Aug 26, 2015 | By Alec
What’s the first thing you ever 3D printed? Chances are that the answer is ‘a smartphone case’. And there’s nothing wrong with that, as we all need a new and brightly colored case every now and then. But did you know that a smartphone case can do more than carry your phone? At lease, the Lenzcase can: a sleek iPhone 6 case that is hardly bigger than a typical case, and yet holds a pair of reading glasses and an efficient spring-loaded extrusion mechanism. Developed by an Australian couple using 3D printing, this is the perfect solution for people who don’t want to carry a bulky case around everywhere.
This clever 3D printing solution has been developed by husband and wife team Steve and Cheryl Grealy, and really shows how easy prototyping can be if you have a good idea. The couple, who live in Adelaide, Australia, are a firefighter and hairdresser in daily life, but over the past two years they have been trying to find a solution for a problem that is very common for people with reading glasses. ‘The idea came to me standing in the kitchen, as I was trying to fit my bulky glasses case into my clutch purse, before heading out to dinner,’ says Cheryl tells Australian reporters. ‘It occurred to me that people always take their ‘phone’ but would rather not bother with their bulky readers case . . . if only they could! We are constantly caught out by small print on a receipt or straining to read the label on a product at the store, or a menu in a restaurant. How many times have you see people swapping their spectacles in a restaurant or heard someone ask if they can borrow another person’s glasses?’
Since then, they have been working on a very ingenious solution, that is now finally ready for a crowdfunding campaign. ‘Lenzcase provides the perfect solution, because your readers will always be with you. From the cleverly engineered spring-loaded mechanism that 'snaps' the readers out for instant use, to the tactile textured surface that sits ergonomically in your hand, your Lenzcase is the perfect reason to leave your readers behind tonight. The beautiful contours on the back of the case provides a third point of touch for ease of handling,’ they say.
And before you ask: yes, they will be planning to tackle other phones too. By February 2016, similar designs for the Galaxy 5 and 6 Edge + and iPhone 6P should be available.
So what is the Lenzcase? Well its more than a smartphone case, as hidden on the backside is a very small extension (it adds only 0.255" (6.5mm) to the bare iPhone 6). Hidden inside, are a set of legless reading glasses that you can pop out at a moment’s notice for quickly checking the menu or finding your way on a map. Made from polycarbonate (only the prototypes were 3D printed), it looks great and even features a spring-loaded mechanism for easily extracting your glasses. And to suit people of all needs, the glasses even come in four different dioptre strengths: +2, +2.5, +3 and +3.5.
As Steve explains on Kickstarter, this Lenzcase is the result of an extensive prototyping and testing process filled with 3D printed examples. ‘Following Cheryl-Anne's 'light-bulb' moment over two years ago, we designed and rejected 5 different prototypes, had dozens of 3D prints and CNC units made, refined the mechanics and finalized the spring-loaded action,’ he says. ‘We then brought in an Industrial designer to create the CAD. Soon after we had the first of three fully functional CNC prototypes made. Each time we tested, assessed and tweaked the design, just a little bit here and a little bit there.’
The couple also enlisted the help of Daniel Brown, a mechanical/aerospace engineer who worked on the 3D modeling, and industrial designer Jara Prouza’s company Prouza Design for the 3D printing. ‘So we have had first-class help from within our very own state,’ Steve Grealy adds.
The resultant case is a marvel of design. Hidden away beneath the surface, especially its ‘switchblade action’ is very impressive. Consisting of a low tensile coil spring, ball race and carriage, the legless glasses are pushed out upon the press of a button, and even easily slide back into place again. What’s more, the inclusion of a super thin internal aluminum plate not only adds rigidity, but also protects the iPhone 6 from the infamous bending threat.
And to finance production, the Adelaide couple has turned to Kickstarter US with an ambitious goal: to raise $28,000 in pledges by 29 September. This has been specifically done to reach the largest number of iPhone 6 owners. And as 100 million have been sold worldwide, and 1 in 5 Americans needs reading glasses, there should be plenty of interested people out there. Depending on the option chosen, you can have one of these fantastic and useful cases for somewhere between $28 and $49 USD plus shipping. Not much for saving yourself from that bulky glasses case.
Posted in 3D Printing Applications
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