Case Study · Men's Wellness Device
Engineering one air-driven piston to deliver both stroke and suction
VacuGlide is a stroker and a vacuum pump in one. A single large piston moves air, and that air creates both the stroke and the suction. The result is closer to real oral sensation than a sleeve pushed by a motor arm.
The challenge
Delivering that feeling put heavy demands on the machine. Our team had to solve four of them at once:
The client
Autoblow is a men's wellness tech brand founded by Brian Sloan. Its goal is ambitious: to build a professional master brand for men's sexual experience. VacuGlide would be its first large, high-powered machine.
The opportunity
Autoblow asked us to improve the user experience and make the machine as compact as possible. We had never built this kind of product. So we set up a development process just for this project.
That process paired every design step with a physical trial. We built prototypes early, recorded each round, and tested them the way people would actually use them. Each finding fed straight back into the next build.
The hardware also had to carry everything Autoblow planned to run on it:
Key successes
Behind the design
Good product development is not only about design. It is also about helping a client spend wisely. VacuGlide was new and niche, and it shipped with many parts: three cup sizes, an air tube, an adapter, a wrench and a custom backpack.
A large injection mold would lock in a big upfront cost before the market had answered. So we advised Autoblow to start with a more refined manufacturing method. The unit cost was higher, but the risk of a first launch was far lower.
That choice also kept the design open between rounds. As the line grew, later products could share parts with VacuGlide, which brought costs down across the family.
Validation
The machine works under great force. Inside, a metal bracket and an aluminum extruded shell kept striking each other. This caused wear and a metallic clanging noise. We added a silicone cushion along the side of the bracket to absorb vibration. The same change made the machine repairable and simplified assembly.
We packed the unit, adapter and cables into the carry backpack. Then we checked that everything fit and could be carried in one go.
The machine weighs 14 lb (6.35 kg). We tested how the body feels when lifted and held. We also loaded the carry handle to confirm it holds the full weight.
Engineered for production
Inside, a motor drives a slider-crank that turns rotation into a straight stroke. That stroke moves a large piston, which pushes and pulls air through the tube to the cup. Electronic valves under full digital control set how much suction stays in.
The slider runs on a guide rail inside a black anodized aluminum beam, with bearing end blocks. Internal parts are steel, copper and brass, inside an extruded aluminum shell.
The upright cylinder keeps parting lines to a minimum. The metal tube is brushed, then anodized, and sits between a soft matte black top cap and base. The base is non-slip, so the machine stays put during use.
A recessed strip runs down the body, flush with the surface. It holds five buttons: mode and pause, speed up and down, and stroke position up and down. A 10-segment LED bar shows the level.
The top cap holds the power switch, a vent grille and service screws. The webbing handle anchors to the internal frame, not the shell, so the load goes through the structure.
Competing sleeves are mostly rubber, which creates too much friction. TPE is softer, but it makes air pressure hard to control and wastes consumables. We chose silicone: kinder to skin and reusable many times.
The sleeve, cup and air tube all come apart from the unit. Every body-contact part can be washed thoroughly, so hygiene is never in doubt.
Autoblow builds its own app, video sync and AI features. We defined the hardware around them from day one. The electronics support phone, tablet and PC control, and take free firmware updates. Features keep growing after purchase.
Project timeline
Kickoff
Set up a dedicated development process
Concept and ID
Defined the compact upright form, the flush control strip and the hardware for app control
Prototype trials
Load, take-out, grip and handle tests; silicone cushion added
Material and manufacturing
Moved sleeves to silicone; chose a low-risk method over a large mold
Launch-ready
Development complete
In market
Users notice what we set out to solve. They praise the quiet running, the build quality and the hands-free experience. They also value video sync, the included storage backpack, and firmware updates that keep adding features.
VacuGlide 2 sells on Autoblow's site at US$1,199.95, currently US$899.95, and through European retailers. It holds 4.9 out of 5 stars from 88 reviews. A connection cap now links it with Autoblow's AI Ultra.