For over 2000 years people have been toying around with the yo-yo, also called a bandalore, the quiz, and the joujou. While the origins aren’t clear, these objects that were once thought of as weapons have been seen on ancient Greek pottery and paintings as far back as 500 BC. With 21st century technology, cutting-edge 3D CAD software and a passion for the art, String Theory YoYos is making its mark on the yo-yo world.
The Remnant yoyo is the latest product from by designer Mark Mankiewicz, owner of String Theory YoYos in Plano, Texas. Using Alibre Design software, Mark perfected his new product during the design and prototype phase, engineering a new professional grade yo-yo that’s precision machined for maximum stability and maximum spin time.
String Theory began with the idea to design a top-of-the-line precision yo-yo made from aerospace grade aluminum and premium steel bearings. Mark studied different yo-yo designs and used that knowledge to advance the state of the art.
Having a background in Alibre Design software and using his technical ability to design in 3D, Mark devised the two butterfly-bells halves that form the REMNANT to an exact weight. “Alibre allowed me to calculate the physical properties after each design change so I could ensure I was within regulation. After I sent them to get machined, the virtual prototype and reality matched to within .5 grams.”
Working in Alibre Design Expert to make a sketch of the body and revolving it around the axis, Mark then cut away the bearing seat to allow for a C-size Dif-e-Yo KonKave Stainless Steel Yo-Yo Bearing. He also designed unique grooves for silicon pads that cause friction on the side walls allowing the yo-yo to come back up.
“Yo-yos seem like toys, but there is a lot of physics going on in terms of getting an optimal one. I performed a cross-sectional weight distribution analysis to get the weight perfect for the maximum spin time,” Mark explained.
Adding an M4 12 mm set screw to hold the parts together, Mark then designed special fillets to make the yoyo fit comfortably in your hand. The result is yoyo meant for serious players with a bright and vibrant anodized aluminum coat that comes in jet black, blood red or midnight blue.
The Remnant is the first release by String Theory. It is precision machined for maximum stability and has bold shape with popular features in many of today’s leading competition yo-yos. It has a balanced-rim weighted design to maximize spin time and stability and has been tested extensively to ensure quality.
