupling for the Swiv and other consoles (with either air-integrated computer or a puck style computer and SPG).  Have only one (1) 'Swiv' console with a Veo 250, SPG, and (if you flip it over, behind the VEO) a compass.  Computer has not been flooded but has dead battery and hasn't been tested in some time.  Asking $150 for the lot.  Or can parcel out a bit if you want, make offer."
• One (1) spare XS Scuba Miflex braided HP hose, 24' length, for an SPG or air-integrated computer.  This IS the new design ("carbon") which postdates the recall.  Typically sell for $40.  In original packaging (got as a swap for the recall, but ended up buying a longer one and never used this one.)  Asking $25.

All prices open to negotiation and 'package discounting' if you want multiple items (e.g. one Alpha 8 1st and 2nd stage, plus one octo, $160 total).  All items for US or Canada sale only please.  Prefer Paypal as method of payment.  Prices do not include shipping but I'll only charge you actual cost (no 'packing' or 'handling' fees - we can discuss costs when I know where I'm shipping to and our carrier preference).  I will only ship insured, either USPS or UPS, with tracking numbers.  My eBay account name is also 'rtrski' if you want to check out feedback there, and I think there's some seller feedback here about me as well.

Will leave listing here for about a month, then just try to eBay.  Alpha 8's are great plastic starter or 'sport' regs, often used as rental gear as they're fairly reliable, and good for Nitrox as-is up to 40% O2.  But I'm starting colder water diving and wanted something metal and slightly higher performing, just in case, and of course if I upgrade I have to buy her new shiny stuff too. :eyeroll:

Pics available upon request.

Hope no one minds me posting a Kickstarter that I thought was of interest.  No, I'm not related to them in any way, just happened across it searching for Technology/photography/camera type keywords.

http://www.kickstart...ot?ref=category