door opener/screen toucher

thingiverse

The goal of this project was to come up with a door opener that could also use touch screens like ATMs and credit card swipers every day. We touch lots of things from door handles to gas pumps but one thing I haven't found a solution for is how to protect ourselves against contaminants on communal touch screens. Some screens are resistive or pressure sensitive, and some are capacitive. All screens are based on the principle of completing a circuit but they achieve it in different ways. Resistive screens work by connecting two surfaces together under the user's touch to coordinate the touch location. Capacitive screens need a conductive plane to contact them to complete the circuit and determine the location of the touch. I came up with a print using the general dimensions of https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4248068 for my design. By modifying some elements and making some post-processing changes, I have been able to get minimal success. My design is pretty basic but in post processing, I add a layer of aluminum foil tape to the exterior or the hook back to my thumb. I've found this is able to conduct enough, at certain angles, to manipulate my phone screen (capacitive). I'm hoping I can get some help from the community to make a fast and small print that can work on doors and screens with minimal post-processing. This is my first project post, but I am very committed to helping my community in any way I can. So please tell me your feedback to make a better print. Project Update: I have refined my design with the limited resources I have on hand, and I think I've found a workable solution! My new design replicates the contour of a finger on the touching portion, much better than my previous one, which allows for more surface area contacting capacitive screens. I've also found that metallic vinyl (which I have on hand) works extremely well both in conductivity and scratch reduction. The vinyl I have is a Gerber product, and it does require a small amount of sanding to remove the outermost protective layer. Apply with light heat to get the vinyl to conform to the contoured surface. For a better result, apply foam tape under the tip for some give when touching things. I used concrete tape but anything with adhesive and a slight amount of give will work, I think.