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    Content by Mika Satomi and Hannah Perner-Wilson
    E-Textile Tailor Shop by KOBAKANT
    The following institutions have funded our research and supported our work:

    Since 2020, Hannah is guest professor of the Spiel&&Objekt Master's program at the University of Performing Arts Ernst Busch in Berlin

    From 2013-2015 Mika was a guest professor at the eLab at Kunsthochschule Berlin-Weissensee

    From July - December 2013 Hannah was a researcher at the UdK's Design Research Lab

    From 2010-2012 Mika was a guest researcher in the Smart Textiles Design Lab at The Swedish School of Textiles

    From 2009 - 2011 Hannah was a graduate student in the MIT Media Lab's High-Low Tech research group led by Leah Buechley


    In 2009 Hannah and Mika were both research fellows at the Distance Lab


    Between 2003 - 2009 Hannah and Mika were both students at Interface Cultures
    We support the Open Source Hardware movement. All our own designs published on this website are released under the Free Cultural Works definition
    Actuators

    Flapping Wing Swatch Example

    This swatch demonstrates how the combination of an electromagnetic coil and a permanent magnet can be used to create a “flapping” movement……..


    Materials and Tools

    Materials: cotton fabric, silk fabric, cotton thread, neodymium magnet (1cm diameter, 2mm high, axially magnetized), enameled copper wire (0.01mm diameter), copper tape, solder

    Tools: sewing needle, pinking shears, scissors, soldering iron, tweezers, cutter knife, 7mm diameter shaft (end of pen or round tool)

    Electromagnetic Flapping

    Circuit Diagram

    Electromagnetic Wing Flap schematic

    Electromagnetic Wing Flap diagram

    Step-by-Step Instructions

    Cut your base fabric square. Roughly 12 x 12 cm.
    Electromagnetic FlappingElectromagnetic Flapping

    Cut your wing flap shape. Roughly 5 x 8 cm.
    Electromagnetic FlappingElectromagnetic Flapping

    Mark and cut out a roughly 5mm diameter hole.
    Electromagnetic FlappingElectromagnetic Flapping

    Wrap a coil with about 80 turns around a roughly 7mm diameter shaft. And carefully remove it.
    Electromagnetic FlappingElectromagnetic Flapping

    Sew on coil
    Electromagnetic FlappingElectromagnetic Flapping

    Sew your wing to your base fabric.
    Electromagnetic FlappingElectromagnetic Flapping

    Sew a pouch and insert magnet
    Electromagnetic FlappingElectromagnetic Flapping

    Cut out and stick two copper tape tabs to the base fabric. Cut the ends of your coil so that they reach these copper pads.
    Electromagnetic FlappingElectromagnetic Flapping

    Use a cutter knife to carefully scrape off the insulation from the enameled copper wire. Make sure to tin the wire first before soldering it to the copper tape.
    Electromagnetic FlappingElectromagnetic Flapping
    Electromagnetic Flapping

    Finally. Use a multimeter to measure if your solder connections are good as well as that there are no breaks in your coil wire. There should be continuity between both contacts.
    Electromagnetic Flapping

    Actuate your electromagnetic wing flap by applying power to the copper tape tabs. Depending on the direction of your coil, and the orientation of the permanent magnet, applying plus and minus to either end of the coil will cause it to repell or attract itself.
    Electromagnetic FlappingElectromagnetic Flapping


    Photos on Flickr



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