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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Here is an example of using SMA wire both to make paper curl and to change the color of liquid crystal paint. This example also squeaks as it moves.

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

Flexinol wire mechanism made by actuating two creases, causing the paper to fold twice for more dramatic movement.

Made by Ryan Mather as part of the paper-based electronics workshop at RISD.

Testing flexinol wire by sewing it through a strip of paper. Paper curls up when wire contracts.

Made by Connor Lynch as part of the paper-based electronics workshop at RISD.