SMAs :Flexinor test
I use a trained flexinor and cut a thin paper into a tongue shape. I sew flexinor on the paper and attach copper tape at each end. I test it with a 9V battery. The motion was very interesting but it was really hard to make an intended motion.
Link to insturctables: https://www.instructables.com/id/Eye-Fishing-Tea-Candle-Holder/
I made a tea candle holder that will reveal some messages when its top is being heated.
I used theromochromic pigment to achieve the revealing of the messages. This type of pigment will be transparent under a higher temperature and be normal again when the temperature is lower.
The concept is about memory and eyes. The cover of this candle holder is designed to be a ‘lake’ of eyes (shown by the patterns), and there is a small character fishing eyes for himself. Yet while he is fishing and when the candle is lighten up, there are things revealed on the surface of the lake suggesting he might fish something else rather than eyes which are what he wants. The things revealed has relations to eyes but are not the first things that come up to our mind when we think about eyes.
Reflections and further steps:
At first I did not use transparent acrylic for the top of the candle holder and it was proved to be dangerous, less attractive and fragile. So I replaced it with an acrylic piece and painted again. It works perfectly now.
At first I wanted to make something that is easy to use and does not have to be linked to wires and battery every time so this is the final result. I think maybe in the future I can come up with a more complex structure and make all the wires and battery being well covered and controlled with switches. Yet I am very happy with the result of this attempt. I enjoyed the whole process, from designing it, making it to actually using it as a real candle holder.
For the final concept, I start with a concept of making an embroidery project because I was inspired by this following work.
— by showshowcraft
However, I cannot find a good way to combine the tech part with this craft. After talking to Liza, I end up with making an interactive storybook. The following are some precedents:
1.
I love children a lot. And I like to make graphic both are simple and colorful. It makes me energetic.
2.
–by Jie Qi
Concept: This is a storytelling that create an immersive feeling of the Bortle Scales of dark sky, using poetry and graphics to represent the nine scales of places in first person. In this storybook, I hope I can rise people’s awareness in the field of Light Pollution.
Target audience: Children
Style: Colorful+ Playful
The Bortle Scale— The definition of the nine classes of dark sky:
I drew the nine stories of the Bortle Scale.
Working process:
2. Test out the LEDs. Organize how many LEDs each page should have, and also, what color should be, to represent the feeling of the poetry that matches the scale.
3. Test on one circuits first. And then draw all the nine circuits in the back.
4. Make the circuits completed with the copper tape. Also, reinforce on the connections with soldering.
5. Final testing
6. Video Demo
The nine poetry:
Dear Sky,
In this sandy valley, I could hear in the distance,
waves shining with light.
Whispering at my ears. I start my journey.
Eureka Valley, 1890, First class of darkness
Dear Sky,
I can see myself, mirrored.
What wonderful youth! I, smiling.
All things; hopeful, beautiful, unpredictable.
Minneapolis North Lake, 1950, Second class of darkness
Dear Sky,
Traveled long ways get here. Lonely.
The stars chattering above me.
I am not afraid.
The Isle of Sark, 2000, Third class of darkness
Dear Sky,
Ruins, Kivas, stories on the valley floor.
I am here. See, the great work of human culture.
Dizzy now, upside down.
Light from the slow blinking shutter, or half- circle house?
Chaco Culture National Historical Park, 2001, Fourth class of darkness
Dear Sky,
I can feel the power of nature.
Darkness. Sea mumbling, stars pulsing.
And look! Birds rush out, disappear, a small black dot.
Cape Cod National Seashore, 2003, Fifth class of darkness
Dear Sky,
This is a familiar place. I am on the bridge of crossing cultures.
Tipsy, can’t tell the time.
Late or early?
Concord, Massachusetts, 2005, Sixth class of darkness
Dear Sky,
Still. I can hear the trains, smell the fresh pine.
Nothing disappears, save all the lighting around the pier.
Ashland, Wisconsin, 2009, Seventh class of darkness
Dear Sky,
Arc lighting, can’t breath. Feel strange, can I run?
