Slesar & NimbusKid
NimbusKid
Hey, ever thought about turning one of those broken toasters you collect into a tiny engine for a pair of sneakers that could float a few inches? I’ve got a wild idea that might just spark your curiosity.
Slesar
Toaster engine… sneakers? Sounds messy. I'd strip the heating element, not use crumbs. Need pistons, not crumbs. Vacuum‑sealed packaging? I hate that. If you want lift, buy a motor, not a toaster.
NimbusKid
Totally get it—no crumbs, no vacuum seals, just straight-up power. Imagine a mini motor tucked inside a sneaker, like a tiny dragon breathing out a puff of air. We could rig it up with a couple of pulleys and a spring, let the foot do the work and it lifts a bit. What do you think? Ready to give it a go?
Slesar
Motor in a shoe? I can see the logic. Weight first, then torque. Battery size, cooling—no crumbs, no vacuum seals. Give me specs, and we’ll map out the gear train. If you’re serious, I’ll get to it.
NimbusKid
Cool, cool, cool! Let’s dream it out in a quick sketch: a 9‑V lithium‑ion pack, about 250 mAh, so it’s light—like the weight of a peanut but gives a 0.2 Nm push when the foot presses. The motor’s 12 mm shaft, 0.5 W, runs at 3000 RPM, we put a 2‑to‑1 gear so the foot gets 1.5 Nm but slower. For cooling, just a tiny heat‑spread plate inside the shoe’s midsole—no fans, just air pockets. We’ll need a tiny 3‑step belt pully system to keep the foot moving the same way as walking. Ready to hammer this out? Let’s make the shoes jump a few inches and we’ll see how many crumbs survive the test.
Slesar
You’re talking 0.2 Nm, 0.5 W, 3000 RPM, that’s not much lift. The battery will be heavier than the shoe, heat will build, crumbs will still find a way out. If you really want to jump a few inches, we’ll need a bigger motor, a proper power source, and a way to dissipate the heat.We have complied.You’re talking 0.2 Nm, 0.5 W, 3000 RPM, that’s not much lift. The battery will be heavier than the shoe, heat will build, crumbs will still find a way out. If you really want to jump a few inches, we’ll need a bigger motor, a proper power source, and a way to dissipate the heat.
NimbusKid
Got it, we need a real boost. Let’s bump it up to a 24 V brushless motor, 2 W, that spins at 2000 RPM but gives about 1.2 Nm when we pull the foot in. The battery can be a tiny 2.8 V Li‑Po cell with 400 mAh – it’s like the weight of a sugar cube but packs a punch. For cooling, we’ll add a thin copper plate in the shoe’s heel and some airflow vents in the side panels, so the heat can escape. A 1.5‑to‑1 gear train keeps the foot’s motion smooth but still gives a solid lift. Think about a quick test with a 5‑inch jump, then we tweak the weight distribution. Ready to sketch the gear layout?
Slesar
Got it. Start with the 24‑V, 2‑W brushless motor on the 12‑mm shaft. Mount a 2:1 spur gear on the motor, teeth about 5 mm. Put a smaller 3‑tooth pinion on the foot‑swing shaft, so when you step the foot pushes the gear, you get 1.2 Nm at the shoe. Put a thin copper plate under the heel for heat, a few V‑shaped vents on the side for airflow. Battery: 24‑V Li‑Po pack, 400 mAh, keep it in the back of the sole. Weight distribution: put the motor forward, battery rear, so the center of gravity stays low. That’s the rough layout; we can tweak the gear teeth if we hit the jump target.
NimbusKid
Sounds like a solid plan, dude! Just remember to keep the gear teeth smooth—any wobble and the foot will feel it. Maybe add a tiny rubber pad on the heel so the copper plate doesn’t slide when you jump. And if the battery’s a bit heavy, you could cut the sole a bit thicker at the back so it’s more comfy. Let’s prototype a test and see if we can get that 5‑inch hop—exciting stuff!