Limpet Push-Button

Seashells and electronics - what to do with all those limpets except for to fit push-buttons, batteries, holders and motors and LEDs inside.

It took me a while to figure out the right term for these shells. They are limpets and not barnacles, as i originally thought they were >>
http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/article/analogy_01

I've always liked collecting seashells, and have always wanted to do something more with them than accumulate them in my parent's garden. So now I want to see how far I can go to integrate small electronic circuits inside them. Limpets are nice to work with because they are totally open on one side and the bigger ones even offer some depth.

The limpet buttons are very simple, they use a push-button to trigger LED light or a vibration motor. I decided to use a push-button rather than a switch so that they are only active when touched/pushed.

Video

Step 1 Materials and Tools

MATERIALS

• Limpets from the beach
• Push-button switch
• LED or vibration motor
• 3V button battery holder
• 3V button battery
• Hot glue
• Solder

TOOLS

• File
• Soldering iron
• Hot glue gun

Comments

[woodstockbirdy]

where do u get all those small components

[Plusea]

from inside electronic toys

[kylemcdonald]

This reminds me of Jared Tarbell's laser engraving of sandstone in that you're both taking a media/process (laser engraving, interactive electronics) and applying it to some natural feature. I really like this direction/idea :)

[thepelton]

I have tested laser engraving on shell. It does work, but I can't get them for free here in Colorado. I remember that I could find almost all the limpets that I wanted when I was living in San Diego.

[trailleadr]

or use them as pasties. :p

[thepelton]

The standard limpet without a center hole grows to be only about 1 inch (25mm) across. They might work as pasties for a Barbie Doll.

[Plusea]

yes - what do you mean by pasties?

[Lftndbt]

yes - what do you mean by pasties?

That has to be one of the funniest things I ever heard. Not that you don't know, just the question being asked.

[lemonie]

The type that cover a lady-entertainer's 'modesty' while they're pretty-much naked I think _(these). I don't know what sort of Barbie(R) dolls thepelton plays with...

L

[thepelton]

That's for me to know, and you to imagine. (Where is the button to make a bronx cheer?)

[thepelton]

This gives me an idea for a custom keyboard.

[skalipi]

Aloha.. In Hawai'i we call these OPIHI's Opeehee...like that LOl..nice light

[lemonie]

I like it! But I think those are limpet shells?

L

[Plusea]

You are totally right and i have corrected the mistake!
Thank you for pointing it out.
http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/article/analogy_01

[lemonie]

They must be fun to have on a desk - it's making me think of things... L

[drbill]

cool man.

[drbill]

Opihi. They only have one shell and they stick to da rocks in sometimes very rough shoreline out here Hawai'i. So ono too!

[lieuwe]

wow, people are going to be terified if they accidently push one off those :-P nice project, you could make a realy complicated device and replace all knobs and buttons by the things XD