Flowtoys Composite System User manual
1
LIFETIME WARRANTY
Flowtoys are designed to last you a lifetime, but nothing is indestructible,
so we provide this warranty to enable you to freely nd your ow*.
We oer free replacements on
defective or non-working parts due to normal use, and
50% credit for products in any condition at any time.
If the tips in this guide do not keep your owtoys working for years to come,
please contact us at support@owtoys.com.
* Flowtoys reserves the right to refuse coverage to anyone abusing this warranty.
Please contact us before sending in your product, or it may be returned to sender.
Composite System Guide
features
operating instructions
troubleshooting
inspiration
high performance modular system
endless possibilites for ow
2
SAFEGUARDS AND PRECAUTIONS
This guide outlines basic safeguards in using your owtoys. The information presented cannot cover all possible circum-
stances that may occur. In using any owtoy, the user understands that common sense and caution cannot be built into the
product, and must be provided by him/herself. Please read all instructions before using your toys.
1. Flowtoys are intended for practice, play, performance and meditation. Do not use for any other purpose.
2. Do not use products under the inuence of alcohol or drugs. Consult prescription labels to determine if a particular drug
would impair your judgment or reexes. If so, do not use this product.
3. Stay alert and use common sense. Do not use this product when tired or distracted. Be aware when in the presence of
fragile or breakable objects.
BEFORE USE: Check for damaged parts before using any product. Ensure caps, connectors and battery doors are fully
secured. Most owtoys are made of individual pieces that can separate during use if not properly assembled.
GENERAL CARE: Repair or replace damaged or worn parts before use. Do not use damaged products.
REGULAR MAINTENANCE: Maintain all Flowtoys products with care. Store in a clean, dry environment. Avoid
unnecessary exposure to sunlight: UV rays will weaken most plastics over time.
UNAUTHORIZED COMPATIBLE PRODUCTS: Our products should not be combined with products or parts from other
manufacturers, unless specically authorized by us and such other manufacturers. Any unauthorized product
combination may void the warranty of our products and other manufacturers’ products.
WARNING: This product is not intended for use by children age 14 and under.
Flowtoys Composite System
Com·pos·ite: (adjective) made up of various parts or elements.
Composite material: (noun) a combination of two or more distinct materials, each of
which retains its own distinctive properties, to create a new material with properties that
cannot be achieved by any of the components alone.
The Flowtoys Composite System is an extension of our Modular System and combines
high-performance materials typically used in the aerospace and racing industries to
provide incredible equipment for ow. Thin and lightweight, yet super-strong and rigid
carbon ber shafts for optimum comfort and performance. Transparent yet impact-re-
sistant polycarbonate end-tubes. Soft and clear, yet incredibly durable silicone end caps
for maximum glow and protection. Versatile modular components to enable the perfect
combination of style, length and weight for you!
Made with the same high-tech materials that took humanity to space, your Composite
Flowtoys will help take your ow practice to new dimensions. The world just became a
little more awesome for all of us.
1. Do not use glowsticks or WD-40 with tubing. While polycarbonate is very
strong, it breaks down in the presence of certain esters, including those produced by
chemical glowsticks, mineral spirits and WD-40. Do NOT put chemical glowsticks into
the tubes, otherwise they can become brittle and shatter. If you need to, we recom-
mend lubricating tube parts with vaseline/petroleum jelly.
2. Modularity. Check your components! Most composite system parts are modular
and interchangeable, but not all sizes or all parts go together. A 12mm shaft needs a
12mm connector. Flowlights require an adaptor for the cap and will not t in a
1-capsule tube (for example). Pod shells require C-rings on capsules. Find more tips
for your rig in this guide!
3. Make sure all caps are fully secured before use! Check that the buttons in your
caps are fully clicked into tubing holes.
4. Clean your grip!
Grip can wear out with use and is aected by oils from our skin. To prolong the life of
your grip, clean it after heavy use and before long periods of storage. Use rubbing al-
cohol and a cloth, OR a cloth with warm soapy water to remove oils from the grip. Wipe
away any soap residue with clean water. If your owcaps get dirty, you can clean them
with soap and warm water, or put them in the wash with your laundry: air-dry, no heat!
THINGS TO KNOW :: BEFORE YOU FLOW
3
FLOWTOYS COMPOSITE SYSTEM - COMPONENTS
FLOWLIGHT-FS: World’s most revolutionary LED glowstick. Beautifully
sculpted polycarbonate shell refracts full spectrum LEDs. 40 adjustable
modes with many bright and beautiful color options, kinetic awareness,
accelerometer response, battery and charge level indicators and more.
