Introduction to the author of the Stainless Steel – DLC coating (B-05 base plate) version.
Hello everyone, I'm Walnut, an independent toy designer. Today, I'm excited to introduce the new Star Surfer original—Steel Crystal.
The Crystal was my first product. Over the past year, from the first Bedrock Edition to subsequent mass-production versions in titanium alloy and zirconium alloy, from the initial 01 baseplate to the 04 baseplate, along with countless adjustments and updates to magnet plates and magnetic configurations... I started as an enthusiast and gradually gained experience, evolving into a beginner EDC toy designer. This journey has been challenging, but with the support from players, friends, and partners, I've persevered, allowing Star Surfer products to enter a new phase.
Although steel, titanium, and zirconium are the three most common metals in the EDC community, I didn't let Steel Crystal become just a material-swapped product. Instead, I strived to give it a completely new design and experience.
1. Baseplate Update
I summarized the design experience from all previous baseplates and created the B-05 baseplate. The B-05 retains the circular elements found in the 02 and 04 baseplates, removes the cross pattern, and adopts a function-priority approach by hollowing out all non-essential areas. It also innovatively features a curved side profile (the B-05 was once codenamed the "Swallow Baseplate"). The machining difficulty is the highest among all baseplates I've designed, requiring months of back-and-forth sampling and adjustments with the factory to test production processes.
Ultimately, the B-05 baseplate offers an extremely swift and smooth yet exceptionally stable fancy play experience. It might not have the absolute best feel, but it's certainly the most distinctive, fully embodying Star Surfer brand philosophy.
2. Introduction of DLC Coating
Using stainless steel for the baseplate is an insight gained from collective community exploration. Stainless steel is sturdy, wear-resistant, somewhat flexible, corrosion and rust-resistant, and relatively affordable to process, making it very suitable as a structural component in prolonged contact with fingers. However, stainless steel itself has a relatively high friction coefficient and is prone to sweat and dirt, preventing it from maintaining optimal condition for long.
After extensive research, I found that DLC coating (Diamond-Like Carbon coating) can significantly mitigate stainless steel's inherent weaknesses. DLC coating is robust, wear-resistant, lubricating, and resistant to oil stains, making it almost a perfect match for fidget spinner baseplates.
*DLC coating is a mature technology widely applied in CNC machining, mold manufacturing, automotive parts, and other fields. It offers ultra-high hardness along with an extremely low friction coefficient.
Of course, as an external coating, DLC can potentially peel off. However, after months of testing, under normal play conditions, the DLC shows almost no significant wear or peeling, proving very reliable. Furthermore, even if the DLC coating were to wear off completely, the baseplate substrate is 304 stainless steel, simply bringing it back to the same starting point as similar products.
The only issue with DLC is its cost. To keep the price reasonable, I chose to reduce profit margins, believing that a great brand relies on player support and empathy. Future mid-to-high-end Star Surf products will feature DLC coating—look for the signature Star Surf black edge.
3. Shell Update
To add variation to the design, Steel Crystal experiments with inlay craftsmanship, adding a mother-of-pearl patch at the center of the shell. This enhances the mystical feel of the "crystal" and better reflects the product concept. Significant weight reduction has also been achieved inside the shell. Therefore, although Steel Crystal may feel a bit heavier due to the material, it won't cause excessive hand fatigue.
4. Magnet Plate Update
To better utilize the performance of the B-05 baseplate, I recalibrated the magnet plate parameters and experimentally introduced rectangular magnets to optimize the magnetic field distribution. The final result is excellent: performing most tricks with Steel Crystal is both smooth and stable. The magnet plate model has consequently been updated to M-11.
Please note, the M-11 magnet plate is essentially specialized for the B-05 baseplate. If you plan to change the baseplate, it's advisable to readjust the magnet plate accordingly.
Old version introduction:
Crystals Unlimited Bit Pushing Getting Started Tips
Hi, I'm Walnut, the founder of Star Surf, thanks for your willingness to play with the toy I made.
This manual, will help you understand this toy better and will make it easier to discover the fun of it, thanks for reading.
The original design of the Crystallized Stone was that I wanted to make a product that was friendly enough for newcomers and at the same time rich enough in DIY space. Being newbie friendly means that the Crystal must have an excellent factory feel, relatively easy purchase and a relatively affordable price; DIY space is guaranteed by a wide range of adjustments and accessories. I hope that the Crystal can help you get started with infinity, and that it can also grow and improve with you. But these are my expectations, and it's still up to the players to judge how well the crystals actually perform.
The Titanium Crystals use a light magnetic, quiet gentleman-type configuration, which is good for pushing, easy to get started, and at the same time effectively control the sound when playing, suitable for newbies or friends who need to play in the office. Specific factory configuration is as follows
Magnet layout for 6 + 8 asymmetric configuration
6 Side corners using 7X3MM N35 magnets, 7MM Poron spacers below the magnets, 6MM Poron spacers on top.
6 sides with 5X3MM N25 magnets in the center and 5MM Poron shims above the magnets.
8 Sides use 7X3MM N35 magnets in the corners, 7MM Poron shims below the magnets and 6MM Poron shims above.
8 sides with 5X3MM N25 magnets in the center and 5MM Poron spacers above the magnets.
Because of the asymmetric configuration, the two sides will feel different and have their own fun.
Both sides of the magnet board use M-01 magnet board.
B-01 flat base plate is used on both sides.
The center is fixed with a TA2 titanium M2.5X4 screw.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Does the base plate need to be protected by a film?
Crystal default use of stainless steel base plate, stainless steel has a lower coefficient of friction at the same time, also has a certain degree of self-lubricating ability, with the daily play continue to wear, stainless steel base plate will become more and more smooth, so in general, no need to stick the film for protection. However, the film is a very effective way to adjust the feel, you can try more, to find the most comfortable match.
2. After playing for a while, I found some black powder on my fingers, is there something wrong with the slider?
The black powder is actually metal debris, the two backboards will be worn out during the continuous pushing process, naturally there will be debris, which is a normal phenomenon.
The base plate of the crystal has been finely polished before leaving the factory, and after a few hours of play and break-in, it will reach the best condition, and there will be no more visible debris.
Of course, the crystal base plate can be cleaned easily by brushing it lightly with a toothbrush moistened with water and then blowing it dry with a hair dryer. Regular maintenance will keep the toy in the best condition at all times.