Handturned yoyo prototypes

[ivndbt (ivan)]

Handcrafted yoyo experiments

In June, my friend Diego decided to start hand-turning yoyos.
He knows nothing about modern ones, so I gave him some advice and some spare harware I had collected over the years (bearings, spacers, strings, etc.). It turns out he caught the yoyo-prototyping fever and keeps producing one-of-a-kind designs. Whenever he finishes a new one, he gives it to me to try out, and then he tweaks it if needed.

Let us know what do you think

D.001

Specs:
Width 42,4mm - Diameter 52,3mm - Weight 74,6g

Details:
Delrin body, M3 axle, C bearing, aluminum press fit guts

---

D.002

Specs:
Width 34,8mm - Diameter 49,1mm - Weight 48,4g

Details:
Delrin body, M3 axle, SKF 4x15x5mm, bolted guts

---

D.003

Missing. (Modified to make D.010)

---

D.004

Specs:
Width 18,9mm - Diameter 54,9mm - Weight 50,2g

Details:
Plexiglas body, floating string seat with dual SKF 4x15x5mm, 12x neodymium magnets, M3 bolts

---

D.005

Specs:
Width 52,9mm - Diameter 54,2mm - Weight 68,7g

Details:
Plexiglas body, Diego guts system, C bearing, 6mm axle (M3 grubs)

---

D.006 (Giuditta)

Specs:
Width 53,7mm - Diameter 55,1mm - Weight 66,1g

Details:
Delrin body, Diego guts system, C bearing, 6mm axle (M3 grubs)

---

D.007

Specs:
Width 39mm - Diameter 58,3mm - Weight 48,4g

Details:
Birch ply body, M4 axle, C bearing, glued aluminum guts

---

D.008 (Volauvent)

Specs:
Width 51,1mm - Diameter 54mm - Weight 55,7g

Details:
Beech ply body, M4 axle, C bearing, glued aluminum guts

---

D.009 (Zebra)

Specs:
Width 54,8mm - Diameter 54,5mm - Weight 55,5g

Details:
Beech ply body, M4 axle, C bearing, glued aluminum guts

---

D.010

Specs:
Width 45,3mm - Diameter 53,2mm - Weight 62g

Details:
Plexiglas body, copper rings embedded in UV resin, M4 axle, C bearing, glued aluminum guts

---

I even wrote a post on my blog where I will keep everything up to date. Take a look!

[NuroVolt7]

Those Plexiglass ones blew my mind! Do the magnets in the slimline one help to keep the halves together, or are they simply for weight distribution?

It’s official, Italians are the best craftsmen. At everything I like anyway; cars, pizza, and now yoyos!

[Lydia]

These look sick!

[Ed-C]

Some of those are crazy! Do you know how they play?

[ivndbt (ivan)]

Ahahah, thanks for the compliments!

As for the magnets, their purpose is to make both halves spin simmetrically. Since each half has its own bearing, it’s actually possible to do a spin start by holding one half still with your nth while the other is pulled by the string. It doesn’t work perfectly because it doesn’t have enough magnetic power to pull the still half along, but it was a fun little experiment.

It works reasonably well in semi responsive mode. We should consider adding silicone pads to make the return more consistent.

[ivndbt (ivan)]

Of curse I know! He machines them and then gives them to me as a gift Diego is a master at turning, even the very first one he made was excellent. In general, I just give him some advice on where to remove weight if necessary or if it feel a bit uncomfortable in the hand. We also brainstorm other crazy ideas together!

The first ones had a through axle directly in the plastic body, but that didn’t provide much stability, so they were later modified with aluminum inserts (D.001 D.002) or with his solid axle system (D.005 D.006). The only one that still has lot of vibe is the D.009. The two halves are perfectly balanced in terms of weight, but since the grain direction is crosswise, the com is probably off-axis, which causes wobbling. Still, it’s playable and esthetically one of my fav.

[Captrogers (Brandon Rogers)]

These are fantastic now I want one lol

[Ed-C]

Very cool!

[AudreySickburn (Andy (They/Them) Team Throw-Yo)]

The magnets are genius! I’ve wanted to make a 3d printed yoyo with independent bearings but hadn’t thought of a good way to maintain balance!

Also obsessed with the plexiglass ones.

[SlowThrow (Kyle ✌️❤️🪀)]

Super unique, very very cool!!!

[ivndbt (ivan)]

I think balance is the least of the problems. As long as it’s spinning, everything will be fine.

[neonfishingrod (raine)]

these r soooo clean, the clear ones especially

i love the super chunky rims