For this week I built 2 soft-circuits nodes made out of fabric and paper, as well as 3 connectors. These components explore the properties of different materials such as with woven conductive fabric, conductive Velcro, natural jute and sewable metal snaps.
Materials:
Fabric Node:
- Regular Fabric. Piece of around 3inx3in
- Woven Conductive Fabric
- Sewable Metal Snaps
- Conductive Velcro
- Battery Holder
- Conductive Thread
Paper Node:
- Paper Square 3inx3in
- Woven Conductive Fabric
- Sewable Metal Snaps
- Conductive Velcro
- LED
- Conductive Thread
Connectors:
- Fabric Straps
- Natural Jute
- Conductive Thread
- Conductive Velcro
- Sewable Metal Snaps
Construction Process:
Sew all the components joining positive and ground nodes and areas, as well as the LED to the conductive fabric. The connectors were made by joining the snaps, the Velcro and the paper clip using conductive threat.
Important Note:
For the Paper Clip I connected the 2 silver components with conductive thread. The black part in the clip is NOT conductive.
Idea of a Tool!
I’m thinking in a handheld printer (similar to the handheld inkjet printers), but where you can select the pattern (or upload your vector design, or predetermined lines, circles or geometric shapes), and this pattern can be printed on paper or fabric , generating conductive pathways.