Lying on Lambeth Bridge, thinking,
then, the most beautiful starry night was, the city with gaslight.
London, 2010, Eighth class of darkness
Dear Sky,
Years pass by. Mature, I am giddy, but,
cannot see. Sparking through color and light,
money, money, money.
A coin breaks the sky, tearing me to pieces.
Las Vegas, 2015, Ninth class of darkness
Instructable link :
https://www.instructables.com/id/Friends-a-Circuit-Study-for-Kids/
https://www.instructables.com/id/Friends-a-Circuit-Study-for-Kids/
3V Battery + 1 LED + 1 Pressure sensor doll circuit demo
9V Battery + 2 LED + 1 Pressure sensor doll circuit demo
In the class, I tested as many thermochromic inks as I can. for the homework, I decided to do embroidery. I embroidered a heart with the letter love by using conductive thread. Everything was connected and I used 9V battery. for the result, It was really hard to see the details on the thermochromic painted fabric. maybe it was because i made the pattern so small.
I made pentagon shape speaker by using copper tape. I forgot to connect lines so I fixed it after. I add a paper to avoid overlap the circuit.
I made 3 connectors and 5 nodes in the class.
I finished the ATtiny Sensor based on the drawing. It was really tricky to solder everything because the circuit was so small.
for learning new crafting skill, I learned to crochet. I already knew how to knit but crochet was a very different skill. Not like knitting, the really good thing about the crochet skill is easy to make round shape. I had a hard time making a flat cup coaster. I had to count every line and remember the right number to make a perfect pattern. After practicing, I used to the skill and play around with making different patterns. It’s harder than knitting but much useful for making a pattern such as lace, cover, and blanket.
for making three swatches, I made three pressure sensors by knitting. I knitted cover first. I put a sponge inside the swatch and wrapped the bare wire around the sponge. Next, I covered the sponge with the Pressure-Sensitive Conductive Sheet and attached the copper tape at the end of the bare wire. inside the cover that I knitted, I attach the copper tape. for the last step, I put everything and sew the cover to close the swatch. At outside, I left the small copper tape part that I connected at the end of the bare wire and inside the cover so I can connect each part to the power source.
Midnight
Concept: To illustrate the anticipation of when the clock strikes twelve through an LED skirt based on Cinderella.
Audience: Cosplay adults.
Description: The skirt stays turns on and then starts blinking when the clock strikes twelve, as if it’s and alarm or reminder for Cinderella to go home.
Challenges: Couldn’t figure out how the pressure sensor would work best. At first, I want it to be placed on her waist as when the prince is dancing with her, but that would require too much pressure. Also, I couldn’t figure out how the have LED shut off after a certain period of time. The sewing was also challenging, because some of the conductive thread crossed each other, and this was also my first time making a skirt. I should have used a sewing machine, but I did everything by hand.
Future Iteration: I was use a different fabric, because I used cotton, and it wasn’t light enough. I was like to use more technology, just like how my precedent did with the IBM Watson dress used tweets to change the color of the LEDs on the dress. I also need to practice with the sewing machine so that I’m comfortable using it. The LED colors that I have the skirt are Yellow, Blue , and White, but the only color that really shows is blue. Next time I would like to change the colors, and keep them all blue.
Materials:
Step 1: Test LED with Arduino, and get sequence to blink with pressure sensor.
Step 2: Step up and test FLORA and LED with Alligator clips
This is the pressure sensor I was going to use, but Arduino code didn’t work.
Step 3: Cut and tie Tulle around ribbon.
Step 4: Cut fabric and set up pleats with pins, and sew together.
Step 5: Curl ends of LEDs
Step 6: Sew FLORA and pocket for battery pack. Test one LED first to make sure it’s working. One Conductive thread is attached to the Ground, the other is connected to pin. Each pin needs it own Ground. Luckily, the FLORA has three Grounds.
Close up of FLORA with the connected conductive thread.
Step 7: Put tape wherever the conductive thread crosses to avoid interruption of LEDs not working.
Step 8: I had too put tape on the FLORA to apply to the Ground and Pin for a stronger connection.
Step 9: Test with all LEDs on.