openMaterials

I’ve learned that there are 3 main challenges in working with soft circuits. The first one is to create circuitry with materials that are almost always completely exposed: a lot of thought goes into the layout of the circuit to not only avoid accidental shorts during normal wear, but also to avoid crisscrosses between conductive [...]

image source: wikimedia commons EL wire (electroluminescent wire) glows when an alternating current is passed through it. Unlike LED strips, EL wire is not a series of light points, but an unbroken line of visible light. It can be used in a variety of applications, from vehicle instrument panels and safety/emergency lighting to decoration and clothing. EL [...]

This mitten lights up when its wearer shakes hands with someone. It has two exposed soft contacts around the thumb and across the palm which, when bridged by bare skin, turn on the LED embedded on the flower. The mitten itself was created by fashion designer Isabel Tomás, and we then sewed a simple touch [...]

I thought I’d share with you how methylenchlorid can be used to glue and fix different plastics. Here’s an experiment I’ve just done using a hacked servo (continuous rotation) and polystyrene and methylenchlorid to make a linear actuator. The video below shows how easy it is to use methylenchlorid: If you can see this, [...]

A simple switch made with QTC sheet. Quantum tunnelling composite (QTC) is a smart flexible polymer, with extraordinary electrical properties, used for pressure switching and sensing. In its normal state it’s a near-perfect electrical insulator, but when deformed QTC becomes a metal-like conductor capable of passing very high currents. In fact, a QTC button measuring 4mm [...]

Hot Glue (aka Hot Melt Glue, Thermoplastic Adhesive) This must be one of my favorite materials. It allows you to glue almost anything together in an often easy and semi-durable way. It dries pretty quickly so you don’t have to wait more than a minute or so to proceed with your work. And, even though the [...]