The Maker Faire was a great success. Tonsley was buzzing with inventors, technology and crafts and got a large number of visitors. $mart-Finger sold many of its styluses and fake rocks.
We still have stock left. Your next opportunity to by $mart-Finger products will be a the Colonnades shopping centre in Noarlunga Centre on Thursday 19 November from 10:00 am.
Sunday, November 1, 2015
Thursday, October 29, 2015
Ready for the Maker Faire
$mart-Finger have the styluses and fake rocks ready for the Maker Faire which is happening this Sunday 1 November. The gates at Tonsley open to the public from 10:00am and will be running until 5:00pm. This will be the first opportunity for the public to purchase $mart-Finger smart-phone styluses and $mart-Finger fake rocks.
Below are the latest batch of styluses from our 3D printer.
Below are the latest batch of styluses from our 3D printer.
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the styluses made of?
The shells for the coloured styluses are 3D printed using PLA (Poly Lactic Acid) which is a non-toxic bio plastic. The grey styluses are 3D printed with a special polymer which allows the shell to be slightly rubberised for good durability and flexibility. The grey styluses were printed by the Hills innovation centre.
The foam is electrically conductive foam that can be purchased from and electronic store. This is also call anti-static foam. The ring styluses also have copper wire which runs from your finger to the point of the stylus.
Why do the ring styluses have copper wire?
The styluses work with the capacitive screens of smart-phones and touch sensitive tablets. In order to work the stylus needs to conduct electricity from the screen to your finger and back again. The copper wire needs to be in contact with your skin for the device to function.
Why does this long nail or thimble stylus not work for me?
The foam in the long nail stylus needs to be in contact with the skin of your finger. You need to choose the correct size stylus so that you finger tip is always in contact with the foam. The styluses come in different sizes to achieve this. It may be necessary to adjust the position of the foam in some cases.
What are the fake rocks made of?
The fake rock shell is made of molder concrete. The lid is 3D printed using PLA (Poly Lactic Acid).
Who is $mart-Finger?
$mart-Finger is a group of year 7 students from Christie Downs Primary School. They are assisted by teachers and volunteers from the Flinders University Inspire Mentor Program.
Where do get your 3D printing done?
Christie Downs Primary School does not currently have a 3D printer but as result of the success of $mart-Finger the school will be investing in one for next year. The 3D printing was done by the following providers. Hills, Christies Beach High and the City Council provided this without charge.
The shells for the coloured styluses are 3D printed using PLA (Poly Lactic Acid) which is a non-toxic bio plastic. The grey styluses are 3D printed with a special polymer which allows the shell to be slightly rubberised for good durability and flexibility. The grey styluses were printed by the Hills innovation centre.
The foam is electrically conductive foam that can be purchased from and electronic store. This is also call anti-static foam. The ring styluses also have copper wire which runs from your finger to the point of the stylus.
Why do the ring styluses have copper wire?
The styluses work with the capacitive screens of smart-phones and touch sensitive tablets. In order to work the stylus needs to conduct electricity from the screen to your finger and back again. The copper wire needs to be in contact with your skin for the device to function.
Why does this long nail or thimble stylus not work for me?
The foam in the long nail stylus needs to be in contact with the skin of your finger. You need to choose the correct size stylus so that you finger tip is always in contact with the foam. The styluses come in different sizes to achieve this. It may be necessary to adjust the position of the foam in some cases.
What are the fake rocks made of?
The fake rock shell is made of molder concrete. The lid is 3D printed using PLA (Poly Lactic Acid).
Who is $mart-Finger?
$mart-Finger is a group of year 7 students from Christie Downs Primary School. They are assisted by teachers and volunteers from the Flinders University Inspire Mentor Program.
Where do get your 3D printing done?
Christie Downs Primary School does not currently have a 3D printer but as result of the success of $mart-Finger the school will be investing in one for next year. The 3D printing was done by the following providers. Hills, Christies Beach High and the City Council provided this without charge.
