We’ve been working on the Lulu (a design solution to connecting e-textiles, LEDs and optic-fibers) for some time now, and spent a lot of time looking at how we can mount LEDs at a right angle on PCBs and couple the LED with the end of the optic-fiber, but what we have not spent much time on yet is to explore the optic-fiber as a material in itself.

This post is a documentation of explorations with Side-glow optic-fiber.

I’ve organized this post by:
– Information about the material – it’s origin (manufacturer, crude materials…), it’s maintenance (UV sensitivity, humidity, temperature…) and end-of-life (re-use, upcycling, recycling, disposal…).
– Experiments 1: series of experiments with the material – manipulating it, taking it apart….
– Experiments 2: combining it with other materials and techniques

Side-glow optic-fiber

1.5, 2, 3 mm diameter
>> https://www.leds-and-more.de/catalog/20mm-lwl-lichtwellenleiter-lichtleiter-seitlich-leuchtend-p-1940.html?osCsid=2me5dl4q5amcvgb6tnbqfd87i5
>> https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Super-Brightness-Side-Glow-PMMA-1mm-Optical-Flow-Fiber/32782703449.html

Experiments 1

Experiments 2

other optic fibers to explore:
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