Picatinny (NATO) Rail flashlight mount

thingiverse

This mount was designed specifically for a budget-friendly Chinese flashlight available under various brand names. Mine, branded "LCYYO," came two-for-$13, and I'm impressed by its features, including a zoomable LED light that feels durable and an insert inside that takes three AAA batteries easily available everywhere. The absence of boutique batteries eliminates worries about them dying and having to search for replacements. The most critical dimension of the flashlight is the diameter of the recessed area on the tube, which should be 26-27mm. I've included the Fusion 360 source file and a step file so you can modify this design to fit your specific flashlight. Here's what you'll need: * One 35mm M3 bolt * One M3 nut * Two standard zip ties * One Chinese LED flashlight To assemble the mount, follow these steps: 1. Thread the M3 nut and bolt together by a few millimeters. 2. Holding onto the bolt, position the M3 nut into the hexagonal hole in the back of the mount's mouth. 3. You may want to add a small drop of super glue to make it easier to register the bolt when you thread it back the other side. 4. Unscrew the bolt, leaving the nut in place. 5. Insert the flashlight into the mount's mouth at its forward-most recessed ring on the barrel, which measures approximately 26.5mm in diameter. 6. For a secure fit, insert a zip tie into each of the two slots, smooth-side up. Wrap the tails around the barrel of the light and secure the zip ties. 7. Slide the profile over a pic rail of your choice. 8. Once it's close to its final position, insert the M3 bolt from the back side and thread the nut on the opposite side. 9. Move the mount forward in the rail until your bolt is touching the rail. 10. Snug up the bolt. You may choose to use Loctite, but the metal-on-plastic interface seems to hold bolts in place fairly well.