Kyle Shoesmith – 3177832

Independent

Analog Sensor

For my swatch, I decided to expand upon the analog sensor that I created and create a hat that activated based off of pressure. Originally, I wanted to create a propeller hat that activated through a sensor. However, I ended up not being able to get a hold of the materials that I would have needed to not only make it, but to also create it compactly (Adafruit, Conductive Thread, Conductive Fabric, DC Motor). I then decided to account for that by using a hat that was much larger in size so I could store all of the larger components within them: a Santa hat! This hat is able to light up like a Christmas tree whenever you press the sensor on the forehead.

I first attempted to recreate the sensor from before, albeit more compact in order to fit in the hat better.

I then attached the LED bulbs I had to the top of the hat and used copper wire and M/F wires to connect them all. NOTE: Apparently, my copper wire from before wasn’t working because it had a plastic coating on it that I never noticed, so I used sandpaper to shave off the layers on the edges.

I then went and sewed the Arduino Uno into the hat and accounted the length of the hat by adding wire extenders.

Afterwards, I sewed the patch onto the front of the hat and connected the wires and resistors with alligator clips and copper wire.

What’s nice about the hat is that due to its surface, you aren’t able to see the thread appear on the front, so it looks like a completely normal hat at face value.

Afterwards I quickly wrote the code up and Voila! I’m generally happy with the design of the hat and the fact that I was able to make it with the limited supplies at my disposal. I can’t wait to get a hold of better supplies in the future so that I can explore more in the future.

Materials used:

• Arduino Uno
• M/M and M/F wires
• Copper wire
• Santa Hat
• LED Bulbs
• Velostat
• Felt
• Thread
• Jumper Wire
• Resistors
• 

https://ocadu.techsmithrelay.com/DBFn?collection=g009600GJdwGIfjuZRwSDcClyJRZv

https://pastebin.com/pLNLtGQx

• Swatch Name: DC Motor
• Feature Image (set this in the righthand column)
• Group number and names of all Team Members: Group 9, Marquessa, Aimee, Emily, Michael
• Swatch Type: Actuator
• Description: For my swatch, I decided to make a DC Motor that is almost entirely 3D Printed.  The motor was made by wrapping magnet wire around a motor core and placing it in a housing.  I did have some issues with the final product that will be addressed in the final foot notes.
• Materials: PLA, 20 Gauge Magnet Wire, Slices of Aluminum Can, Rare earth magnet
• Tools & Techniques: 3D Printer, Fusion 360(3D modeling software), soldering iron and wrapping magnet wire
• 3-5 other images or animated gifs that could include:
  • Link to the motor core being used as a magnet
  • 
  • 
• 1 minute (or less) video that shows the Swatch in use: https://ocadu.techsmithrelay.com/jyPc
• References/Inspiration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0p2QTE26VOA
• Additional Notes: When making the motor, I went through 3 different motor core designs before settling on the one that I used for the final model.  The core of the motor works perfectly and can be used as an electromagnet as is shown in the video posted.  However, I did have issues with finding a material that was able to provide power to the core and keep it rotating in the housing.  I tried various materials such as steel wool, aluminum cans, string with tinfoil wrapped around it and pulled tight along the length of the bottom of the core, but I couldn’t find one that would actually work properly.  I believe that if I had some kind of springy steel that would press into the motor core where it is fed power hard enough to keep the motor core in place and the power continuously flowing, but not hard enough to stop the rotation, then that would be ideal, but I could not find any such material in my home or at stores I went to.  Overall, I did have a lot of fun with this project and am going to keep at it in my free time because I think that it would be very cool to get it working properly!

GROUP 10: Alfonso, Kanav, Iris, Neetu

Introduction to Swatch

Swatch Type

Digital Switch

description

This sad looking Frankenstein cat was meant to be a slightly scarier version of a pin cushion. Since starting this section of Atelier I have re-found my passion for sewing. Because I enjoy more absurd things, I wanted to create sort of a Frankenstein cat in which pins of electricity give it life. Depending on where you would strike a needle through the cat one of its three eyes would light up. Not only would it be an adorable addition to my sewing kit, but it could have also been a fun game of Russian roulette the first time around, before memorising the positions. It is a mix media piece that was inspired by two separate projects I have attempted throughout my trials within this medium.

Creating the Swatch

materials

• Felting wool
• Two different thicknesses of string
• Felt (black and yellow)
• Stuffing
• Conductive thread
• Conductive fabric
• Thin steel wire
• 3 coloured LEDs
• 9V Block battery

outline of circuit

As you put a needle through one of the CPs onto the Felt layer the circuit of the specific LED will connect to the ground thus turning on that specific LED.

creating swatch

Here you can see a couple of the steps outlined before the final product.

1. First the plush base must be made where a sphere is made and stuffed. On top of this sphere the rest of the swatch will be built.
2. After completing the sphere the conductive fabric should be sewn on it. Remember to leave a slab of fabric hanging since this will be connected to the “ground” of the LEDs
3. Cover up the conductive fabric with felt in order to make sure the next bits of conductive fabric will not directly connect to it.
4. Using a felting needle create a small sphere which will serve as the head of the cat and a good place to stab the LEDs in.
   1. IMPORTANT!!! I made a mistake here, a better strategy to approach this would be connecting the head to the ground of the LEDs so, I recommend having the centre of the head filled with conductive material that goes through the body to the ground. This will not only stabilise the body but it will also not tangle the wires or result in unwanted overlaps.
5. Proceed to connect individual legs of the LEDs to different patches of conductive tape as shown in the picture. Do this with conductive thread. Leave dangling bits at the bottom in order for it to be easier to connect them to a battery.
6. After completing these and setting the + and – sides of the LEDs focus on customising your Frankenstein cat or dubious creature and enjoy a little voodoo creature you can poke and trigger.

video

https://ocadu.techsmithrelay.com/DBPv

Additional Information

references

1. Voodoo sensor 
2. Needle felted sensor

further notes

Unfortunately as it can be seen in the video, the sensor did not work as well as I would have hoped. I had received materials like conductive thread very late and rushed my wiring in order to complete this sensor by today. Unfortunately my initial design technique and approach were not efficient so, likely, a lot of my LED wires got tangled and resulted in them not even turning on. Only one LED remained powerful enough to shine through thankfully allowing me tho demonstrate the potential of this sensor.

Overall I am proud of my creation, I think it turned out good at least design wise having both the obscurity as well as the cuteness desired. I would have really liked to have been able to fix my circuit. I had tested it prior to adding the LED and I was certain it will work until I reached the head. In the future, in order to fix this error, I will make the centre of the head a grounded piece and make sure I connect the base for all LEDs prior to connecting them individually. In addition I will also have a thicker layer in between the ground conductive piece and the separate ones on top. This will provide the space I need to comfortably stitch conductive thread without fearing that it will touch the lower layer. While there were many errors in my design this offered me the opportunity to understand how I can incorporate a  small battery in my creation and also understand better how to take advantage of my materials.

Unfortunately now it is merely a regular yet eccentric pin cushion, I hope I will be able to create this piece again and potentially add an additional pressure sensor to it that would make some sound or keep track of the needles added.