openMaterials

Sugru is a brand new material developed specifically to “hack things better.” Here are some of its extraordinary properties: Cures at room temperature Sugru is like modeling clay when you take it from its pack. Once it’s exposed to air, it cures to a tough flexible silicone overnight using the moisture in the air. Working time = [...]

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 [...]

Some things are so simple we don’t even think about writing them down. We assume everyone knows them. Well, that may often be true, but not always. The materials 101 series is our attempt at systematizing, through a series of thematic blog posts, some basic materials-related knowledge that is ‘out there.’ The series will thus provide [...]

So… I finally got around to writing about a very cool event I attended a couple months ago: FashionCamp NYC. Self-described as “a barcamp style unconference,” FashionCamp NYC had its first edition September 12th and 13th at ITP. Over the course of a rainy weekend people interested in fashion and/or technology gathered to give and attend [...]