Visual Materials Guide¶
The following images may help you identify unfamiliar parts from the course supplies. This is not a complete guide as many parts are either well-labeled or likely clear from context. Please refer to the Course Materials List for a more complete listing.
Electronics¶
The Adafruit Circuit Playground Bluefruit is a microcontroller board we will program using CircuitPython. It features alligator-clip friendly input/output pins for integration with conductive thread, Bluetooth communication to support wireless laptop data transfer, numerous sensors, and 10 RGB leds. For more details, please see Adafruit Circuit Playground Bluefruit.
The Adafruit CRICKIT is an interface board we will use to connect the Circuit Playground Bluefruit to actuators and sensors. It provides screw terminals for quick solderless prototyping. It uses only a few pads of the CPB leaving the remainder available.
This 5V 3A power supply can supply actuator power during wired operation. It can drive the CRICKIT.
These screw terminal blocks can be used to make wire-to-wire connections without soldering. These are PhysComp Lab part 0675, available in the parts drawers in HL A10. Each strip can be cut into shorter segments if desired.
These small mini-grabber to mini-grabber cables can be used to connect signals to the Bluefruit pads without soldering.
This 4 x AA battery holder can supply actuator power to projects during wireless operation. Batteries not included. The wires are terminated with breadboard-compatible pins.
Pneumatics¶
DC motor air pump. A low-power air pump incorporating a DC motor and impeller. The air enters the side port and exits the end port. The ports are compatible with the 3 mm silicone tubing. For more details please see DC Motor Pump Guide.
Costume fan. A low-power air blower for small wearable inflatables. The blower includes a clamp ring so it can be installed in a port in a fabric inflatable to push air into the interior.
Soft PVC plastic tubing with 3/16 inch inner diameter, 5/16 inch outer diameter. This presses over the barbed fittings to connect hand-operatede pumps to pneumatic actuators. The inner diameter can also accept 3mm silicone tubing.
Barbed fitting for 3/16 inch ID tubing to connect to pneumatic actuators. The opposite end has 1/4-28 threads and is intended to be inserted into heat-sealed pneumatic pouch actuator prior to final sealing.
Plastic 1/4-28 nut to match the barbed fitting. These must be assembled onto the fitting prior to final heat-sealing, else they are unreachable.
Silicone tubing, 3 mm inner diameter and 5 mm outer diameter. This soft and flexible tubing connects to the DC motor pumps and is intended for integration into on-body wearables.
Blood pressure cuff bulb for hand-pumping air. Unlike the syringes, these can pump an unlimited volume of air.
These 20 mL syringes are used as pneumatic pumps, either manually controlled or servo-actuated. The tip has a Luer lock which features a removable twist-lock.
This Luer-lock connector twists onto the syringe tip to connect to tubing with 3/16 inch inner diameter. Not shown is the barb end.
Flexible LDPE film, semi-clear white, 0.004 inch thick, suitable for heat-sealing.
Pneumatics Tools¶
Large (16”) heat-sealer (or ‘impulse sealer’) for creating linear welds in thermoplastic. Please note that with appropriate stencils the linear weld can be interrupted to leave flow ports.
Medium (8”) impulse heat sealer for creating linear welds in thermoplastic. Please note that with appropriate stencils the linear weld can be interrupted to leave flow ports.
Handheld soldering iron for creating freeform welds in thermoplastic. Please note that this is an ordinary electronics soldering iron but reserved for use with plastic to avoid tip contamination. Creating airtight welds takes some practice to find the right balance of temperature and speed.
Soft Sensors¶
Velostat is a very low cost, extra-wide conductive sheet for electric field shielding. Carbon impregnated black polyethylene film. 4 mil thick. Volume resistivity is <500 Ohms/cm (which makes this an excellent conductor for a plastic). Conductivity is not affected by humidity or aging. Ground cords can be attached with a simple alligator clip. Can be heat sealed.
Pure Copper Polyester Taffeta Fabric. This copper and polyester blend fabric is lightweight, flexible, and tarnish-resistant because of its finish. Easy to cut and sew like ordinary fabric. For fabric, it has high conductivity and shielding performance.
