@phattpiggie - I think there will definitely be a sweet spot for the width of the flat wire. No idea what that would be yet...
@stickstones , Thanks!
@friedrich , I'm not sure yet, it depends on the battery configuration I go with. For a single battery, it may be best to go unregulated. For two batteries, most likely a variable voltage buck converter (OKR chip).
I don't plan on having any sort of OLED or voltage up/down buttons, just a simple analog dial. I would really like to do a linear slider pot, but I'm not sure it will fit. It would be super cool to have a slider for voltage control though.
Other than that, just a simple on/off switch, and fire button.
I've looked at the FW3, but not in detail. I like the vibe, seems like a popular device. Nice and simple.
@Copacetic , Hmmm, that's interesting.. so you would use the 18650 when you want more power, but the stacked 18350s for perhaps a lower temperature but more efficient regulation via a buck converter? Or something like that...
I'll investigate further, but from what I've seen that sort of setup (stacked 18350s) has little advantage over a single 18650. Especially when you consider that battery tech has been focused on the 18650 cell, so they will be the most advanced. Again, I still have a lot to learn about this subject, so I will definitely look into it more! It's a neat concept.
Just for sake of comparison, I quickly mocked up the same design, but using two 18650s. I think that having the two 18650s will be a huge performance boost, vs. the relatively small increase in size. However it may prove to be just a bit wide in the hand... It looks okay on paper though. With the rounded profile it might just work!
Here are two versions, one with two kraft paper tubes over their own battery, and the other with a single kraft paper shell that holds two batteries together. I think that the single shell would be best, it looks cooler IMO, and shaves off a few mm in size.
And YES, I've seen that dab bulb. So neat!!
@AJS , Yeah you gutta love that design. I imagine he has a shit ton of fins on the inside of that box, forcing the air to snake back and forth between the fins... if that makes sense.
The best heater is obviously one that transfers all of the heat from the coil, directly to the air, and then to the herb. I feel as though any vaporizer that gets very hot to the touch, has some efficiency gains to be had. Not that they are bad designs at all.. but just that heat lost to the environment is heat that's being wasted.
There are materials out there, like Mycalex, that have some properties I think we could take advantage of.
Also, I would like to perhaps incorporate a smaller herb chamber with this design... but make it very quick and easy to swap out the load. Each load could last a single hit.
As odd as that sounds, I think it could potentially increase performance and taste through a session. Every hit would be that glorious first hit taste, and you wouldn't need a whole wack of heat to soak a deep chamber. You could concentrate the heater in a smaller space.
To be practical, the load has to be SO easy and fast to switch that it could be done one handed in the time it takes to exhale your last draw... that alone could prove to be a huge design challenge.... so we will see about that, heh. PEZ comes to mind...haha.