A menu item on the Brother ScanNCut is seam allowance. This setting creates a margin around the image being cut. This measurement is of particular importance when designing and cutting conductive fabrics.     As you can see in the below image the pen draws the item to be cut as well as the margin around the item cut. […]

  The Brother ScanNCut mats have an adhesive application already applied to the surface allowing fabrics and papers to be securely held in place while using the machine.   Although the adhesive is low tack it attracts every loose fiber and hair to its surface making it difficult to have a clean cut without causing woven fabrics to fray and […]

  In hopes of resolving the low tack mat adhesive holding the conductive fabric in place while cutting a speaker coil we tried the High Tack Adhesive Support Sheet included with the kit.   This product did hold the conductive fabric in place during cutting of a basic rectangular shape, but the fabric trace needed for the circuit was very […]

  While at PIF Camp in Trenta Slovenia we tested the Brother ScanNCut with Statex conductive fabric to make eTextile speakers.   Denis began the project by drawing samples of the coils on his computer. Next we fused an iron on adhesive, Pellon Heat Bond, to one side of the conductive fabric.     Scanning the coil samples into the […]

  Finalizing settings on the Brother ScanNCut to work with conductive fabrics from Statex. While at PIF Camp I hope to have the hackers cutting electronic circuits from the conductive fabric to make soft PCBs.    

  A quick visit to LessEMF to pick up some conductive paint and oooooogle the conductive fabrics.       Cu-Pro paint   Visit LessEMF for all product details        

  Preparing for a workshop takes double the time to teach the workshop.   SHopping for the supplies.   Programing microcontrollers, packaging the tiny electronic parts, and then fitting everything into a suitcase.   Its all behind the scene, but without rigorous preparation the workshop will suffer.

  I’ve been thinking the eTextile Lounge deserves a new photo, but I love this one so much!    

Video from Hannah Perner-Wilson on Philips eTextile Life Cycle Design shows how the user can rip out the electronic guts of the fused fabric allowing the user to recycle the electronics and fabric separately. more on recycling eTextile waste in my 11 June 2013 post