- Hills Innovation Centre Tonsley
- Christies Beach High School
- Adelaide City Council Innovation Lab
- 3D Market's Hub
Wednesday, October 14, 2015
Hills Innovation Centre Assistance
The $martFinger group from Christie Downs Primary School has been generously assisted by the Hills Innovation Centre. They provide design and business assistance and for innovators. They also have a heavy duty 3D printer which was used to print a number of styluses for $martFinger. The styluses pictured below were printed on this high precisioin 3D printer using a polymer with slight rubberisation for better flexibility.
Hills Innovation Centre
Tonsley
Flinders University Building
Level 2, 1284 South Road
Clovelly Park SA 5042
Ph: +61 8 8301 3256Email: lancehilldesign@hills.com.au
Tonsley
Flinders University Building
Level 2, 1284 South Road
Clovelly Park SA 5042
Ph: +61 8 8301 3256Email: lancehilldesign@hills.com.au
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
Fitting the Fake Rock Lid
The fake rock lids at the base of the rock are designed to fit tightly so that your key is secure. Light pressure and the correct technique may be required to put the lid in place. Too much pressure and the wrong technique may cause either the lid or the rock to break. The following technique will allow the lid to be put in place without problems.
1. Hold the rock in the palm of your hand with your four fingers supporting one side of the rock as illustrated below.
2. Put the lid in place with the side edge near the fingers in the cavity and the edge near the thumbs partly open. Press the lid towards the fingers with your thumbs and at the same time press the lid shut as illustrated below.
1. Hold the rock in the palm of your hand with your four fingers supporting one side of the rock as illustrated below.
2. Put the lid in place with the side edge near the fingers in the cavity and the edge near the thumbs partly open. Press the lid towards the fingers with your thumbs and at the same time press the lid shut as illustrated below.
$martFinger Fake Rocks
Another line of business for $martFinger is fake rocks. You can conceal your house key or shed key in a fake rock and put it in the garden.
The fake rocks are constructed from concrete and are therefore weatherproof and look and feel like a real rock. They are individually moulded and coloured. The lid of the rock is on the base so it cannot be seen and is constructed using a 3D printer.
Fake rocks go on sale at the Mini Maker Faire at Tonsley on 1 November.
The fake rocks are constructed from concrete and are therefore weatherproof and look and feel like a real rock. They are individually moulded and coloured. The lid of the rock is on the base so it cannot be seen and is constructed using a 3D printer.
Fake rocks go on sale at the Mini Maker Faire at Tonsley on 1 November.
Sunday, September 20, 2015
We can Fit Your Finger Size
At $mart-Finger we wanted to determine how best to build styluses for the different sizes for fingers for the population. Four our three types of finger-mounted stylus we needed to get an idea of the width (diameter or radius) of the finger where you would wear a ring, the width of the top joint of the index finger and the width of the top joint of the thumb. Each type of stylus provides some flexibility to stretch to fit slight bigger fingers.
The results are below. The circumference at each position on the finger was measured and the radius computed. This computed radius was then used to determine the size of the large, medium and small styluses for each type.
This should suit most fingers. If you have a special need for a stylus you can comment on this post or email us by using the contact information in the right margin.
| Circumference | Radius | |||||
| Ring | Finger Tip | Thumb | Ring | Finger Tip | Thumb | |
| Max | 75.00 | 60.00 | 73.00 | 11.94 | 9.55 | 11.62 |
| Min | 56.00 | 43.00 | 55.00 | 8.91 | 6.84 | 8.75 |
| Mean | 66.80 | 49.70 | 65.80 | 10.63 | 7.91 | 10.47 |
| Large | 73.51 | 59.06 | 72.26 | 11.70 | 9.40 | 11.50 |
| Small | 55.92 | 42.73 | 54.66 | 8.90 | 6.80 | 8.70 |
| Medium | 64.72 | 50.89 | 63.46 | 10.30 | 8.10 | 10.10 |
All measurements in millimeters.
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