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DB Tops Zephyr Air-Powered Top
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DB Tops Zephyr Air-Powered Top
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Product Description
The Zephyr is an air-assisted top that can be spun hands free. Made from steel that’s fitted with a large half-inch bearing, it looks like a carnival tent or a tornado turned upside down—and looking from the underside it resembles a flower Read More
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keyboard_arrow_downDrThrob
157
Mar 4, 2017
I have tried, for a number of months now, to understand the population of adult people who find tops fascinating enough to spend $100+ on them. I have read all the comments and I've just decided that...I don't get it. And that's okay. I guess if every group of humans was easily understandable the world would be a boring place. Keep Massdrop weird, you top-spinning fools.
Theroc
2325
Keyboard Club Member
Mar 4, 2017
DrThrobIt's a precision thing.
These tops are scientific equipment-grade toys.
This one, however, takes the aesthetic side to the geekth power.
Wonder how the balance is.
Vic-6
95
Jun 29, 2018
Guess I’ll add this to my “Expensive Shit I Definitely Don’t Need But Absolutely Want” wishlist.
Evshrug
3924
Keyboard Club Member
Mar 4, 2017
WOW, what a gorgeous top!
As I (may?) have mentioned before, my father and I bonded over the fascinating but challenging magnetic levitation tops when I was a child. The Zephyr may be less of a process to get started, but it also has that "something extra" beyond just being a top. The air-assist mechanic makes this top a fidget-toy; instead of launch then hands-off of most tops, I would constantly be tempted to breathe a little life into it like a top-god. Call me Aslan! Rawr!
Aesthetically, I find it very pleasing and unique. The repeated patterns of the blade symmetry continuously twisting through the body and the lateral ridges on the surface, both please the left-brain and probably anyone who enjoys puzzles, mathematics, or physics. I don't think the ridges/ripples add to the aerodynamics of the top's spin time, but maybe they make the air-assist work better? In any case, they add a texture and sparkling luster to the eye-catching look of the top standing still.
I even find the digital video mesmerizing. As the top's spinning frequency decreases, it phases in and out of sync with the camera's framerate, causing the stripes to morph thinner or thicker and create the illusion that the top is spinning much much slower than it really is. I would love to film the Zephyr with my iPhone's "slo-mo" high framerate modes.
I would love to have one of these if I had a desk job, and I think I could even afford one in that case. Besides being a fidget toy, I think it would be funny if a Boss-guy made it a rule to finish proposals and meetings before the top stops, and rewarding interesting proposals with a breath time-boost. It also would make a great gift to mathematicians, physicists, or even teachers.
As I (may?) have mentioned before, my father and I bonded over the fascinating but challenging magnetic levitation tops when I was a child. The Zephyr may be less of a process to get started, but it also has that "something extra" beyond just being a top. The air-assist mechanic makes this top a fidget-toy; instead of launch then hands-off of most tops, I would constantly be tempted to breathe a little life into it like a top-god. Call me Aslan! Rawr!
Aesthetically, I find it very pleasing and unique. The repeated patterns of the blade symmetry continuously twisting through the body and the lateral ridges on the surface, both please the left-brain and probably anyone who enjoys puzzles, mathematics, or physics. I don't think the ridges/ripples add to the aerodynamics of the top's spin time, but maybe they make the air-assist work better? In any case, they add a texture and sparkling luster to the eye-catching look of the top standing still.
I even find the digital video mesmerizing. As the top's spinning frequency decreases, it phases in and out of sync with the camera's framerate, causing the stripes to morph thinner or thicker and create the illusion that the top is spinning much much slower than it really is. I would love to film the Zephyr with my iPhone's "slo-mo" high framerate modes.
I would love to have one of these if I had a desk job, and I think I could even afford one in that case. Besides being a fidget toy, I think it would be funny if a Boss-guy made it a rule to finish proposals and meetings before the top stops, and rewarding interesting proposals with a breath time-boost. It also would make a great gift to mathematicians, physicists, or even teachers.
