How this unique 3D-printed stress ball helps bring relief and fun to your mind and body

Some of the best discoveries in human history were made by accident. Penicillin is probably the most popular example, but the X-ray, microwave ovens, and even cornflakes were all created through serendipity. Of course, accidentally discovering or creating something is one thing, but turning it into a successful and useful design requires more intentional planning and execution. Such is the fortunate series of events that started from testing 3D-printed structures and ended up creating an innovative and distinctive sphere that can do more than your average stress ball, bringing not only relief from mental and physical stress but also some fun and enjoyment, for you, your kids, and maybe even your pets.

Designers: Li Qian, Mason Wuyue Liu, Josie Shi, Suzy Zhang & Mengping Ye

Click Here to Buy Now: 3 for $35 $40 ($5 off). Hurry, for a limited time only!

3D printing has come a long way in enabling the creation of complex structures using more sophisticated materials, but there’s still a lot of room for new techniques. It was during this process of developing a lattice-based structure for a different product that a completely different creation rolled into being, almost literally. The result is the Lettuce Ball, an aptly-named lattice ball whose very structure promises the perfect amount of resistance to be used as a stress ball, a therapy ball, or even a toy.

The secret to this ball isn’t just the lattice structure but also the way it is made. For one, it uses advanced Digital Light Synthesis 3D printing technology that utilizes high-intensity light to cure specific areas of the liquid resin, yielding very precise structures as small as 1/20th of a millimeter. The ball is also printed layer by layer, just like a lettuce ball, in order to offer varying degrees of firmness that would be impossible with regular foam or air-filled stress balls.

The result is a unique-looking stress ball that offers a unique experience from all angles. In addition to just having the right amount of squishiness, the Lettuce Ball is so resilient and durable that it won’t break even from your furry pet’s powerful jaws or claws. It’s also very stretchy but will easily return to its normal, spherical form. Best of all, it’s guaranteed safe from harmful substances and can easily be washed and dried to remain hygienic, taking one more worry off your mind. Plus, the ball’s distinctive lattice structure is a sight for sore eyes, making it a great gift item or a decorative piece on your desk.

So break free from pointless and ineffective stress balls and embrace the results of advanced 3D printing and outside-the-box creative thinking with this unique lattice sphere. Whether you’re trying to remain calm in the middle of heavy traffic, calming your nerves while giving a presentation, putting pressure on sore spots on your body, or giving your furry friend a safe and durable toy, the Lettuce Ball will deliver relief and fun to soothe your whole being, and in an attractive little package, too!

Click Here to Buy Now: 3 for $35 $40 ($5 off). Hurry, for a limited time only!

The post How this unique 3D-printed stress ball helps bring relief and fun to your mind and body first appeared on Yanko Design.

DIY Bouncy Balls Kit


Is there any kid’s toy more classic than the ol’ bouncy ball? Kids have enjoyed them for generations, bouncing them around the house, breaking lamps, losing them in sewers, and just having fun. But kids of today don’t want some random color they get from the quarter machine- they want to design their own style balls. They can with the Creative Kids DIY Magic Bouncy Balls kit. There’s enough materials in here to make about 43 balls, so it’s great for party favors and for the kids who constantly bounce them over the fence into your mean neighbor’s yard.

The set includes 25 bags of powder crystals in varying neon shades and 5 ball molds. The process is quite simple- just pour the mix into the molds, submerge in warm water to harden, and then the hardest part (for kids anyway)- wait 10 minutes for it to harden. It’s safe and non-toxic. Unlike other craft projects that end up sitting on a shelf or stashed away in your basement, these are actually usable and fun when complete. So bounce away.

DIY Bouncy Balls Kit
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This Basketball Transforms into a Drone

Well, it looks like Transformers are becoming a real thing if this basketball drone is any indication. But is it an Autobot or a Decepticon? It is definitely more than meets the eye. That’s all I know for sure.

So yeah, objects like basketballs are now transforming into robots. Welcome to the future. Our cars just sit there, but basketballs? They transform. They call this progress. Anyway, the Zcadoo Basketball Quadcopter Drone is a remote-controlled toy for kids or adults that like one thing turning into another. It is actually designed to look like a real basketball, but it has folding rotors that pop up to allow it to take flight. It has a 100-foot flying range and a built-in 720p video camera. It also has has voice control support. Sadly, it can only fly for about 6 minutes per charge.

I’m convinced that this is the future of the NBA. Just play like normal, but at random intervals, your ball flies away – maybe it even scores some points for itself. So it is you against the opposing team and you are both battling the ball. I mean drone. I mean ball. The NBA becomes the NBDA: National Basketball Drone Association. We all win… except for the teams that lose. They’re just losers.

 

Emoji Billiard Balls: PoolMoji

What do you do when you and your co-workers get a new pool table at work? Naturally you decorate all of the balls with hand-painted emoji faces. Why not? It’s a pretty fun way to play a game of pool.

