Pressure switches, like them or not, have their place on a fighting rifle. If you do have one for your WML or IR target designator/illuminator, you have no doubt resorted to zip ties, rubber bands, or electrical tape to manage and route the cable.
Zip ties are a field expedient solution, as are rubber bands. Zip ties with excess slack cut off can be rather sharp, and rotate its sharp, blade like edge/corners when the user least expects. Rubber bands are far from a long term solution.
PCM (Panel, Cable Management) was co-developed with Tactical Night Vision Company (TNVC, https://tnvc.com), it is an MLOK compatible cable management panel/cover that protects and routes the cable underneath. TNVC and FCD had determined that internal/protected routing of cable is the most secure means of keeping it immobile, as it doesn't rely on friction, and can't be pulled out without removing the panel itself. PCM makes it possible for the cable to go straight through, or round a 90 degree angle, or even a 180 degree turn. PCM's cable routing can accommodate cables up to 0.140" in diameter. For references, Surefire's cables are 0.115" average, while the thickest Unity Tactical cables are 0.140 average.
Billet machined from solid 6061 aluminum and Type III hard coat anodized, PCM has the AA (all angles), dimpled texture we've been using on our bolt catches, magazine release buttons, and forward assist since 2016.
PCM is shipped with MLOK mounting hardware, and can be staggered next to each other. One panel per package. Available in Type III anodized black, FDE, or ODG.
Length: PCM, 1.57", fills one MLOK slot. PCM-L, 3.14", fills two MLOK slots.
Width: 0.6"
Height: 0.22" (installed)
Weight: PCM, 0.32oz, with MLOK nut and bolt. PCM-L, 0.64oz, with MLOK nuts and bolts.
Proudly designed and made in the USA. Arson Machines, the developer and manufacturer of the Wireguide, also makes the PCM for FCD and TNVC. Arson Machines produces many of FCD's products for us.
PCM is a collaboration between FCD and TNVC (Tactical Night Vision Company), TNVC's PCM can be found here: https://tnvc.com/shop/tnvc-fcd-pcm-mlok/
NOTE: PCM ships with one panel per package.
RE: PCM thermal dissipation, below are the test results, we will continue to update this data. PCM was designed to perform one task: securely manage and route flashlight and IR illuminator/designator cables. The way PCM was designed, it has ample surface area above and below and acts almost as a heat sink. Though it wasn't expressly designed to replace an MLOK rail cover, PCM is more than up for the task. The steel MOK nut and bolt, both in steel, predictably retained more heat than the PCM itself, but never to the point of being too uncomfortable to hold.
300 rounds through a 13.7" unsuppressed, and anther 150 through an SOLGW 13.7" suppressed.
Subjectively the PCM felt cooler to the touch than the hand guard (Centurion and SOLGW m76) and never heated up enough to be uncomfortable.
2 x 30 round mags full auto reloaded in less than 3 seconds between mags. Ambient air temp was 49F, wind chill 41F. On final test starting temp of PCM was 46F, barrel was 47F, hand guard was 45F. After the 60 rounds: PCM warned to 65, barrel to 272, HG to 90.
Test was repeated twice, results remained consistent.
NOTE:
For metal MLOK handguards, 35 in·lb is the max torque. For polymer handguards, 15in·lb is the max torque. For more info on MLOK installation, please visit this page: https://www.forwardcontrolsdesign.com/assets/images/M-LOK_Release_FAQs.pdf
