DYE Precision

Since its founding in 1994 by Dave Dehaan, DYE Precision has grown into one of the biggest manufacturers of paintball equipment in the world. Based in San Diego, California, DYE has offices and factories in the UK, Germany, and Taiwan. Starting out just selling barrels from a garage, DYE now produces all types of high end paintball equipment including paintball markers, loaders, hoppers, protective gear, and casual clothing. Being one of the largest companies in the industry, DYE sponsors many professional paintball teams such as the LA Ironmen, Chicago Aftershock, London Nexus, Toulouse Tontons, Ecuador Evolution, Brasil Jungle Boyz, Colombia Wayout and Tampa Bay Damage.

History

DYE Precision is a paintball manufacturing company founded by former player Dave Dehaan, also known as Dave Youngblood, in 1994. Dehaan began playing professionally at the age of 14, and was one of the youngest players in the sport at the time, a fact that consequently led to the nickname "Youngblood". During his time as a student, Dehaan made custom marker modifications in order to earn extra money. These got him involved in the business side of the sport. In 1996 John Gregory, founder of JT USA, gave Dehaan a job helping with equipment at tournaments. Eventually, Dehaan became the head of the paintball division at the company. Difficulties in the company and rumors of its sale caused Dehaan to pursue a career in law-enforcement. This did not stop Dave from making custom paintball equipment in his spare time, barrels in particular. As the popularity of his equipment grew, he manufactured the first batch of 100 barrels that he called the "Boomstick", which sold out in two weeks. The success of these barrels paved the way for the founding of DYE, Dave Youngblood Enterprises.

Since the birth of the Boomstick, DYE developed several products and innovations that set the standard for the sport, as well as improving it as a whole. In 2003, DYE released its version of the Matrix, a spool valve design electropneumatic paintball marker. The DYE Matrix, also known as the LCD Matrix, was a top-of-the-line high-end marker that became very popular among players, and has remained so to the present day. Since the launch of the original LCD Matrix, DYE has released several other versions of the Matrix, each with different millings, features, and improvements. While the Matrix revolutionized the spool valve paintball marker, the DYE Rotor did the same for loaders in 2009.

Markers

Today there are several types of markers developed and manufactured by DYE. Starting in 2003, DYE released their Ultralite Autocker to compete with the Shocktech SFL Autococker. DYE has released a new model of the Matrix every year since it launched, with each new model improving some component of the previous year's marker. In 2010, DYE introduced the DYE NT to its paintball marker line. Dye Autococker Dye reflex Autococker Dye ultralite autococker

• Dye Matrix

1. LCD (2003) - The LCD Matrix featured a spool valve bolt system that was revolutionary at the time. This system was different from stacked tube markers at the time, in that it only had one chamber and air pressure to simultaneously actuate the bolt and shoot the paintball. This system was quieter and had less recoil than poppet valve markers which was desirable to tournament players who saw high rates of fire as a competitive advantage. The lower profile of the gun due to its single tube design was also desireable. The LCD Matrix also featured a small LCD screen on the side of the grip handle to make adjustments of the marker easier, without having to memorize LED flash sequences. This display is where the name originated from.
2. DM4 (2004) - The DYE DM4 introduced the FUSE bolt system which was an improvement of the spool valve style of bolts. New milling was added to make the marker lighter and more aesthetic. The hyper2 inline HPA regulator also made its debut and improved gas efficiency. There was also an on/off nob at the front of the marker that allowed the air to be shut off to the gun and bleed out so serving the gun was possible. The board was improved by adding more adjustments and a better user interface.
3. DM5 - The DYE DM5 was similar to the DM4 with the major changes being milling and board settings. The asa was also changed as well and a lower feedneck. In addition to these improvements, lower operating pressures were achieved through improvements to the bolt.
4. DM6 - The main improvement to the 2006 model of the Matrix was addition of the Ultralite frame. This frame cut down on weight drastically and improved grip comfort as well. The Ultralite frame also came with a board that offered different types of firing modes. In 2006 DYE also released the Ultralite frame for previous models as well. The DM6 also boasted a lower operating pressure, an on/off asa, and a tool-less twist locking feedneck.
5. DM7 - The main improvements to the 2007 model were the self-cleaning anti-chop eye system, the adjustable clamp lock feedneck, milling, and improved efficiency and operating pressure. This marker was still lighter and faster than previous markers.
6. DM8 - The DM8 had the, by now, standard milling changes and air efficiency improvements. The anti-chop eye system still used a polycarbonate eye plate that was self-cleaning. The main new addition was the upgrade of the high pressure regulator. DYE developed the Hyper3 to replace the Hyper 2 regulator. This allowed more consistent air flow and lower operating pressure to the gun. The eye covers were also done away with in this model which gave the gun a sleeker and cleaner look.
7. DM9 - Relatively little was changed in the 2009 model of the Matrix. Milling was changed and consequently weight was improved. Gas efficiency was slightly improved. Board settings and functionality were improved. The DM9 had a lower profile than previous models making it even smaller and more comfortable.
8. 2010 DMseries - The 2010 model had similar milling to the 2009 version with a slight hook near the rear of the frame to make carrying easier and to improve aesthetics. The trigger design was different from other models in that it was raked forward. Weight and gas efficiency were also slightly improved.
9. 2011 DMseries - The 2011 model had a great deal of improvements. First, the on/off Ultralite airport was introduced. This ASA was significantly lighter than the previous one, and made the on/off function easier to use as it reverted to a lever rather than a twist knob. The pistol grip frame made it easier to grip for professionals and amateurs alike. The frame was designed to have a smaller cavity to house the electronics, which made components fit more snugly and reducing their jiggling during use. The Ultralite frame also had a new wrap-around grip, which allowed for better access to the board and electronic adjustments. More intricate milling was also utilized to reduce overall weight.

