I just got a Jeep Wrangler. I love this thing!  For us explorers, outdoorsy type's, hunters, and or detectorist, it is the ultimate exploration vehicle.  As such there are tons of aftermarket accessories available, but none that are geared towards the meal detectorist, until today.  How about custom taillight silhouette covers that will light up the night with metal detecting related images, every time you hit the brakes?

Three years ago, I began toying around with ideas on how to display relics I would to show off in a kenitic
way.
In short order, I had a working prototype that used a planetary gear system to spin multiple items.
For whatever reason, I never did much with it after that. 
Recently a friend of mine asked if I thought I could display collectible marbles.
No problem.

I have it layered to display up to 10 marbles.

Here is a video of the Relic Rotisserie setup to display various buttons and coins.
It can spin most any item you have. Any coin, button, bullet, or whatever you may treasure.

The XP Deus is a fantastic machine. However several of the physical design features could be improved.
The one I am tackling with this product development is the coil charging clip.  I am on my third factory clip.
The little contact pins break, or the plastic spring breaks. 

If that happens, you will be out of luck. That's why most of us have two of these clips at all times.
They break, and usually at the most inopportune time.
Besides the breakage issues, I do not like where the USB plug is located. I find it is not the most convenient position. And since the clip jaws lock onto the bottom of the coil, the clip protrudes on the bottom. Many times I get it on the coil and charging, only to have it pop off when I set the coil down.

So to make a better clip, the design should incorporate the following features.
1. Eliminate the plastic spring.
2. Eliminate the spring pins.
3. Locate the clip to the coil using as many surfaces (not points) as possible so it fits       snug with no rocking.
4. Clip should not protrude below the bottom of the coil.
5. Move the USB port to be more accessible.
6. Beef the body up to make it generally less prone to breakage.

So I started by modeling up the section of coil this clip must fit.

Now I simply design a clip that fits the exact dimensions of every surface of the coil where needed.

It fits very snug. But for extra clip retention, I added a nylon thumb screw.
Now to find a replacement for the spring pins.  I tested larger spring pins but the first one simply fell out of its socket and the spring bounced out to freedom. The contact pads on the coil are only 3/16" apart. This limits the size of the mating contacts in the clip. After searching long and hard I found these cool gold plated nickel leaf spring contact modules. Leaf springs are single components that are very tough and forgiving.  This works really well.
The other component is the Mini USB socket. I found these nice break-out-board mounted units that give me good mounting and solder points.
Model those components, design them into the bottom half of the clip, split the assembly so I can put the two electronic components in and solder them together.  3D print the clip body, assembly and test it out.

It works great.  It fits snug enough that the thumb screw is not needed. 
It is rock solid on the coil without any rocking around.  This is due to the many surfaces the clip references on.

The AT-Proluminator addresses the only real shortcoming of the Garrett AT Pro and AT Gold detectors.
That being the lack of a back lit display.  It is that time of year again when daylight shortens and we find ourselves detecting in low or no light conditions.  The AT-Proluminator conveniently mounts underneath the control unit and the flexible light shaft is easily positioned to illuminate the display screen and control panel.
Now you can choose to add a 3D printed light hood that attaches onto the flexible light shaft. This hood focuses the light just were you want it. The colored transparent lens on the light hood diffuses the light.
Lenses come in red, blue, green, orange, yellow or purple.
This light hood is an accessory to the AT-Prolumintor. Both are sold separately.

Click here to visit the light hood product page.

disclaimer:
I trust you will not use this product to metal detect illegally at night. You must always have the proper permissions before metal detecting on someone's property. No night hawking.
​ 

These custom 3d printed pin pointer tethers with built in jewelers loupe were made for the upcoming Civil War Preservation Project of Ohio group hunt.
Our products make great  prizes during group hunts like this. Customize the text as you wish.

Here is a video of the hunt.

I was hunting at a old farm that supposedly was owned by a Nazi who was caught and tried for war crimes. He just disappeared from his place in the 50's. The old farm house looks like he just vanished. 
Several Nazi tokens and German coins have been dug there.
So when I dug this buckle with 'Gott Mit Uns" on it I assumed it was Nazi from WWII but was baffled why it does not have a swastika.
Gott Mit Uns translates to "God is with us". 
When I got home and researched it, turns out it is way older than WWII
It is a non commissioned officers belt buckle from the Prussian empire's great military.
The medallion measures 50mm in diameter. From that we can date this between 1847 and 1895. 

When  I plucked it from the plug, the center medallion fell off due to the solder used to affix it, corroding and leaching into the ground.
As you can see, this medallion is on the verge of crumbling and disintegrating, it is very fragile and covered in cracks.
This demonstrates the value us metal detectorist's bring to the preservation of historic relics and artifacts.
If most archaeologist would have their way, this would have been left in the ground until it rots into an unidentifiable heap  of dust.

The design changed after 1895, the medallion was reduced to 45mm in diameter.
From 1895 through WWI and up until 1939, the Germans used the smaller design with the Prussian crown.
In 1939, they used the motto and the circumference design but replaced the crown with an eagle and swastika, like the example below

Many have asked if the tether ring will fit the new water proof Garrett Pro pointer AT...
I have been waiting to get my hands on one of these elusive new pin pointers to find out....
Well today I was lucky enough to try it.
The answer is...
Yes the Tether ring does fit.
It does not negatively affect affect the units water proof abilities. AND,
It adds buoyancy to the pin pointer so when installed our Tether ring makes the pin pointer float real well which is important if you are hunting in the water.
Shown here with a color changing tether ring (Green to yellow).
I think now it really looks like a carrot with the green up top.
Don't like the carrot look? Don't fret, chose from 17 different tether ring colors we print on our 3d printers and choose what text you want on the lid. You really can have it your way....

Macro paved the way with the first water proof Pin Pointer. I have one, and have the tether ring for it designed, tested, and ready to offer for sell on our product pages.  
Seen below with the optional spring recoil tether option I have been testing out for a month now and am very pleased with it's performance in all types of conditions.

I have had the Whites TRX tether ring designed for a month now. Unfortunately I do not own a TRX so I cannot test it out in the field. 
This weekend the first prototype will be in Mississippi in the hands of Mr. Kevin Strahan for a two day shake down of this new design. I can't wait to get his feed back so I can finalize the design and make them available to all TRX pin pointer users.
The tether ring on the left fits Garrett, Minelab and Deteknix x pointer. The one on the right is the one that will be tested on the Whites TRX pin pointer.