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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

    Lulu Bumblebee

    This connector makes the connection between a piece of 1,5mm diameter sideglow fiber optic and an SMD Neopixel (controllable RGB LED). The four connections from the LED are broken out to rings on a tube which holds the LED on one end and holds the fiber optic from the other end. Thanks to Ben for inspiring this solution!

    Flickr set: https://www.flickr.com/photos/plusea/albums/72157666389852658

    Bumbelbee fiber optic Neopixel connector

    Bumbelbee fiber optic Neopixel connector

    All your base are belong to me...

    All your base are belong to me...

    Video:


    Circuits

    Works all these ways with no jumps!


    Bumblebee circle circuit
    Bumblebee angles circuit


    Step-by-Step

    Bumblebee Connector

    Materials

    Neopixel
    Copper tape
    Hollow plastic tube
    Shrink tube
    Kapton tape
    Solder

    Tools

    De-solder tool
    Cutter knife and mat
    Scissors
    Soldering iron
    Hot air gun
    Tweezers

    0) Desolder Neopixel

    Bumblebee Neopixel to OpticFiber Connector

    1) Solder copper leads

    Bumblebee Neopixel to OpticFiber Connector
    Bumblebee Neopixel to OpticFiber Connector
    Bumblebee Neopixel to OpticFiber Connector
    Bumblebee Neopixel to OpticFiber Connector
    Bumblebee Neopixel to OpticFiber Connector

    2) Stick leads on tube and mark

    Cut tube:

    Bumblebee Neopixel to OpticFiber Connector
    Bumblebee Neopixel to OpticFiber Connector
    Bumblebee Neopixel to OpticFiber Connector

    3) Shrink tube

    Bumblebee Neopixel to OpticFiber Connector
    Bumblebee Neopixel to OpticFiber Connector
    Bumblebee Neopixel to OpticFiber Connector

    4) Fold back copper and make rings

    Bumblebee Neopixel to OpticFiber Connector

    5) Isolate with Kapton tape

    Bumblebee Neopixel to OpticFiber Connector

    6) REPEAT 4 & 5 until done

    Bumblebee Neopixel to OpticFiber Connector
    Bumblebee Neopixel to OpticFiber Connector

    7) Solder the connections between the copper tape leads and rings

    Bumblebee Neopixel to OpticFiber Connector

    8) Test!

    Bumbelbee fiber optic Neopixel connector


    Ideas…

    … for a removable connection…
    Prototyping neopixel breakouts to seam circuitry
    Prototyping neopixel breakouts to seam circuitry
    Prototyping neopixel breakouts to seam circuitry


    Development

    Sketch:
    Bumbelbee fiber optic Neopixel connector

    Examples of other prototypes:
    All your base are belong to me...



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