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**Ecapnation** · 10-04-2022, 04:33 PM

Welp....if you're talking about matrixes before the DM4 you needn't include anything about dye.

Airtech/Diablo/Gen-E and Ardvark did the leg work there.

**BigRed** · 10-04-2022, 07:53 PM

More Matrix markers...DM11 through DM15, Dye Assault Matrix (DAM), Dye M2, Dye M3.

Forgot the DSR too.

The Autocockers is an old debate, of which I won't opine. Dye 2K2 Full body Autococker (commonly refered to as a Reflex) or 2K2 Mini Autococker (commonly refered to as an Ultralight). After the 2002 models they were officially called the Reflex and Ultralight.

Dye Ironmen Angel LCD.

**the_matrix_guy** · 11-08-2022, 12:44 AM

Bonjwa I think BonesJackson is your man. He's the author of the Matrix internet resource. I believe its pending re-publishing, but hes been out of the PB scene I think for a bit now, unfortunately. Either way I could probably help. I have good friends at Cousins in NY, the main distributor and old Gen-E HQ, back in the day.

But the sequence of models and technology is as follows:

In 2000, Airtech out of Canada introduced the granddaddy of all spool valve based markers -- the Matrix. Diablo was the distributor. It is unclear what design improvements were made by Airtech from Lee Kirwan's original designs (work in progress,) but what is certain, is that Aardvark improved upon the design. They made the second generation bolt drive train, known as the "red" and "blue" bolt-kits, which was then licensed to Generation E Sports (Gen-E) after their buyout of the Matrix in 2001 and became the standard bolt-kit /drivetrain after Gen-E completed the acquisition from Airtech. Gen-E officially titles it the"Image-II" black bolt-kit. It was an important re-design that improved overall performance; reliability, efficiency, and ROF.

Gen-E also improved the electronics and evolved the original "Gun 12" switch PCB to what is known as the Gun 20 LED and the LCD board (also based on the Gun 20 algorithms and technology, except with added functions facilitated by the LCD controls.) The original Gun 12 switch board is capable of a max ROF of about 15-17 BPS, whereas the Gun20 is capable of 25+ BPS and allowed greater control of dwell timings.

Gen E had a base LED & LCD model, and they also had three in-house private-label models: The New York Xtreme (NYX) Matrix, the Toxic Performance Matrix (under their sister company label: Toxic Performance, Inc.) and the Ironmen Matrix.

The Gen-E NYX Matrix encompasses three different generations of approximately 1000-1200 markers made in total across all three gens. Each with the same milling design -- but different custom milling processes as well as anodizing options. All NYX's had the same milling design throughout all three generations, easily distinguished by the "X" milled on the sides which connects to a Punisher skull milled ontop that covers the whole top of the body. The first generation NYX in 2002, was the first Matrix to come standard with the anti-chop-eye (ACE). Both the eyes and the "Egi" LED board in the NYX were designed by Egi and were highly tweaked Gun-20 settings with additional debounce settings for maximum responsiveness and ROF.
The Toxic Matrix encompasses three different generations, each with the same milling design -- but different custom milling processes as well as anodizing options. All Toxics's had the same milling design throughout all three generations, easily distinguished by the Toxic liquid swirl mill-lines throughout the whole body. Unlike NYX's, the first generation Toxic Matrix from the initial 2002 gen-E marker lineup did not come with eyes (ACE), it wasn't until 2003, that the second generation Toxics were outfitted with eyes and the Toxic (ACE) breech (same as second gen NYX's). All Toxics came with LCD boards, however first gen Toxics also lacked all of the Toxic signature aftermarket parts, such as the Toxic DUB Wheel breech rod, the Toxic breech, Toxic magnetic trigger frames, and Toxic triggers that came standard in the second generation model as well as the third gen model.
The Gen-E Ironmen Matrix encompasses a single generation of approximately 100-125 Ironmens (as per Duane Parsons & Dave "Toxic Dave" Rotunda, the designers and machinists credited for the Ironmen, Toxic, and NYX.) The Ironmens were easily distinguished by the dead air chamber (DAC) milled off the body, (making it the lightest Matrix at the time) with the shield Ironmen logo milled on one side and "Ironmen Los Angeles" milled opposite, as well as its signature red/black anodizing color scheme. Following in the steps of the first generation NYX Matrix in 2002, the Ironmen also release shortly thereafter, outfitted with eyes (ACE) and LCD boards.

All Gen-E in-house PL models (Toxic, NYX, and Ironmen) are based on the Gen-E re-design, which implemented Gen-E electronics such as the LCD boards and Egi LED board in the case of the NYX's, as well as standard eyes (ACE), CP In-line regulators, Image-II "black" bolt-kits, and custom milling.

The first generation Toxics and NYX's used electric discharge milling or “machining” (EDM) whereas subsequent generations used industry-standard CNC milling. The EDM process produced slightly finer mill lines but also had the downside of burning the area around the mill lines which required additional polishing work due to the rougher surface and was discontinued in favor of the industry standard CNC milling process. And this is the reason why second gen. NYX's and Toxics are referred to as "CNC" and first gens are referred to as "EDM." Another distinction between first generation and second gen. NYX's and Toxics were the anodizings. The first gen EDM NYX's all came in single dust colors (dust blue, dust silver, and battleship grey) with exception of the glossy "Ground Zero" tri-fade (black-blue-silver), whereas all subsequent generations of NYX were all glossy and also added two color fade schemes to the lineups. The first gen Toxics were all dust/matte in either single color or splash (in very limited production numbers,) whereas all subsequent generations were glossy single color or two-color fades. The third and last generation of NYX's and Toxics were produced during the DYE buyout and were made using DYE bodies. The biggest distinction in the third gens. came in the milling of the NYX, the "X" and Punisher skull was milled inversely into the body, whereas the X/Punisher milling on the first two NYX gens. was opposite, the milling was done around the X/Punisher making the design protrude instead of being "pocketed" into the body. The other distinction between third gen. Toxics & NYX's were the high quality glossy fade and outfitting of parts which consisted of DYE trigger-frames and ULE second gen. Toxic breeches. Third gen. NYX's and Toxics are referred to as "DYEs" and are considered the most limited in production numbers. Anodizing options consisted of one color (glossy) and two color glossy fades. Unlike the previous generations, no "Ground Zero" NYX tri-fades were produced by DYE.

