Contact tips are used to enable the Static Feedback option. The original design was susceptible to breaking off or unscrewing from the collar. As a result, we have redesigned the contact tips - both via a material change (from copper to stainless steel), and via a change in shape.

We have had three different 'versions' of contact tips circulating over the last several months: the 'original' tips, the 'interim' tips, and the 'new' tips. It is important to be able to differentiate between these to make sure that all of our customers have the new and improved version. 

The original tips (2.5MM) were made of copper, and the coating on the outside made them appear to be black. 

The new contact tips are made of stainless steel (3.5MM), but are also coated, so they look similar to the original tips. However, the new ones also have the form-factor change.  To identify this change, you should focus on the point where the 'threaded' portion meets the 'body' of the contact tip.  A 'shoulder' was added, which also reduces the length of the threaded section. 

Note: Prior to the release of the newest tips, we distributed 'interim' tips that are made of uncoated stainless steel, which looks silver and shiny. They are functionally the same as the newest tips - they still have the added 'shoulder' to reinforce the strength of the tip. The black coating on the newest tips is simply a cosmetic change. 

Below are two images comparing the shape of the original tips ("Old") to the new tips ("New"). Note the shoulder added in the threaded portion, indicated by the arrows.