Spyra shows that water pistols are not just a children's toy. The Munich-based start-up has set itself the goal of revolutionizing water fights for young and old and has developed the SpyraOne and SpyraTwo for this purpose. The idea was born in 2015 and the SpyraTwo, the current model of the water pistol, has been on the market since summer 2021.

The high-tech gadget is unique thanks to its patented features: The single-shot technology does not produce a jet of water like conventional water pistols, but individual water bullets that fly up to 14 meters. In addition, the combination of integrated rechargeable battery and electric pump enables the water tank to be recharged automatically when the device is immersed in a water source.

Following a successful crowdfunding campaign in 2018, two aspects were particularly important to Spyra: firstly, the community should receive something in return for their support as soon as possible and hold the water pistol in their hands. Secondly, efficient development was a high priority. The company uses Solidworks to implement the planning in a time- and cost-saving manner. By using the software solution, the designers can simulate the product, test the smallest changes virtually and thus eliminate irregularities at an early stage. This not only allows Spyra to save resources in terms of time and costs, but also guarantees the best possible functionality of the product.

Reduced complexity thanks to simulation

The Munich-based start-up recognized the need for a powerful CAD tool for the design of the high-tech water gun at an early stage of the project. Solidworks impressed the team in everyday use, particularly thanks to its intuitive operation and uncomplicated integration into the existing CAD environment. The extensive range of licenses for start-ups and the individual customization options for additional packages depending on the area of application, such as for the simulation of plastic parts, injection moulds and fluid flows, also spoke in favour of Solidworks.

Another plus point was the available online licenses, which allow employees to work together in the office and from home without any problems. Once the decision in favor of Solidworks had been made, the solution was launched quickly: the software was ready for use within one working day and the employees involved were already familiar with it after just one week.

The design team had to take complex parameters into account to optimize the development of the water gun's special features. Thanks to the use of Solidworks Plastics, they were able to quickly acquire expertise in designing with plastics, carry out detailed simulations and analyses of the designs and identify necessary changes at an early stage. Since even minimal discrepancies - for example in the shape or composition of the material - can change the end result, this function is particularly valuable. "With Solidworks Plastics, we were able to easily determine whether components were ready or still needed adjustments. This has saved a lot of time that would otherwise have been spent in consultation with the producers," explains Andreas Schober, Head of Technology at Spyra.

Quick decisions during development

In order for the high-tech water pistol to fire a single, precise water projectile as desired, the water jet must be compact. To achieve this, a number of complex criteria must be met: For example, there must be no turbulence, curve changes or swirling of the water. Spyra uses the possibilities of Solidworks Flow Simulation for this purpose. Water flows can be represented virtually and the team can make optimizations directly on the virtual model.

"Thanks to analyses that could be carried out quickly, we were able to make an informative statement about the further development path within a very short time. Without Solidworks, we would have needed many physical prototypes and would therefore have taken much longer to bring our water pistol to market," explains Andreas Schober.

For Spyra, the use of Solidworks means one thing above all: the optimal use of limited start-up resources. Using simulation, the design team was able to visualize the functionality of the water pistol, required fewer prototypes and thus accelerated product development. This enabled them to quickly design and develop a unique water pistol with exceptional features: The SpyraOne celebrated its premiere on the market in summer 2020 - one and a half years after the company was founded - and the successor model SpyraTwo followed in spring 2021. The positive experience with Solidworks and the feedback from the community are already being incorporated into the planning of follow-up projects that will continue to offer users an ideal water gun experience in the future.