1 rechargeable AAA provides 3-27 hours run-time. Connect as many as you
like to ll your tubes with lights.
CAPSULE LIGHT: Incredibly strong polycarbonate shell diuses 12 LEDs
into a single pixel of a million colors. MicroUSB rechargeable Li-ion battery
for 6-77 hour run-time! Link up to 2 together. Intuitive one-button interface
and “kinetic awareness”enable you to select and adjust a virtually innite
variety of amazing light patterns.
1”TUBES: Highest quality polycarbonate extrusion, transparent yet virtu-
ally bulletproof, connects to caps and connectors via snap-button holes.
Available in a variety of interchangeable lengths for instant reconguration.
CARBON FIBER SHAFT: Custom woven carbon ber composite with
smooth, glossy nish, 12mm and 15mm diameters. Thin and light-weight
yet super-strong and rigid, enabling eortless ow.
ELASTOMER GRIP: 1mm thick tubing of a proprietary elastomer blend (our
supplier won’t even tell us the formula!). Incredibly grippy and durable, yet
translucent. Encases carbon ber shafts for seamless grip.
SCREW-IN CONNECTORS: Identical halves compress 1mm elastomer
against a composite shaft to create a rm connection. #1 phillips screws
secure tube. Use a #1 phillips screwdriver to break down sta for travel.
FLOWCAP: Thick, soft, durable silicone body. Inner polycarbonate snap-
cap buttons snap securely onto tubes and release with a rm twist. Built-in
button compatible with capsule lights; connects to owlights with adaptor.
FLOWLIGHT ADAPTOR: Allows you to connect owlights to owcaps. Pops
on and o easily, but will not release owlight when inside a tube.
POD SHELL: Beautiful, thick, super-soft and durable silicone, built-in
button compatible with capsule lights, strategic internal petal-ribs provide
structure and focus mass at the bottom for great rotational inertia. Pod
shells attach to tubes with a friction t - please read instructions and
use caution.
FLOWMASS: These translucent crystalline-looking weights add more
inertia to your ow and optimize the balance of your sta. Add two or more
if you like your tools heavy!
CAPSULE LINK: Tiny but tough, this link ts inside leash-ports of 2 capsules
to link them securely inside tubes. Leaves both buttons accessible.
More components, details and info available on www.owtoys.com
4
CONNECTING SHAFT TO TUBE:
Your composite prop should come assembled and
ready to go. If you need to replace a part, and re-as-
semble your shaft, here’s how:
To attach connector to shaft: Place compression
connector over the end of the shaft. Be sure to push it down all the way, bang it on the
ground to ensure it gets past the nal inner seal.
Use #1 Phillips screwdriver to secure screws to the carbon ber shaft.
Important! Do NOT use other size screwdriver or you will strip the screws!
To attach connectors to tube: Line up the 1” tube holes with the connector buttons, and
push tube rmly down to the connector buttons.
Connector sizing: We have 2 shaft sizes – 12mm and 15mm, and 2 connector sizes to
match. Please be sure you are using the correct connector - it should t very rmly.
Note: The connector o-ring helps keep the connector on the shaft when it is not inserted
into the tube. It’s useful, but not necessary to the performance of your prop. If you break or
lose it, you can order more from owtoys.com.
COMPOSITE SYSTEM OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
REMOVING/ATTACHING FLOWCAPS FROM TUBES:
To detach, twist rmly to release the buttons and pull.
To install, place cap over tube, push and twist until the snap-but-
tons click into holes.
ATTACHING CAPSULE LIGHTS TO FLOWCAPS:
Insert capsule into owcap, button side in. Twist and push until it
settles. The seams of the capsule must be aligned with the buttons
inside the cap for it to t in the tube.
ATTACHING FLOWLIGHTS TO FLOWCAPS:
Push the narrow “head”of the owlight into the adaptor, then
insert into the owcap. Twist until the adaptor clicks into place.
The sides of the light should align with the buttons in the cap.
To remove the adaptor with the light, push the button on the cap
while twisting the light.
To leave the adaptor in the cap, pull the capsule light out while
gripping the cap.
CAPS :: FLOWCAPS
Your tube-based props come standard with owcaps. The
owcap is compatible with both owlights and capsule
lights and securely clicks into owtoys tubes.
USING YOUR END CAPS Tip: If you nd it dicult to
remove the owcap from your
tube, check your grip.
