Introduction: Compact IPhone/ IPad Stylus
A little mod for those who don't want to buy a stylus and would like to make one for their iPhone or iPad
The idea came from the Make: blog.
Collin's Lab: DIY iPad Stylus
Step 1:
Materials
@ Zebra F-301 Compact Pen
@ Anti-static Foam
@ Wire
@ Foil Tape
Tools
@ File, Sander, (lineman pliers)
@ Soldering Iron
@ Super Glue
The pens come in a two pack. Could do the mod to just one or to both pens?
Step 2: Disassembly and Filing Down Tip
Unscrew tip and remove ink. Use it as a refill for the other pen.
Screw the tip back on and use a file to open up the hole. There is a point in the tip where it will open wider, this is where the foam will come through. Round off the edge to prevent the tip from scratching the screen if the foam starts to wear down.
Filing might take some time. Use cutting part of lineman pliers or a sander to get to what is shown in the last picture.Then use a file to clean up the edge.
Step 3: Adding the Foam
Cut a piece of the static foam larger than the hole in the tip. Add a wire to one end of the foam and pull it through the tip(picture 3) . Trim the end of the the foam into a pointed or round tip. Use a small dab of super glue to hold the foam inside the tip. Do not get glue on the part of the foam that will touch the screen.or the threads in the tip.
Use a soldering iron to make a hole in the area where the cap attaches to the body. The wire will be fished through the hole.Use of the soldering iron make a bit of a ramp that is easier to get the wire to come out of the hole in the body.
Screw the tip back in with the wire coming out of the hole that was made in the body. Use the soldering iron to melt a grove in the cap area for a striped part of the wire to sit in.
Step 4: Attaching the Foil Tape.
Set the striped wire in the grove and use the soldering iron to melt part of the plastic onto the wire.
Cut a piece of foil tape to cover the wire. Aluminum or copper foil tape will work.
Put the cap on the end that has the foil. If the fit is a bit to snug remove the small o-ring on the end of the body.
Step 5: Finished Stylus
6 Comments
11 years ago on Introduction
Where do you find anti static foam? I live near radio shack, bestbuy, and other stores like it.
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
http://www.correctproducts.com/ESD-Packaging/Low-Density-Black-Conductive-Polyurethane-Foam/Low-Density-Black-Conductive-Polyurethane-Foam_2 this was the cheapest I've found. Please note it is 2 feet by 3 feet, so you'll have a lot of excess. You could use the rest as an antistatic mat for electronics or computer parts if you do either of those. Oe you can make a lot of styli and sell them for $5 an make a profit after the 5th one or so, depending on the other materials you use.
11 years ago on Introduction
could an eraser work?
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
Whatever is being used for the actual tip of the stylus has to be conductive. If the eraser is actually conductive it would work, and all you would need is that little amount of foil tape where you grab it.
12 years ago on Introduction
How abrasive is conductive foam? I (fortunately) do not own one of those Apple things, but I am expecting a pad with a capacitive screen that does not come with gorilla glass. Any chance this DIY solution will scratch it into oblivion?
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
I have not noticed any scratching from the foam. If there is any it is olny being done to the screen protector and not to the screen itself. I would always suggest that people use one.