If you happen to’ve been searching for a brand new peripheral, the Rufus Cuff could also be simply be the ticket. Though it’s one thing that you simply put on in your wrist, the blokes over at Rufus Labs are fast to quip “do not name it a smartwatch, it is a wrist communicator”. As an enormous fan of the online game Fallout 3, it jogs my memory lots of the Pipboy 3000, which makes me completely happy.
The Rufus Cuff debuted on Indiegogo nearly a month in the past and has since exceeded their aim with about 18 days nonetheless left to go. One of the vital attention-grabbing components in regards to the Cuff for us is that a great deal of the prototyping was undertaken on an Airwolf 5.5 that was bought from us a few 12 months and a half in the past.
I had the chance to speak with Gabe Grifoni yesterday, the inventor of the Rufus Cuff and CEO of Rufus Labs.
There’s actually nothing like with the ability to contact, maintain, really feel and put on one thing you have printed to spec.
Mike Hulse: Hey Gabe, I do know you are extraordinarily busy together with your Indiegogo marketing campaign, so I actually admire you taking a couple of minutes to speak.
Gabe Grifoni: After all! I am completely happy to be right here, and love what you guys are doing at MatterHackers.
MH: Thanks, it is all the time thrilling for us to see individuals placing 3D printers to make use of to begin to make their concepts a actuality. First off, I simply wished to congratulate you and your workforce on hitting your funding aim.
GG: Thanks. We’re clearly fairly completely happy about it. Our workforce has all labored actually exhausting for over a 12 months now to get so far. So to see the entire assist has been wonderful.
MH: So let’s bounce proper into it. The Rufus Cuff has made fairly a splash on Indiegogo just lately, are you able to briefly describe what precisely it’s?
GG: Certain. The smartwatch is nice, however in our minds its a stutter step to the place we have now to be. The Rufus Cuff is one thing we prefer to name a “wrist communicator.” This can be a class past the smartwatch. It is received the identical Z top as most watches just like the Pebble or Samsung Gear however 3x the width. We have constructed one thing with a reimagined type issue that is received a large display, greater battery, extra performance and the display actual property for full apps. We have additionally inbuilt health {hardware} like Accelerometer, Gyroscope and GPS so our customers can monitor all their steps, energy and miles walked with apps they’re used to love Strava and RunKeeper. And, in fact, we have made it spill and splash proof which is a should for wearable gadgets – no extra worry of checking and responding to a textual content within the rain. Inbuilt Wifi permits it work by itself with no linked smartphone – its nice for house, faculty or workplace environments to provide you full use of apps, e mail, messages, and many others… arms free and no want for a smartphone. These are the fast highlights however the Rufus Cuff can do rather a lot so ensure that to take a look at our indiegogo marketing campaign web page for extra particulars.
MH: That each one sounds fairly superior. So how precisely did you give you the thought?
GG: I used to be at CES in Jan 2013 and noticed just a few wearables there. I’ve all the time been taken with that sector and I had simply been ready for somebody to lastly do it proper. Nobody had and I simply thought, heck, I will do it myself. We will construct a greater system. I began from there and spent 4 hours on the journey house from Vegas to LA conceiving the beginnings of The Rufus Cuff. As soon as I received again house I spent just a few days sketching ideas out on my iPad and speaking to some buddies about it – seeing in the event that they’d join the journey. Inside weeks we had a stable workforce of co-founders (and nice lifelong buddies) and I had taught myself CAD and acquired a 3D printer with some cash we pooled collectively in order that I might begin bodily printing wearable fashions. We went on to boost some cash from Angel buyers so we might rent an Industrial design agency, a fabrication home for board meeting/testing and we introduced on some extra actually good individuals to help within the engineering effort. It has been a fantastic 12 months for our startup and we’re wanting ahead to some extra progress within the coming months as we lead as much as launch.
MH: So you bought one of many first printers that we offered right here at MatterHackers almost a 12 months and a half in the past, an Airwolf 5.5. How did 3D printing make it simpler so that you can go from thought to prototype and manufacturing?
GG: It was an enormous assist. I had by no means used CAD and by no means achieved any 3D printing. I shortly discovered some primary CAD software program and began constructing the primary Rufus Cuff in 3D format. Getting a 3D printer was the following logical step to actually see if the Rufus Cuff would really feel good on the arm. I should have spent weeks printing one refinement after one other, shaving 1mm right here and 5mm there. There’s actually nothing like with the ability to contact, maintain, really feel and put on one thing you have printed to spec. Our design was vital to us for consolation and wearability so being able to print one mannequin after one other in fairly quick order actually helped us velocity up our industrial design course of.
MH: Do you ever print for enjoyable, if that’s the case what sorts of issues do you print?
GG: When I’ve time I do prefer to print some enjoyable creations or obtain somebody’s cool information they’ve shared on-line. I’ve a very cool mini model of the Maltese Falcon on my desk and I did use it to print my wedding ceremony topper which got here out simply nice.
MH: That is implausible! As costly as wedding ceremony toppers are today, that is a very artistic and enjoyable approach to make one. I do know it’s important to get going quickly, however simply to complete up, what recommendation would you give to future inventors/entrepreneurs?
GG: Do not take heed to the naysayers – they do not know any higher than you in case your thought is sweet or dangerous. Educate your self something you do not know – the assets are all on the market – a keyboard away. Get buddies on board with the identical ardour for what you see and construct a fantastic workforce. Eat Nutella. Attempt to sleep when you may.
MH: I suppose we have to get some Nutella for our workplace. Arduous to go fallacious with that recommendation. Effectively I do know you should get going, so I simply wished to thanks once more for taking the time to speak, and good luck with the remainder of the marketing campaign and with the way forward for the Rufus Cuff. We’ll actually be conserving our eye on it.
GG: Completely thanks for having me.