• DYE NT "New Technology" - The production of the DYE NT marked a shift from the Matrix line of markers. The NT is very similar to the matrix, with the main difference being the new Boost Bolt System. The Boost Bolt's design was still of the spool valve type, yet it had some differences compared to the FUSE Bolt used in the Matrix. This bolt system allowed for better air efficiency, lower recoil, faster fire rate, and quieter shooting. Other features included in the NT were the second generation Ultralite frame, Ultralite airport, Hyper3 regulator, clamping feedneck, and self-cleaning pipe eyes.

Rotor

The DYE Rotor, released in 2009, was DYE's first entry in the loader market segment and was meant to compete with other high-end loaders offered by competitors . The Rotor was well-received by the paintball community on release due to its high level of performance, ease-of-use, simple maintenance, and the brand recognition of DYE. The Rotor uses a force-fed design that supplies the marker with paintballs at a fast rate, allowing for very high rates of fire if the marker allowed. This was achieved by forcing the paintballs down into the breech of the gun, allowing tension to be maintained in the stack while waiting for the next shot to be fired. This is in contrast to the agitation-fed loaders of the time, which simply moved paddles to keep paintballs from clumping together as they entered the loader feed tube. The force-fed mechanism of the Rotor assembly resembles a water pump impeller. The assembly agitates the paintballs sitting in the loader and then forces them down the feed tube and into the paintball marker's breech. This is achieved without breakage or jamming of the paintballs during the process. The loader can be disassembled easily into 15 main parts in only a few minutes, without the use of any tools. This allows for easy cleaning and interchanging of parts for repair or upgrade in the field.

Proto

In the early part of the 2000s, DYE founded a subsidiary company, Proto Paintball. Proto sold similar equipment, markers, and apparel at a lower price to cater to the budget market. In 2005, Proto released the PM5 (also known as the 2005 Proto Matrix) which was very similar to the DYE Matrix product line. These markers were mid-range models that offered identical performance to the Matrix, but with fewer features and a lower price. The main differences between the Proto and DYE models were that the PM5 came with a one-piece Proto barrel, a standard Proto frame, and several small internal differences such as a shorter bolt that allowed it to operate at a higher air pressure. However, starting in 2006, Proto Matrices were upgraded with a two-piece Proto barrel, and in 2008 were further upgraded with an Ultralite frame. Along with the Proto matrix, Proto produced the PMR (Proto Matrix Rail) and the Proto SLG (Super Light Gun). The PMR operates using an "unbalanced" spool valve design which cuts down on cost yet reduces air efficiency and smoothness. The SLG used an even simpler and cheaper to manufacture asymmetrical design, along with a mechanical solenoid, as opposed to the typical electric type, and it did not use the FUSE bolt system.

External links

• DYE Precision
• Proto Paintball
• Wikipedia Article