Evshrug
3924
Keyboard Club Member
Mar 5, 2017
Everybody's dream at his/her company would be to make the boss get light headed and pass out ;)
TomaCzar
755
Mar 4, 2017
Someone forgot to fully bake this drop before putting it in the window for sale.
Steel Top / Steel Bearing: Regular Drop Price Steel Top / Ceramic Bearing : +25.00 Brass Top / Steel Bearing: +90.00 Brass Top / Ceramic Bearing: +115.00
Apparently, while listed in the description, Tungsten Carbide Bearing is not an option as this time.
Steel Top / Steel Bearing: Regular Drop Price Steel Top / Ceramic Bearing : +25.00 Brass Top / Steel Bearing: +90.00 Brass Top / Ceramic Bearing: +115.00
Apparently, while listed in the description, Tungsten Carbide Bearing is not an option as this time.
Dalton_Bissell
116
DB Tops
Mar 5, 2017
Hello Bryan,
Thank you for the complement. There is a little difference in getting one from shapeways and getting one right from me, the shapeways tops are shipped from the printer straight to you, no bearing, no testing and the polish depends on the material choices. I never personally get to handle the product if it is sold in their market place. That's why I like Massdrop better! This way you get to deal directly with me, I polish each top, and set the bearings myself. After that I give it one nice test spin, look it over for errors and send it off to you guys. It's a much higher quality spin with a bearing in it, certainly worth the extra work involved. So, that being said... the Zephyr won't work with out that big huge bearing in there and there is no material shapeways offers that can compare to the accuracy and hardness of the bearings. Sorry to disappoint.
BrainFlush
6860
Mar 6, 2017
Dalton_BissellWasn't even thinking about that. lol
I was clearly not right in the head, my apologies.
Thank you for rectifying my complete ignorance.
I mean it, I was like "I can wait and save money when Shapeways sends me an email."
:D The level of stupid I exude.
Dalton_Bissell
116
DB Tops
Jun 30, 2018
anmolgYes I am, and watch your fingers when it gets going fast!!!
Fatironman
4
Mar 4, 2017
@Dalton_Bissell with the amount of continuous spinning this thing does, is the ball bearing replaceable? Or how long would you reckon each would last? Cheers.
Dalton_Bissell
116
DB Tops
Jun 30, 2018
I believe the Tungsten Carbide bearing may spin a few moments longer due to the extra weight. Drag is what causes this top to start to slow down the most, which is pretty consistent.
BrainFlush
6860
Mar 4, 2017
I saw this somewhere and forgot about it. Thank you again MassDrop for ruining my dreams of actually having income to keep.
BrainFlush
6860
Mar 4, 2017
BrainFlushI knew it.
From Shapeways 3D printing services.
Glad to see this in its final form.
Now which bearing is more cool?
Precarious_Precariat
93
Mar 4, 2017
BrainFlushI was scratching my head wondering if these were cast or machined and hand finished... what an interesting shape. 3D printing is amazing, I can't wait for the future when machines like this drop in price and can be affordable for home use. All the possibilities.
m0arpheus
433
Mar 4, 2017
This is definitely going to end up shoved in someone's pooper-stank. Look at that fine craftsmanship, the attention to detail... The exciting ridges! ;)
BrainFlush
6860
Mar 4, 2017
m0arpheusI'm attaching an industrial hammer drill to it. Go deep or go home.
Dalton_Bissell
116
DB Tops
Mar 10, 2017
WyoinIf enough people hit the request button I will make another batch.
Dalton_Bissell
116
DB Tops
Jun 30, 2018
WyoinHey you! Steel + Ceramic is back in stock and more affordable than ever before.
owenversteeg
38
Mar 4, 2017
Anyone know if you can put a little desk fan next to this and have it go on for infinity?
Dalton_Bissell
116
DB Tops
Jul 12, 2017
owenversteegYou could easily get it to go forever with a desk fan. Some one is doing it with the Tornado Top already. It's been spinning for something like 6 months with a aquarium pump as the power source.
Dalton_Bissell
116
DB Tops
Jun 30, 2018
I would like to reiterate, this top takes very very very little air at all to sustain once spinning.
Showing 41 of 114
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