Has there been much in the way of 3D printed metal yoyo design? I watched this video a while back, which showcases how what originally was a drawback of 3D printing metal objects can actually be an advantage (i.e. it’s not a bug, it’s a feature). With the correct geometry inside for structural integrity, I’m thinking this could make for some very interesting weight distributions.
For reference:
While I’m here, I’m gonna pitch another idea for innovation in metal yoyo design (this one probably belongs in cursed yoyo ideas). I always thought making a yoyo with snapstarts in mind would be cool even before YYF put out their 3D printed one. My idea would be to make something with polygonal rims, corners slightly rounded for comfort, giving slight flat spots for your finger with less curve & more grip than standard flat rims.
Since I don’t have a 3D printer or plans to have anything machined anytime soon (or ever), I’ve thought about taking a cheap Al yoyo and hammering lots of small dents on the rim. Would look a bit like this in texture:
I also used a similar material from Prusa that uses powdered tungsten mixed with plastic to make an even tinier super dense yoyo. That cost a lot of money to do so I’m probably not doing it again any time soon.
So far most of my designs using metal take advantage of the density to make small pocket fixed axle throws, because that stuff is my jam. However somewhere in my mental todo list of designs I do have several up and coming bimaterial designs that put these denser materials on the rim of a traditional plastic print.
I have seen several of your designs, and I’m certainly a fan of your work! I’m honestly way more interested in yoyo design than playing, and I’ve often mused bimaterial 3D printed yoyo designs. A new type of bimetal/bi-material yoyo? Metal composite is definitely more consistant than my idea from last year lol.
I definitely think 3D printing plays a large part in the future of yoyos, just for the fun & creativity it offers at a lower cost.
The fun and creativity is what I love as well. The attainability of any insane design my head can pop out. My first goal with every design is just making something that sounds fun that I would like to play with. Since I’ve got my own miniature factory (or three…) I don’t have to worry about what sells, I don’t have to ask myself, will a square yoyo sell? I want one I make one. Then I can share if someone else just so happens to take a fancy to it as well.
I spit-balled this in another thread, but does anyone think a resin-printed throw would work? Resin printers are typically used for figurines and jewelry because they can be way more detailed than 3D printers. But now that I think about it, because of the process used you may be more limited in the polymers available in resin printing, perhaps to the point that a potential yoyo may not have a lot of structural integrity?
Cadilac’s Le Mans GTP Endurance car utilizes 30+ metal 3D printed parts on the V8 engine, including exhaust and intake manifolds for example. Metal alloy called “INCONEL 625”
I tried printing in resin, but couldn’t get a good, uniform print that was good enough to throw. I kinda gave up because I didn’t want to keep wasting resin.
I had a resin printer but gave it away because I hated it, probably not the time for me to ramble about it but it turns out it’s very much not for me. But when I did have it I printed with some premium high end resin and everything still came out fairly brittle once it was cured. It did produce some nice clear well detailed prints though. I think it would work well for things like freehand caps, but I suspect a resin bearing seat would probably snap.
That’s really close to what I have planned for the copper and steel filament I have on hand. Was planning on putting the metal filament all the way, or nearly all the way, to the outside, but seeing this has me wondering if there’s a benefit to keeping it a bit more centered.
Just preference really. Having more mass further from the center in regard to diameter will give you a higher performance yoyo, but how much performance you want + how you want the yoyo to move and feel in play are just as relevant as raw spin time.
This rim placement isn’t trying to achieve the highest performance within the confines of its specs, but instead just deliver the play feel the designer wanted. All of this is really just to say there’s not a right or wrong way to do it.
Bugatti made a 3D printed titanium transaxle for the Bolide that weighed only a couple of grams, but strong enough that you could hang a Chiron from it
My papaw use to make inlay jewelry as a hobby. His method was different, however: he would make wooden rings with his drill press; for SS or tungsten carbide, he would just buy blanks. Then he would pour UV resin & semi-precious stones into the groove. I’ve thought that could be applied to yoyos, but I don’t have a lathe, and I wasn’t sure if I could make anything quality/worthwhile without it. It’s really cool to see someone utilizing this concept, and I imagine 3D printing is a much easier way to do it.
As for my off the wall snap-start yoyo ideas, another one is to make the edges scalloped/wavy. Again, for metal yoyos this isn’t something that can be made purely on a lathe (as far as I’m aware), and if done with the traditional method, a second step involving some sort of press would be needed to crimp the rim. Perhaps this is another opportunity for 3D printing to shine. If anyone beats me to this design, do me a favor, and call it the Flamberge
For those who haven’t seen the Mike Shake video, besides the crazy shapes that can be more easily made via 3D printing, I’m also intrigued by the fact that the metal is porous.