You may be holding the inter-
nal buttons against the tube,
and preventing their release.
carbon ber
shaft compression
connector
1” polycarbonate
tube
connector
o-ring
*click!*
*click!*
*click!*
5
CONNECTING LIGHT UNITS
CONNECTING FLOWLIGHT TO FLOWLIGHT:
If you have two or more owlights in one tube, you will need to attach the
opposite ends of the owlight to each other for the lights to t properly, and
slide in and out of the tube together.
Be sure to click them together and apart sideways (laterally as shown in the
picture), NOT up and down in the direction of the pivot (vertically), as this can
cause splitting at the seam and loosen the connection.
CONNECTING CAPSULE TO CAPSULE:
• Remove the o-rings from the leash-port (battery side) of two capsules.
• Pry open one shell enough to insert the link then reinstall the O-ring.
• Roll the second capsule’s O-ring over the rst’s, then connect the second capsule to
the link and roll the O-ring onto it.
It is also possible to install and remove the link by prying and holding the capsule
open with the O-rings in place - if you have strong ngers! Only two capsules can be
connected - both buttons should face out.
Compatibility: Capsule links are only compatible with the latest capsule shells
(released around mid 2013). Some older versions do not separate in a way that would
allow this link to work properly. Please check our website support page for details. If
your capsule is not compatible, contact us at support@owtoys.com.
INSTALLING FLOWMASS:
Flowmass is slightly tapered with more material on one end—make sure the heavier end
is installed at the far end of your prop, where it will have the most eect.
Adding mass to tubes: Rub a tiny bit of vaseline/petroleum jelly or other safe grease
(like lip-balm) to the inside surface of the mass and slide it on to the tube. Ensure that
there is enough clearance at the top for your end caps to attach properly and securely.
CAPS :: POD SHELL
Intended for use with capsules.
INSERTING CAPSULES INTO POD SHELLS: Capsules MUST have their C-ring
installed before inserting into pod shell. Insert capsule with C-ring into the bot-
tom of the pod shell rmly. Check button for normal operation. If the button
is dicult to press, check that the capsule is all the way inside the shell and the C-ring is
properly installed on the capsule. Also check that there is not a C-ring already in the pod.
ATTACHING POD SHELL ONTO TUBE: The pod shell attaches to the tube with a friction
t. Push the pod shell over the tube rmly, ensuring the plastic tube is between the cap-
sule and the silicone tube inside the pod that holds the capsule in place.
Be aware - the tube must be clean, and the edge of the silicone that holds the capsule
must cover the holes in the tube for a secure t. Silicone does not stretch or warp like oth-
er plastics, and as long as it is installed correctly the pod cannot y o during use. You’ve
been warned. We can’t replace parts that go ying due to inadequate connection!
Note: Both pod shell and owcap should connect very rmly to the end of the tube. To
remove, grip the tube that the cap is connected to, and twist o.
6
Don’t ask yourself what the world needs.
Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and then go and do that.
Because what the world needs is people who have come alive. - Howard Thurman
To the illuminated mind the whole world sparkles with light. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
You never change things by ghting the existing reality. To change something, build a
new model that makes the existing model obsolete. - Buckminster Fuller
Thank your parents.
A pint of example is worth a gallon of advice.
If you have an idea, make it happen. Ideas won’t work unless you do.
Do or do not ... there is no try. - Yoda Drink lots of water. Stretch. Breathe.
I’m trying to free your mind. But I can only show you the door.
You’re the one who has to walk through it. - Morpheus
DO GOOD. BE AWESOME. MAY THE FLOW BE WITH YOU!
Visit owtoys.com for more information, inspiration, videos, instructions and tips.
TROUBLESHOOTING
Can I break down my sta into shorter pieces for travel?
Yes you can. The shortest you can break it down is the carbon ber shaft length. Use a #1 Phillips
head screwdriver to remove the screws from the screw-in compression connector. You should
be able to pull the polycarbonate tubes o the connector. You can leave the connectors on the
carbon ber shaft, or remove them as well.
Tips: Keep screws safely stored in a baggie! And only use a #1 Phillips head. You may be tempted
to use a #2, coz it’s more common, but it will likely strip the screws.
My owcap won’t release from the tube.
Make sure to grip the top end of your owcap when removing it. If you grip lower down the cap,
the silicone can press against the tubing and stick, making it harder to remove.
My capsule lights are falling out of the owcap.
When installing capsule lights into a owcap, make sure to TWIST until you hear a click. A prop-
erly installed light will have a very secure t - shake the owcap vigorously to make sure the light
doesn’t fall out.
2018.06
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