About this project
Although we consider ourselves electronics, physics, and programming enthusiasts, we have always known that these subjects are pretty scary for newcomers to engage with. Elex Pipe is our way to make these misjudged fields an accessible, effortless and fun experience for everyone. Let us introduce you to the game that is meant to bring down boundaries and encourage discovery. Meet Elex Pipe!
Thanks to it's elaborate design, Elex Pipe can't be ruined by mishandling. On the contrary! You will be encouraged to try again and again, test different theories and build interactive gadgets. We also simplified the method of connecting the elements. No need to use cables anymore, instead simply touch the magnetic elements to each other!
Gizmag: Elex Pipe takes circuit building off the board
EE Times Europe: Fool-proof electronics to boost kids' creativity
Index: Felébresztettük a bennünk élő Teslát
Legyél Te is informatikus: Elex Pipe a háromdimenziós elektronikai építőjáték
Most people learn about circuits in high school, but never actually come in contact with them in real life. When it comes to engineering that is usually not the case. Our intention was to follow real life electronics and let you build a 3D form from the start!
Elex Pipe was designed with this thought in mind, and that's how it became the versatile piece of technology that we know today.
Learn through discovery
For us to provide boundless discovery, first we had to make Elex Pipe itself a boundless experience. As we realized at the beginning, this was the real drawback of electronic games: the gameplay was highly affected by the number of functional elements in the kit.
But instead of overcompensating and making the prices go up, we sat back and repurposed our elements to get an interchangeable, well rounded system, which later became a platform for exploration.
Thanks to this approach, the possibilities not only seem endless: they are meant to be.
The options we present are not limited to the variety of parts available. You can customize your set of pipes by choosing between three foundation types, each of which is a high-quality PCB (Printed Circuit Board). These are the bases that we place the components on, anchoring them with unleaded soldering.
At this stage, all Elex Packs come in the Copper Edition, but you have the opportunity to upgrade them to the Silver or Gold Edition by pledging a higher amount. You can find more information about this in the Rewards section.
About Shipping:
We intend to ship our rewards all over the world, but due to unforeseeable circumstances (like the final size and weight of the package), we can't assign final shipping costs to the items until the end of the campaign.
Elex Guarantee:
We are so sure that we can deliver our product to you, that we will halve the risk that usually burdens kickstarter supporters!
Ever worried about the failure of a project? There is no need to worry with us. We will only take half of the money now, the other half you pay when your reward is ready to ship!
With that out of the way, we would like to show you the rewards that you can choose as a supporter:
As a new product in the area of electronic games, Elex Pipe has many eye-catching features. The outer design was developed keeping two factors in mind. On one hand, we needed a material that would protect the sensitive elements as well as the user who handles them. On the other hand, the casing had to be see-through in some parts for educational purposes. To satisfy both of these needs, we used plexiglass cylinders or pipes which inspired the name of our product.
Towering above the old way
The pipes were only the beginning. The next step was finding a way to make the connecting cables obsolete. Fortunately, our built-in magnets proved to be the perfect replacement.
They provide a strong and steady bond, which makes the assembling and reassembling process much easier. Elex Pipe allows you to learn about electronics and have fun at the same time.
Pleasing to the eye
Besides striving for functionality, we were also aiming for a simple, yet elegant design.
We believe that taking a moment to step back and enjoy your creation is also a part of the full experience. We would like to inspire you to do just that when you finish your next work of art.
By now, you can see that we touch on many different subjects in the field of electronics. By giving you all these options to explore, we must also take the responsibility to provide all the information and guidance you will need for your journey. Fortunately we know exactly where to start!
Going mobile
As smartphones become more of a norm among all generations, one has to consider the opportunities provided by the mobile platform. Realizing this from the start, we planned an app for Elex Pipe to guide the user through the world of electronics.
We set three main objectives for the app. First of all, it will contain all the information about the Elex parts that are currently available, as well as the type of circuits they function best in.
Second of all, we are developing an experience which will greatly speed up the learning process. The app can set challenges for you based on the difficulty levels and parts currently available for you.
The app can:
- hide a part of the circuit, forcing you to complete it with the elements you have
- give you a handful of parts, and ask you to build a circuit with as few of them as possible
- have you change the circuits' function by adding or removing parts
Last of all, the app will have a more practical function, namely controlling the more advanced Elex parts via Bluetooth. At the moment, these special elements are not included in the Elex packs, as they are more expensive and time-consuming to develop. We have decided to add them as seperate pledges after the start of the campaign. The first of these will be a programmable logic piece, which will serve as a learning tool to understand another field of technology, one that is closely related to electronics: programming.
These are the current prototypes of of some of the elements that are in the Elex Packs. Some details will probably change (the sizes shown in the pictures are outdated), but we thought that you might be interested in the concept behind these pieces.
Depending on the success of the Kickstarter campaign, and despite our best intentions, there is a chance that some of the Packs will arrive after December. One thing is certain: if you manage to get your hands on an Early Bird pack, you can relax, because these are the ones that we will ship first. Nevertheless, we intend to deliver all rewards in December as a thanks for your generous support!
We are a small software development company. Although our main profile is website development, we have also tackled some hardware design projects in the past. We started Elex Pipe as a side project, collecting the necessary funds over a long period of time.
Progress made
When we first thought of this game, our intention was to guide the younger generation towards our two favorite subjects: electronics and physics. We wanted to make a game that we would have enjoyed as kids, a game that couldn't be ruined by mishandling, where trying again and again or testing different theories did not harm the elements.
Two years ago, the development of Elex Pipe begand, and we still hold ourselves to the same principles:
- Only use quality materials
- Go for a modern appearance
- Keep the connections simple
We had quite a lot of exploring to do while designing the first prototypes. As you can see here, the protective case was not always cylindrical. Additionally, the earlier versions also lacked a see-through surface.
As we altered the overall look of the pipe and the strength of the magnets, the closing component's material and shape changed over time. A few variations later, we opted to use aluminum plugs that house magnets inside.
After finishing with the basics, we were able to start creating 3D elements. This is when we realized that the foundation of Elex had been laid and was on its way to becoming the building game we wanted it to be. Elex Pipe was ready for the next step. So, we had a brainstorming session and came up with ideas for future parts, which we have been bringing to life ever since.
Risks and challenges
Up till this point, we've managed to gather the necessary resources
and put the required amount of time into our prototypes, relying only
on work done ourselves. However, as a small company, we can't
advance to the manufacturing phase without your help. We have
already consulted our partners about the costs and expenses, and
have fixed a possible completion date. We have also started working
on the programming needed for the app. However, without the
necessary funding, Elex Pipe will be never realized. This is why we
are very thankful for your support, as we would not be able to finish
this project without it.
All projects have setbacks, and although we calculated a fair amount
of time for any problems that may occur, there is still the chance that
minor delays will occur with manufacturing and delivery.
Nevertheless, we will always try our best to deliver our products to
you in perfect condition and on time.
Questions about this project? Check out the FAQ
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Funding period
- (45 days)