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The game is now called “PoolMoji” and it looks like a lot of fun. When the balls are emotionally affected by the game, it makes for a LOL night of gaming. Who needs stripes and solids? Just make it happy emotions vs. sad emotions. You can paint up your billiard balls just like these and have yourself a unique game of pool. It will impress your friends, and maybe make them sad that they are treating these balls so badly.

Somebody needs to make this an actual product we can buy. I wish I had thought of this.

[via Bored Panda via Nerd Approved]

EggMap Lets You Zoom In By Squeezing

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The iPhone brought us “Pinch-to-zoom”, but the EggMap is hoping to get us acquainted with “Squeeze-to-zoom” instead. It’s a conceptual creation by Denes Sator, a product/industrial/graphic designer based out of Budapest, Hungary. And it consists of a flexible air-filled ball with a detailed map printed on it. In its normal state, you will have trouble distinguishing details, but if you squeeze it, a portion will be enlarged and the details will then become visible. It’s a cool concept, plus it can double as a stress ball, which your fancy iPhone certainly will have trouble doing. Sadly, you can’t actually get your hands on it yet, but it looks like Denes is making some efforts to bring it to market. You can sign up on his Facebook page to get updates on the EggMap.

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[ Product Page ] AND [ Facebook Page ] VIA [ OddityMall ]

Clean Cup Portable Beer Pong Ball Washer

clean cup Clean Cup Portable Beer Pong Ball Washer
There are two things guaranteed to make your weekend a little bit better- beer pong and clean balls. We’re talking about ping pong balls (I think). End the use of the primitive “wash cup” to dip your balls in to clean them off and get your balls cleaner with the Clean Cup. Golf courses have a dedicated ball washer, so why not other sports like beer pong? How does it work? Magic:
clean cup in use Clean Cup Portable Beer Pong Ball Washer
Drop your ball in and press the button. 5 seconds later thanks to a stream of high powered water and a reusable filter, it’s clean. Even someone who just lost 10 rounds in a row of beer pong could do it (probably). This kickstarter is underway and if successful you can have clean balls just in time for back to school in the Fall. Keep your balls clean and your beer crisp.

Clean Cup Portable Beer Pong Ball Washer
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Fire Bombs

Love this clever design for a Fire Extinguisher! It has several water bombs – or balls if you’d like to call them that, which can be used instantly for small fires. It’s definitely a radical redesign that I’m seeing for the first time. Several tweaks to it and you can have a brand new take on how to put out fires!

Designers: Zhang Zhicheng, Bu Jia, Bao Haimo & Xu Kun

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(Fire Bombs was originally posted on Yanko Design)

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One World Futbol Is Nearly Indestructible, Can Bring Some Joy To Kids In Impoverished Countries

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The world’s most popular sport doesn’t involve a cigar shaped ball thrown with the hand, but rather a spherical one kicked around with your feet. And while the barrier to entry is usually quite low, requiring nothing more than a ball and your legs, even that’s a tall order sometimes; in some part of the world, balls are fashioned with thrash and string. The One World Futbol is a very special ball in that even when punctured several times, it doesn’t deflate. It just keeps going and going. And the idea of the project is that if you buy one, another one will be given to a child in need, somewhere in the world. Created by Tim Jahnigen, early on the project was given some wings by an involvement from superstar Sting, and then a sponsorship from Chevrolet. It’s called “One World” in recognition that we really do live in one world, and as a reminder to people in the “first world” that they are in fact sharing the same planet as those who live in more impoverished areas. It’s $40.

[ Product Page ] VIA [ Uncrate ]

No More Pesticide Food

ECO Washing Balls are sensor driven balls that move in the bowl of water, ridding your fruits and vegetables from harmful pesticides. I am all in support of this kind of innovation; just two days ago I read a news report about some school children that succumbed to pesticide-laced food. Simple dishwashing and running water are not enough, either we stop using these harmful chemicals of get the industry to come out with such innovations. What do you say?

The Washing Ball uses electrolysis technology, which does the sterilization safe and perfect.

Designer: Yeonjin Jo

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Yanko Design
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Shop CKIE - We are more than just concepts. See what's hot at the CKIE store by Yanko Design!
(No More Pesticide Food was originally posted on Yanko Design)

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Throwable Camera Prototype Takes Stunning Pictures Of Everything While In Flight

squito-throwable-camera

Boston-based inventor Steve Hollinger has been hard at work developing a throwable panoramic digital camera with image stabilization that produces awesome in-the-air images. The prototype is called Squito, and seems to be the size of a large baseball, or a small softball. Decked with several cameras on all sides, and packed with a bunch of sensors, the Squito knows which way it’s spinning, and where it is in the air at any given time, which allows it to reorient pictures and stitch them together into panoramas and 360 views, all on the fly. Captured images and videos are then sent wirelessly to a smartphone, for your enjoyment.

There is no detail concerning commercialization plans, other than to say that Steve is looking for funding to bring this to market. Why he hasn’t put together a Kickstarter, we’re not sure, but we feel he’d be quite successful. Check out the video below to get a sense of why.

[ Product Page ] VIA [ Gizmodo ]