A Study: Book Light
2018-Mar-19, Monday 03:05 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
chebeI wanted to try out a few techniques on a smaller scale;
1. feasibility of the neopixel circuit layout,
2. using conductive thread as traces,
3. light transmission through different fabrics.
And so I ended up with the slightly silly light-up bujo cover/ portable night light.
Sketch out the circuit layout. This is to fit into an A5 page. Cut out the necessary fabric pieces, and transfer the layout to the fabric.
I'm using a conductive ripstop nylon, non-stretch, fabric. I cut it into strips (with a rotary cutter) 1cm wide. I stitched them in place with a twin-needle, on the back of the fabric. These are the positive and negative traces.
Now place the Gemma and neopixels, and stitch them in with conductive thread for the data line, and to attach through the fabric to the positive and negative traces.
After trying a few different fabrics I settled on multiple layers of organza. Stitch them in place over the neopixels. The circuit needs an upper protective layer, so cut an extra piece of fabric, and add button-hole access points over the Gemma, and on the spine for the battery. Also add a little pocket on the inside to hold the battery.
Treating these two layers as one upper layer, sew up bujo cover, as previously described. Put in the battery and turn the circuit on.
Much more impressive in a dark room. Coded using FastLED library, OceanColors_p palette, taken from this tutorial.
Conclusions;
1. The circuit layout does work well. But, there is still a looseness to the attachment points (on the boards) that could be improved.
2. I didn't treat the edges of the conductive fabric, and although it frayed very little it did still fray. Treating the edges of the strips would help. I don't think using the conductive fabric over conductive thread was any faster, but it was less fiddly.
3. Diffusion of the neopixels is best achieved through distance from the LEDs and the covering fabric, so designs enforcing this distance would be better.
1. feasibility of the neopixel circuit layout,
2. using conductive thread as traces,
3. light transmission through different fabrics.
And so I ended up with the slightly silly light-up bujo cover/ portable night light.
Sketch out the circuit layout. This is to fit into an A5 page. Cut out the necessary fabric pieces, and transfer the layout to the fabric.
Sketch circuit layout, transfer onto fabric
Photo by chebe
I'm using a conductive ripstop nylon, non-stretch, fabric. I cut it into strips (with a rotary cutter) 1cm wide. I stitched them in place with a twin-needle, on the back of the fabric. These are the positive and negative traces.
Stitch conductive thread traces on back
Photo by chebe
How the front looks after stitching on conductive fabric traces
Photo by chebe
Now place the Gemma and neopixels, and stitch them in with conductive thread for the data line, and to attach through the fabric to the positive and negative traces.
Place Gemma and Neopixels, and stitch in with conductive thread
Photo by chebe
After trying a few different fabrics I settled on multiple layers of organza. Stitch them in place over the neopixels. The circuit needs an upper protective layer, so cut an extra piece of fabric, and add button-hole access points over the Gemma, and on the spine for the battery. Also add a little pocket on the inside to hold the battery.
Diffuse Neopixels with organza, create top layer with access points
Photo by chebe
Treating these two layers as one upper layer, sew up bujo cover, as previously described. Put in the battery and turn the circuit on.
Cover, front, all sewn up
Photo by chebe
Cover, back and spine, all sewn up
Photo by chebe
Much more impressive in a dark room. Coded using FastLED library, OceanColors_p palette, taken from this tutorial.
Cover, front, in dark room
Photo by chebe
Conclusions;
1. The circuit layout does work well. But, there is still a looseness to the attachment points (on the boards) that could be improved.
2. I didn't treat the edges of the conductive fabric, and although it frayed very little it did still fray. Treating the edges of the strips would help. I don't think using the conductive fabric over conductive thread was any faster, but it was less fiddly.
3. Diffusion of the neopixels is best achieved through distance from the LEDs and the covering fabric, so designs enforcing this distance would be better.
