Grow It - Rapid Prototyping & Manufacturing

3D Printing and Kickstarter Series :: LUNATIK 

By: Alicia Frye

GROWit prints magical, masterful, pure-awesomeful things every day. In this particular blog series, we highlight some of our Kickstarter customers: the leading innovators of consumer products. Today’s highlighted success? LUNATIK.

LUNATIK

MINIMAL design is a true star in successful vision-to-launch with LUNATIK products. LUNATIK’s disruptive nature and transformational design to impact everyday life look to be just too irresistible for crowdfunding cruisers to pass up. One might even say their award-winning founder Scott Wilson is Jeopardy!’s Ken Jennings of the Kickstarter world with his 3 for 3 record [LUNATIK TAKTIK :: LUNATIK Touch Pen :: TikTok+LunaTik]. TAKTIK came out with a not-too-shabby $680,568 raised in 30 days, funded by over 450% of their goal.

TAKTIK :: Premium Protection System for the iPhone

TAKTIK is one revolutionary iPhone case that made its way on Kickstarter and, in my humble iPhone-using opinion, is truly the case of all cases. It’s resilient structure and functional design was no mistake.

“By obsessing over all the details that others neglect like fit, finish, feel, display integrity, robustness and aesthetics, we are raising the bar again,” shares LUNATIK creator Scott Wilson.

The TAKTIK brings its hardcore game in all of its rugged glory and looks good doing it. From water to concrete, baby can practically withstand any encounter (not that it’s actually encouraged for one to seek out such encounters…). This case can more than handle the beatings that are inevitable for iPhone users.

TAKTIK has some stunning features:

• Shockproof Suspension System 9mm Impact Truss + Ballastik Bezel
• Upgradable High Sensitivity Gorilla Glass Lens Protection
• Acoustic water + dust resistant mic/speaker covers
• Photo/Flash friendly camera opening
• 3.5 HSJ cover made from anodized aircraft grade aluminum
• 30-pin plug allows quick access for charging
• Silence switch
• iPhone antenna friendly metal case
• Tested using military specification standards
• Available starting at $99.95

TAKTIK for iPhone4/4s is currently available at LUNATIK (https://www.lunatik.com/products/taktik) and TAKTIK for iPhone 5 will be available for pre-order in January.  LUNATIK will also unveil a larger series of protective cases in the new year.

GROWit

LUNATIK was able to use GROWit’s 3D printing technology facility to take TAKTIK from the computer screen to the physical hand. Material simulations, form-to-fit testing, and product representation in early development stages are staples in rapid prototyping and product development.

Iterations of products like this give designers a physical product to use and represent on platforms like Kickstarter. For a small amount of money and time, designers save across the board when using a service bureau for creating new consumer products.

Be sure and check all of LUNATIK Kickstarter success products, which all underwent 3D printing R&D-to-production process under the GROWit HQ roof:

LUNATIK TAKTIK :: LUNATIK Touch Pen :: TikTok+LunaTik

Can’t wait to see what’s to come in future LUNATIK Kickstarter campaigns.

Process: Z-Corp®

Material: Composite Material

Purpose: 3D printed smartphone amplification (See  more on Kickstarter – they’re  kind of amazing)

Want your own custom smartphone amplifier? Check out this Kickstarter project! Symphony Shells are currently available on Kickstarter  for so many phone models:

Apple: iPhone (3G, 3GS, 4, 4S, 5 + case sizes up to Otterbox Defender model) and iPod Touch (4^th and 5^th Generation Models)

HTC: Droid DNA

Motorola: Droid Razr Maxx

Nokia: Lumia 920

Samsung: Galaxy S II, Galaxy S III, Galaxy Note II

www.simplyamplified.com

BY: Alicia F. – Marketing Coordinator

THE STORY

Faithful followers, do you remember the glorious unveiling of GROWit’s sound amplifiers exactly one year ago (July 2011)? Yes? No? Click here to refresh your memory. Due to your overwhelming votes, GROWit is excited to announce that after a year of product development and fine tweaking, the amplifiers – Symphony Shells –  have been perfected and are now up on Kickstarter for your amplification satisfaction!

As a little refresher snippet, here is how things began:

GROWit’s incubation division, 3D ThinkTank, held a design competition for creating the best non-electrical amplifying iPhone dock.  The three steps were: 1) Create an iPhone amplifier that would not require a power source, 2) Create a unique design, unlike anything else on the market, and 3) Submit the created final product. The winners were awarded an actual additively printed and showcased version of their idea at future GROWit-attended tradeshows. The NAUTILUS was the first Symphony Shell designed and was a huge hit, with requests flooding in from people left and right for where to get one.

NAUTILUS | Symphony Shell

Flashing forward to today, we realized that there was huge potential with this once seemingly-simple project and thus Simply Amplified and Symphony Shells were born. Inspired by marine life, Symphony Shells not only enhance the listening experience but are also customizable to fit anyone’s lifestyle. Unhindered by the restrictions of traditional manufacturing, Symphony Shells are functional art pieces unlike anything on the market. Mission: Almost Accomplished.

Now the Almost has now become Actual. The first run of Simply Amplified’s Symphony Shells is out and ready for the world on Kickstarter! Each shell is custom-made, with no two models being exactly the same. To celebrate this, a Limited Edition Infused Graphics line is available to Kickstarter backers!  

THE SCIENCE

Phi, or the Golden Ratio, is a mathematical pattern that is not new to the design world (or to the music world, believe it or not). By combining this ratio with art and functionality, Symphony Shells gain their ability to amplify and enhance your music in a way that’s, well, symphonic. Turning sketches and concepts into CAD, the Golden Ratio defines the acoustic channel that amplifies music from the iPhone speakers. The result is an aesthetically pleasing, notably functional, and simple-to-use acoustic iPhone amplifier. Using the limitless capabilities of 3D printing (Additive Manufacturing), GROWit brings these beautiful sculptures to life.

Simply Amplified Symphony Shells

The cool thing about GROWit’s 3D  ThinkTank is this – we make things that we think are awesome and always look to create types of things we wish were out there in the world. If that resonates with everyone else, great! When you stop to think about it, though, what resonates more than sound and music? Check out the Simply Amplified Symphony Shells (come on, all the cool kids are doing it).

URCHIN | Limited Edition Symphony Shell

I’m Alicia Frye, the writer of this blog. As someone who is a classical musician, loves music theory and sound, and is all about emerging technologies like 3D printing, I find Symphony Shells to be pretty much the coolest things ever. It’s as if all of my loves have been wrapped up into one little bundle of awesomeness. My iPhone 4s is very cozy in its new little URCHIN Symphony Shell home. To be honest, I find my favorite use of my own Symphony Shell to take place every morning at 6:00am. As a lover of sleep, I owe every day’s rise and shine moments to the amplified iPhone alarm. After I’m up (with coffee in hand), I put on some music for my morning “getting ready” tunes. Yea, my Symphony Shell rocks.