9. E-Textiles and Wearables II#

Assignment:#

• Hack or modify an existing machine • Build a tool head for an existing machine • Build a new machine • Restore an old machine

Tools:#

• Adobe Illustrator

Machines:#

• Sewing / Embroidering • Laser Cutter

MOTION ACTUATOR#

“FLIP DOTS”

When current is ran through copper coil it creates an electromagnetic field that attracts or repels based on the direction of the current.

Materials: • (Enamel) Copper Wire • Hematite Beads / Magnet • Felt • Copper Tape • Cotton Thread

  1. Create coil. Wrap copper wire 50-100 times Remember to leave about 2 inches on both ends of the coil

  2. Wrap cotton thread around the loop to secure the wire in a circle

  1. Burn off the enamel (coating) The copper (enamel) wire has a very thin coating over it that prevents it from being conductive as is so we want to burn off the coating at the points where we want electrical connections

  2. Secure the loop into the felt by embroidering the loop into the fabric with cotton thread Thread the needle with regular thread and tie a knot in one end. Stitch over the copper coil and back into the fabric, then come back through the fabric a few mm further along the coil. Continue until coil is secured to the felt.

  3. Solder the wire ends to copper tape

  4. Cut out a rectangle and small square out of felt to create the flap the idea behind the flap is to give visual feedback of the direction of the electromagnetic field. In one direction the coil will attract the flap and create a “magnetic button” type of effect. In the other direction the coil will repel the flap creating a vibration type of effect.

  5. Create a pouch around the magnet with the small square

  6. Sew in the flap. Make sure magnetic is directly on the coil

  1. Test It!

SOUND ACTUATOR#

“Fabric Speakers”

Embroider highly conductive thread to make a fabric speaker coil. Then run an amplified sound source through and hold a magnet close to hear it play.

Materials: • Cotton Thread • Conductive Thread – 60g (Stainless Steel) • Cotton Swatch • Neodymium Magnets • Fusible Interfacing

  1. Fuse and Secure fabric in embroidery loop

  2. Prepare spiral design using PFAFF software

  3. Wind up conductive fabric for bottom bobbin

  4. Embroider Coil

  5. Hook up speaker

  6. Add magnets and test

PAST EXPERIENCE#