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

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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

woodstockbirdy says: Jul 1, 2010. 12:29 PM

where do u get all those small components

Plusea (author) in reply to woodstockbirdyJul 1, 2010. 1:21 PM

from inside electronic toys

kylemcdonald says: Apr 21, 2009. 10:48 PM

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 in reply to kylemcdonaldApr 28, 2009. 11:19 AM

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 says: Apr 20, 2009. 5:37 PM

or use them as pasties. :p

thepelton in reply to trailleadrApr 21, 2009. 10:04 AM

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 (author) in reply to thepeltonApr 21, 2009. 10:06 AM

yes - what do you mean by pasties?

Lftndbt in reply to PluseaApr 28, 2009. 5:44 AM

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 in reply to PluseaApr 21, 2009. 10:33 AM

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 in reply to lemonieApr 27, 2009. 10:42 AM

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

thepelton says: Apr 27, 2009. 10:43 AM

This gives me an idea for a custom keyboard.

skalipi says: Apr 24, 2009. 2:40 PM

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

lemonie says: Apr 20, 2009. 11:01 AM

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

L

Plusea (author) in reply to lemonieApr 21, 2009. 2:26 AM

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 in reply to PluseaApr 21, 2009. 10:35 AM

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

Dr.Bill in reply to lemonieApr 21, 2009. 11:08 AM

cool man.

Dr.Bill says: Apr 21, 2009. 11:07 AM

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 says: Apr 20, 2009. 8:40 AM

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