Diffraction v3

Description

In the Diffraction, the “ski jump” clearly separates the two sections of the yoyo, acting as an inflection point for both aesthetics and purpose.

The inside of the profile is “inverse round”, pulling away from a theoretical straight line in a curve, starting at the slight response bump and ending at the ski jump. This section does three things:

1. Keeps string contact with the yoyo body very low
2. Allows for good finger grinds
3. Acts as a counterpart for the shape of the cup

The outside of the profile rounds out to the edge, improving comfort and rim weight compared to a theoretical straight line from the ski jump to the rim edge. Because it’s steeper closer to the center, it still pretty readily pushes the string in the correct direction.

A fun exercise for the budding designer is to draw a similar shape, but with the inflection point moved. There’s lots to discover with this type of shape, from the subtle to the surprising.