3rd Ward Electronic Pop-Ups workshop

Workshops No comments

This workshop was taught in collaboration with artist Colette Fu at the 3rd Ward workspace and education center in Brooklyn, New York. We covered basic pop-up mechanisms, LEDs and switches.

workshop page: Electronic Pop-ups workshop

Photos: Electronic Pop-ups workshop

Materials:

paper battery holder template
coin cell batteries (thin CR2017 and thick CR2032)
surface mount LEDs ( red | yellow | green | blue | white )
copper tape
clear tape (preferred over matte Scotch tape, since clear tapes let more light through)

Tools:

scissors (for cutting paper and copper tape)
glue stick

SMA project: Blooming flower

Project Gallery One comment - Tags: Jessie Thompson, SMA, Workshop week 4

This flower was made by using the curling mechanism (sewing flexinol wire to paper). Its petals curl back when the flexinol is heated, allowing the flower to bloom when it is activated.

The following video is a test of a single petal:

It was made with 0.006″ HT flexinol, which requires about 0.400A of current to run properly. This video shows the drop in resistance of the wire as it heats up, which results in the shape change becoming faster as the wire heats up and more current is able to run through the wire.

Made by Jessie Thompson as part of the MIT/RISD paper-based electronics workshop.

SMA project: ticklish plant

Project Gallery No comments - Tags: SMA, Workshop week 4, Zach Berta

This “ticklish plant” (mimosa pudica) was made using paper and flexinol wire hooked up to the leaves. When the wire contracts, it pulls the leaves close together, very much like the actual plant.

Made by Zach Berta as part of the MIT/RISD paper-based electronics workshop.

SMA mechanism: curling strip

Project Gallery No comments - Tags: Jenny Broutin, SMA, Workshop week 4

In this mechanism the end of a paper strip curls when the flexinol pulls on it. Though there is flexinol running along the entire strip, only the end curls because that is the “weakest” point of the paper, so all of the force is concentrated there.

Made by Jenny Broutin as part of the MIT/RISD paper-based electronics workshop.

SMA mechanism: flapping wings

Project Gallery No comments - Tags: Alicia Goodwin, SMA, Workshop week 4

This mechanism uses flexinol to pull on two corners of a folded piece, so that the side flaps bend closer together when the corners are pulled close, resulting in a flapping motion.

Made by Alicia Goodwin as part of the MIT/RISD paper-based electronics workshop.

SMA mechanism: double curling

Project Gallery No comments - Tags: Shaun Salzberg, SMA, Workshop week 4

This mechanism uses two curling pieces moving opposite each other to create a claw-like motion. The curling strip is made by sewing flexinol wire to the paper strip and then attaching the center of the strip to the base piece of paper. When the wire heats up (from current running through), it contracts causing the paper to curl.

Made by Shaun Salzberg as part of the MIT/RISD paper-based electronics workshop.

SMA mechanism: freeform

Project Gallery No comments - Tags: Elias Ajaga, SMA, Workshop week 4

This example uses free-floating flexinol wire (not attached to anything). When the wire is heated up, it twists. The tape around the wire prevents the wire from accidentally twisting back on itself and shorting.

Made by Elias Ajaga as part of the paper-based electronics workshop at RISD.