Fall 2021, MIT
Yo-yo Project for MIT 2.008 Design and Manufacturing II
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For the class 2.008 Design and Manufacturing II, I was put onto a team with 6 other students and tasked to design a yo-yo and to manufacture a run of 50 yo-yo’s. We decided to make a yo-yo based off of the Magic 8-Ball that could both function as a yo-yo and answer yes or no questions like a Magic 8-Ball. Of all the ideas we had, this one had a balance of creativity and “fun factor” while also being feasible to manufacture.
The First Part We Injection-Molded
This part is an injection-molded outer shell. The hole in the middle fits another part with an “8” printed on it for the 8-ball.
3D Printed Thermoform Molds
To make the thermoformed parts, I 3D-printed molds with a high-temperature resin. I then put the molds on a lathe to add features such as a lip for the part to sit in the cutting die, a thinner top to press-fit into another part, and smooth tops to prevent layer-lines from appearing in the final parts.
Thermoformed Parts
For a window, we used a clear plastic sheet to mold the part and then cut it out with a die. For the other part, an “8” was printed in the center of a white plastic sheet which was formed around the mold and then cut out with a die.
Final Yo-Yo: 8-Ball
On the other side, the yo-yo had an “8” printed on a white circle to give resemblance to a real 8-ball.
Final Yo-Yo: Fortune Wheel
The final yo-yo had a window where the user could read the answer to their question. Inside, a spinning wheel behind a clear window spun so a random answer was given each time.
It Works!
After assembling everything together, we had a working yo-yo that doubled as a functioning magic 8-Ball.
