Lulu is a hardware solution that interfaces between an LED light source, an optic fiber strand or bundle, and sewable soft circuit connections.

Lulu is providing a simple, reliable toolset for people who want to use side glow optical fibers in their eTextile and wearable projects. Use of light in textile and fashion design is becoming more and more common and many schools started to teach this subject as a part of their textile design curriculum. Optic fibers could be embedded in textiles as embroidery, in weaving, knitting and knotting process and many textile designs have been realized in recent years.

This is the first version of the Lulu Daisy Bumblebee_18.01!

LINKS:
Github >> https://github.com/eTextile/Lulu
Documentation >> http://www.kobakant.at/KOBA/category/lulu/
Photos >> https://www.flickr.com/photos/plusea/sets/72157691569545895

PCB Manufacturing

Ordered from Elecrow:
>> http://elecrow.com/

Gerbers:
>> https://github.com/eTextile/Lulu/tree/Lulu-daisy

ORDER DETAILS:
– copper layers: 2
– PCB thickness: 3mm
– solder mask: matte black (on both sides)
– silkscreen: none
– surface finish: HASL lead free
– Castellated Hole：No
– Copper Weight：1oz
– PCB Stencil：NO

Bill of Materials (BOM)

– 3mm thick PCB manufactured by Elecrow:
>> https://www.elecrow.com/pcb-manufacturing.html
KiCAD and Gerber files >> https://github.com/eTextile/Lulu/tree/Lulu-daisy/Hardware/kicad_Lulu_daisy/Lulu_daisy_bumblebee_18.01

– WS2812B MINI Neopixel addressable RGB LEDs
datasheet >> http://www.normandled.com/upload/201607/WS2812B%20Mini%203535%20LED%20Datasheet.pdf
>> https://www.led-stuebchen.de/de/smd-leds/10x-ws2812b-5050-rgb-led-integriertem-ws2811-led-treiber-ic6
>> https://www.ebay.de/itm/WS2812B-MINI-3535-RGB-LED-mit-integri
ertem-WS2811-LED-Treiber-IC/173140850411?hash=item284fffb6eb:m:m4evCf5P4NKZRo7GbEJvUgA

– 1uF 0603 capacitor mounted between VCC and GND (optional)
>> http://www.segor.de/#Q=1u0-0603-X5R%252F25V&M=1

– 2mm diameter sideglow optic-fiber
>> https://www.leds-and-more.de/catalog/20mm-lwl-lichtwellenleiter-lichtleiter-seitlich-leuchtend-p-1940.html?osCsid=2me5dl4q5amcvgb6tnbqfd87i5

– end-glow optic-fiber + ABRAISON!
http://wiki.datapaulette.org/doku.php/atelier/documentation/materiautheque/materiaux/electronique_textile/actionneurs_textiles/fibres_optiques#la_connectique
0.25mm diameter/12000m/roll PMMA fiber optic cable end glow for decoration lighting
>> https://www.aliexpress.com/item/0-25mm-diameter-12000m-roll-PMMA-fiber-optic-cable-end-glow-for-decoration-lighting/1923995977.html?spm=a2g0w.10010108.1000001.8.563c2ee3wVFURz

– 3.2mm diameter shrink-tube with hot-melt adhesive

– Karl-Grimm copper or silver plated copper conductive thread
>> http://karl-grimm.de/

Pin-out

Datasheet

Code Examples

There are two nice Neopixel (WS2812) libraries for Arduino and you can install both via the Arduino library manager:
Adafruit’s Neopixel library >> https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-neopixel-uberguide/arduino-library-installation
FastLED library >> http://fastled.io/

Assembly Instructions

Before sewing the circuit connections, shrink-tube the Lulu to the end of your
optic-fiber:

How to chain multiple Lulus:

Sample Swatches

Single Lulu:

Two Lulus:

Early Sketches

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