New manufacturers and distributors are always popping up and disappearing again. In this post we try to list some of our most used e-textile materials and where we purchase. Since we are based in Berlin/Germany we try to order as much as possible from local manufacturers and distributors/redistributors. We even started a list of super local electronics shop that stock some of these items, see here: http://www.kobakant.at/DIY/?page_id=3205
General online shopping info:
In the USA I think the main producers/distributors these days are still:
LessEMF: http://lessemf.com/
Sparkfun: https://www.sparkfun.com
Adafruit: http://www.adafruit.com/
Digitkey: http://digikey.com/
Seeedstudio invent and manufacture in China and ship worldwide:
>> https://www.seeedstudio.com/
In Europe you can search for Sparkfun distributors here:
>> https://www.sparkfun.com/distributors
Germany & Austria
http://segor.de (local shop in Berlin!)
>> http://conrad.at and http://conrad.de (local shops all over Europe!)
>> https://www.exp-tech.de
>> http://www.watterott.com
>> https://physicalcomputing.at
>> http://amazon.de
Basic E-Textile Materials
The following are a selection of materials for getting started in e-textiles. Depending on what you are ordering and where you are ordering to, check to see if you can get everything at one supplier to save on shipping. Bellow I have listed some specific links, but you will likely also find them at the other places.
Conductive Threads
Karl-Grimm copper thread with synthetic core (also comes silver plated)
thicker: 4355 7×1 fach verseilt
thinner: 3981 7×1 fach verseilt
>> http://karl-grimm.de/
Stainless steel thread – this thread is not nice to work with! We do NOT recommend buying it:
https://www.exp-tech.de/en/accessories/other/7419/conductive-thread-60g-stainless-steel
Conductive Fabrics
Non-stretch conductive fabrics:
>> https://www.exp-tech.de/en/accessories/other/7034/woven-conductive-fabric-silver-20cm-square
>> https://www.exp-tech.de/en/accessories/other/7034/woven-conductive-fabric-silver-20cm-square
or directly from manufacturer: http://statex.de/
Stretch conductive fabric:
>> https://www.exp-tech.de/en/accessories/other/7799/knit-conductive-fabric-silver-20cm-square
or directly from manufacturer: http://statex.de/
Sensing fabric:
>> https://www.exp-tech.de/en/accessories/other/8264/eeontex-pressure-sensing-fabric
Manufacturer: http://eeonyx.com/
Microcontrollers
Sewable Arduino Flora:
>> https://www.exp-tech.de/en/platforms/arduino/4665/adafruit-flora-wearable-electronic-platform-arduino-compatible
Sewable Arduino LilyPad:
>> https://www.exp-tech.de/en/platforms/arduino/5223/lilypad-arduino-usb-atmega32u4-board
ATtiny microcontroller (ATTINY85-20PU)
https://at.rs-online.com/web/p/mikrocontroller/1331672/
ATtiny programmer
>> https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11801
Or: use Arduino as IPS programmer!
>> http://www.kobakant.at/DIY/?p=3742
ATtiny Breadboard Programming Piggyback Extension: http://www.kobakant.at/DIY/?p=6556
ATtiny: Programming: http://www.kobakant.at/DIY/?p=3996
LEDS
Bare LEDs:
for package sizes see: http://dangerousprototypes.com/wp-content/media/2012/01/smt22.jpg
recommended for beginner hand-soldering: 1206 or larger
https://www.conrad.at/de/Search.html?searchType=CAMPAIGN&search=smd%20led&category=%1Ft12%1Fc14738%1Fc17640%1F0212266
https://www.exp-tech.de/en/accessories/led-lights/7665/smd-led-white-1206-strip-of-25
https://www.conrad.at/de/smd-led-plcc2-weiss-900-mcd-120-20-ma-35-v-everlight-opto-67-21uwcs400-x9tr8-156321.html
https://www.conrad.at/de/smd-led-1206-weiss-72-mcd-130-20-ma-315-v-everlight-opto-15-21w1d-apqhy2t-156313.html
Sewable SMD LEDs
https://www.exp-tech.de/en/accessories/led-lights/7947/adafruit-led-sequins-multicolor-pack-of-5
LilyPad sewable inputs and outputs
https://www.exp-tech.de/en/platforms/arduino/4709/protosnap-lilypad-development-board
Fiber Optics:
https://www.conrad.de/de/Search.html?search=lichtwellenleiter&searchType=CAMPAIGN&category=%1Ft10%1Fc90694%1F2510440
https://www.leds-and-more.de/catalog/15mm-lwl-lichtwellenleiter-lichtleiter-seitlich-leuchtend-p-1937.html?osCsid=2me5dl4q5amcvgb6tnbqfd87i5#
Sewable Breakout Protoboards (can also be made from regular protoboard!)
https://www.sparkfun.com/products/9102
http://tinkersphere.com/sewable-electronic-parts/1514-sewable-protoboard-for-lilypad.html
USB flat credit-card size powerbank
https://www.amazon.de
https://www.conrad.de
Metal Snap Fasteners (Druckknöpfe)
local textile shop
Thermoplast
https://www.modulor.de/en/modulor-thermoplastic-modelling-pellets.html
https://www.amazon.de
Fusible Interfacing
local textile shop
https://www.amazon.de/Heatn-Bond-Ultra-Iron-Adhesive-17/dp/B000Y0083K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1511168222&sr=8-1&keywords=heatn%27bond
Good Lighting for soldering and sewing!
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