Cropsticks, prototyped on ZEUS

The invention is called Cropsticks. The idea for a holder came when my chopsticks kept rolling off the tray table on an airplane in April 2015. With no idea on how to make the idea come to life, I did what anyone would do ... Google how. That's how I was first introduced to 3D printing. I got my CAD design made and printed the idea I had in my head ... and it WORKED! The feeling of holding your invention and seeing it work is one of the best feelings in the world. I knew immediately that I wanted a 3D printing machine for our students at Loyola Marymount University where I currently serve as the Assistant Director and Clinical Assistant Professor for the Fred Kiesner Center for Entrepreneurship. That's where AIO Robotics came in and we proudly house ZEUS All-In-One 3D Printer & Scanner in our world-renowned incubator. Students are creating on the machine as I type this. Zeus allowed me to successfully print subsequent iterations of my invention before I was able to actually manufacture it.

3D printing the idea was the first step. Testing the market and securing a patent was next. Then, I decided to make it out of the eco-friendly sustainable bamboo after learning 3.7 million trees go into production to make 57 billion pairs of disposable chopsticks. Then about a month ago, a meme showcasing that you could do that with existing chopsticks went viral and challenged our patent pending idea. So we launched early and went to Kickstarter! As of 3/17, we are $17,499 funded towards our $20,000 goal. There's only 8 days left, so if inclined, please help us get there and you can receive 50 pairs of Cropsticks for only $25!

Here is the link to the Kickstarter Project: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1124576742/cropsticks-the-real-mind-blowing-chopsticks?token=6ff9efdf