Stainless steel, 2-ply conductive thread. This conductive thread is thin, strong, smooth, and made completely of 316L stainless steel. It is 2-ply, a little thicker than everyday polyester or cotton thread but still thin enough to be sewn by hand in medium-eye needles or with a sewing machine that can handle ‘heavy’ thread. It also has fairly low resistivity, 16 ohms per foot so it can be used with electronic components that use under ~50mA.
This thread feels a little ‘stiff’ (resembling ‘waxed thread’). Using nail polish can help stabilize and secure the knots from unraveling.
Textile Materials¶
Sew-On Hook & Loop Fasteners Set - 1 Yd. X 5/8”. Use sew on hook and loop fastener sets (hook and loop) are a quick attachment and release item most often sewn into fabric items. Also called velcro.
Cotton Piping Drapery Cord - 3/8”/Size 4 - White. Cotton piping drapery cord is used for both light and heavy-weight fabrics. Also used in seams of seats or cushions (as piping) to strengthen and improve durability.
Braided Elastic - 1/4” - White. Braided elastic is shrink-resistant and features a horizontal pull that stretches lengthwise. It narrows when stretched. It is not recommended that you cut braided elastic horizontally. Braided elastic is both washable and dry cleanable. A light-weight elastic that can be used with or encased by all types of fabrics.
Gutermann Mara 100 is an all-purpose sewing thread for high-quality holding and closing seams.
100% polyester
General purpose thread for medium-weight fabrics
Recommended needle size 10-14
Tex 30 (refers to size of thread
Muslin fabric. Unbleached, mid-weight woven fabric. Muslin fabric is considered the best fabric for mocking up most sewn projects.
100% Cotton
3.2 oz per square yard, 60” wide
Thread count is 68 threads per inch x 68 threads per inch
When washed, this fabric shrinks about 4% in Length and 1% in Width
Machine wash in any temperature water
Structural¶
The Plastic Tension Locks Triglide are useful for quickly rigging webbing straps to attach pieces to the body.
Aluminum armature wire is a soft, ductile wire which is easily bent and holds a shape. It can be used to make freeform stiffening elements for on-body wearables.
Cardboard Materials¶
Single-faced cardboard is sold as a packaging material but we use it for making lightweight wearable structures and mechanisms. It has only one continuous face so the flutes are exposed. We stock ‘B-flute’ which has 1/8 inch flute size.
Cardboard Tools¶
Bone folders are traditional bookbinding tools for creasing paper or cardboard.
Plier staplers can be used to quickly join cardboard.
Cutting rulers can be used to make precision cuts safely in cardboard; the ruler guides a blade and keeps it away from your fingers. Please be sure to put a cutting mat underneath.
An awl is a tool in the form of a sharp steel spike used to poke holes in cardboard or fabric.
Textile Tools¶
Sewing Machine Needles - Size 12 - Regular Point. For use with most consumer-level sewing machines (not for industrial machines. Size 12 is an average size needle that can be used with middle weight fabrics such as muslin. “Regular Point” needles have a sharp tip and are used for woven materials. (“Ball Point” needles have a slightly more rounded tip and are used for knit materials.)
Assorted hand sewing needles and needle threader. This assortment pack comes with 25 steel hand-sewing needles and 1 needle threader in a compact storage case. Includes Betweens, Sharps, Straw/Milliners, Chenille, Tapestry and Crewel. Use the back of the compact to identify the needle size and style. Click here for the Dritz Needle Tutorial (PDF) about different kinds of hand sewing needs.
For cutting fabric and paper by hand. Often people will have one pair of scissors dedicated for fabric and another pair of scissors for all other items.
A seam ripper is used to cut and remove unwanted stitches; such as when one has made a sewing mistake and needs to be removed. Lift threads with the point and cut threads with the blade. Point can also be used to remove threads. Seam ripper measures 2-1/2”.
Grabbit steel sewing pins are easy to grasp and push into fabric. They feature a smooth finish and work great with pin and wrist cushions. 80 per package.