Scroll through the video and images below to discover more about The Zip Stick device, how it can help you unlock your next best idea, and the initial spark behind why I created this design.
Keep your hands occupied while you are pondering the next great thing. With a quick pull, you can spin up new ideas.
When you spin the Zip Stick fast enough, watch the images from each fin combine into one image.
The fins are weighted with magnets to help spin it smoother while the fins are connected.
The drive screw which drives the rotation of the device has a magnet on the tip of it. This prevents the screw from falling out of the cylinder when it is not being used.
Zip Stick Assembly
Zip Stick on Stand
Disassembled
The spinning cylinder uses a bearing to make the spin function smoother. The bearing can be replaced if needed with a tool designed to remove the bearing cover.
The fins have stickers on them which simulate an image when it's spinning. These stickers will show a smiley face when the Zip Stick spins fast enough.
Fins and Drive Screw Removed
Fins Installed
Drive Screw, Spinning Cylinder, Fins and Zip Stick Holder
More about this Project
This project started out of another project I was working on. While I was working on a screw drive idea for the Functional Wall Magnets, I realized that it was kind of fun to spin the screw drive when there was minimal friction.
I first made a smaller skinnier version of the Zip Stick (as we like to call it). Then after several iterations it ended up larger. I originally used a small bearing which worked ok but then I thought it would be nice to go with a more standard bearing. This change also made the device spin smoother too.
The drive screw initially had issues of flying out of the spinning cylinder when someone would pick it up to play with it so I added a magnet to the end of the drive screw that was strong enough to hold the drive screw to the spinning cylinder while a person carried it but weak enough so it was not hard to pull it out to spin it.
