About this project
SLIDA is 3D puzzle for everyone. With its unique, award winning and patented interlocking design, we hope to challenge and encourage the next generation of thinkers while having fun along the way.
The Slida ball is the very first shape using this 3D interlocking concept. This shape was chosen to prove the possibility of manufacturing products based on unique interlocking mechanism. This concept has countless options and is able to be produced in any shape or size with any number of pieces. Our puzzles can be made from as little as three pieces to hundreds of pieces.
The ribbed design of the puzzle allows us produce different finishes using an overmoulding technique.
About us
I have had some real challenges along the way. The complexity of the interlocking design meant that it has taken almost half my life to finalize the design to be ready for manufacturing.
It all started with cutting foam and a hot wire machine 23 years ago, when I realized that pieces cut in certain way locked together. It took me another 6 months to back engineer the method I developed.
I have built five different cutting machines to dissect different foam materials which would be compliant for the toy market. The first machine I built used two second hand windscreen wipers motors, from a wrecked car and it worked. The challenge I had, was to make it suitable for a production run. This haunted me for the next 21 years.
By chance, 2 years ago my son required a placement for work experience; he ended up in a boutique design company called Design Momentum in Sydney. This turned out to be the turning point of my project. Here we used a 3D printer for modelling different prototypes, maintaining the methodology behind the original design. After one year of trial and error, we were able to produce the first shape in the form of a ball. We started to produce small prototypes sample runs using silicone tooling and after some fine tuning, came to the point where we can produce final products.
I would like to use funding to finish mass production tooling and start developing puzzles for the future. I have many ideas like puzzle in a puzzle which is already in prototyping phase and I still struggle trying to put this one together...
We believe in growing through challenge
SLIDA is designed to challenge your curiosity and ability to solve problems, requiring creativity, determination and logical process-driven thinking – without batteries! Our aim is to continue developing a range of 3D puzzles for all ages. SLIDA is an engaging experience for everyone.
The best part is how much people who have played with SLIDA love it. It’s a real challenge that people love to take on and it doesn’t matter how old they are, or what their skill level is.
We’re dedicated to excellence and innovation
Having won the Gold Medal at the International Exhibition of Inventions in Geneva, we have worked with a great design and engineering team to deliver a quality product that we hope everyone can enjoy. The tangible nature of SLIDA provides a much needed tactile element that is often missing in our busy, tech-driven lives.
Rewards
Risks and challenges
We have already produced and tested high quality pre-production prototypes, confirmed tooling details with our manufacturer and are now ready to offer you a final product we are sure you will love.
The biggest challenge for us will be shipping if Slida is well received by the Kickstarter family.
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Funding period
- (29 days)