The base model Gen-E LCD's and LED's also came in ACE and non-ACE options, in-line regulators also varied between 2002-2003, 2002 models came with Centerflag In-line regulators, whereas later 2003 models came with CP In-line regulators (HPR). Anodizings options varied slightly, all base models came in single colors, both glossy and dust.

Other technological advancements, include the break-beam anti-chop eye (ACE) system implemented in the original, first generation NYX in 2002, which was the first Matrix to implement the anti-chop-eye (ACE). A break-beam emitter-receiver diode system designed by Egi of Finland, which was subsequently adapted to ACE-optioned Gen-E base models, as well as private labels (PL) such as the Ironmen Matrix (2002), Toxic Matrix (2003), and DYE LCD Matrix (2003). Custom made-to-order FreeFlows were outfitted depending on the buyer's choice of parts. It's important to note, that the eye system was only present in the Gen-E redesign after the Airtech acquisition. All previous models under Airtech were blind.

Additionally, the original Airtech Matrix also lacked a low pressure regulator (LPR), but various third party manufactures made aftermarket parts including LPR's for the Airtech Matrix. Gen-E made the LPR standard on all models, subsequently after their buyout of the Matrix properties.

Other third-party partner private-labels include, Aardvark, FreeFlow, Shocktech, KAPP, The Matrix Center, & DYE (commonly referred to as the DM3, but the official name was simply DYE Matrix LCD, and was produced before the DYE buyout in late 2003, hence a private label, categorically, even though unlike other PL's which sport custom milling, the DYE had a plain body and is almost indistinguishable from the base-model Gen-E's.)

Aardvark, KAPP, and Shocktech private labels are 2001-2002 models based on the original Airtech design, easily distinguished by the "beehive" in-line regulator, which connected directly to the body without a vertical air adapter, unique custom milling, and lack of standard eyes (ACE). Whereas, The Matrix Center (TMC) Matrices, FreeFlows, and DYE's are 2002+ PL models sported custom milling as well, but are Gen-E bodies and based on the Gen-E redesign. In the case of the DYE's the custom milling is minimal, and almost indistinguishable from base model Gen-E's as mentioned earlier.

DYE Matrix LCD's are distinguishable from base-model Gen-E's by the position of the milled groove at the bottom of the body. The DYE LCD's groove is near the rear of the gun and the Gen-E's have the groove near the front. Other distinguishable aspects are the milled tear drop at the front-top of the trigger-frames, as well as the parts outfitted in them, such as, the DYE low pressure regulators (LPR's) which consisted of two models: the bigger Rocket mode, which is largely regarded as underperforming & unreliable, and was consequently replaced by the vastly improved & smaller second gen. Bullet models which are largely based on the AKA SCM's and which offered similar high-performance. Other distinctions in outfitted parts include the Hyper-II in-lines (HPR) which came standard on all DYE LCD's, the standard ACE (eyes) breech, and the thinner double groove trigger. All DYE LCD's come in dust blue, dust red, dust silver and dust black, (which is not a distinguishable feature in itself.)

Some of the third-party custom shops also made private labels Matrices that were strictly team guns and were never mass produced and/or released to the public, such as the Aardvark Entities for team Ironmen, the FreeFlow Lockouts, Shocktech Images, Shocktech Traumas, & FreeFlow Demonics, etc. (Yes that's correct, Shocktech, also made Image/Trauma Matrices, not just FreeFlow, but in much more limited quantities, strictly for the Image/Trauma team.)

It's also worth noting that Aardvark also produced two commercially available models, the Tequila and Tequila Sunrise, but were made in very limited quantities of about 25 each, making them the rarest, most valued, and highly-sought-after custom Matrices to this day. Both models are considered among the most aesthetically pleasing, implementing some cosmetic improvements i.e. windows milled around the drivetrain chamber, the main and largest window is cut around the shot chamber and sealed with a Lexan see-through bolt-sleeve allowing the shot chamber in the bolt-kit to be visible.

This is the history that preceded the DYE buyout. During the DYE buyout, DYE made one last generation of Toxics and NYX's as a farewell using DYE bodies. This was a limited release and are considered the third and last generation of NYX's (distinguished by the inversed milled X and Punisher skulls, high quality glossy fade anodizings, DYE trigger-frames, and ULE second gen. Toxic breeches) and Toxics (also distinguished by the high quality glossy fade anodizings, DYE trigger-frames, and ULE second gen. Toxic breeches).

By late 2003, the company had redesigned the Matrix in the form of the DM4, and by early 2004 DYE implemented a fully vertically integrated model, and became the sole manufacture of the Matrix, disabling third party vendors through cease & desist orders, with only one exception throughout 2004 & 2005: Shocktech: which produced the only private-label DM4 & DM5 in the entire market, but was also subsequently disabled by DYE for 2006. Making DYE's vertical integration model absolute from thereon.

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Help with the DYE Precision wikipedia article - Help preserve paintballs history!

Help with the DYE Precision wikipedia article - Help preserve paintballs history!

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