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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

    Shape Memory Alloy connection

    It is tricky to make a good connection as it does not really stick to solder. Yes, if you are patient, you can drop a lot of solder on copper tape (or other type of copper surface) and dip the edge of the SMA to connect. But, it is tricky.

    Another way is to crimp a small metal bead. You can crimp it together with small wire, or solder wire on the crimp bead (if it is made of material that stick to solder), or you can make a loop to further sew with conductive thread.


    Here is the instruction came with the Flexinol (SMA).

    The package also contained some small metal crimp (the thin small one on the left). You can also buy a small crimp beads, which is usually sold for jewelry making.

    Setp 1: Let the crimp bead go through the SMA

    Setp 2: Turn the edge around and let it go through the bead. This is a bit finicky. When the edge goes through the bead, crimp the bead with pliers. Make sure to apply enough pressure to fix the wire.

    Step 3: Repeat the same process to the other side, and it is ready to be connected.

    Step 4: Fix the loop with conductive thread like sewing button holes. Make sure the connection between SMA and thread is tight and firm. A lot of current will go through the tread, so make sure to use good conductor thread. I used Karl Grim copper thread here.



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