https://spectrum.ieee.org/origami-circuit-boards
"What could you do if you could make a circuit trace by just bending a piece of
paper? How about bridging modern technologies and traditional handicrafts while
providing opportunities for learning skills in both.
As part of our interdisciplinary research into digital craftsmanship at the MEI
Lab at the School of Creative Media, City University of Hong Kong, we came
across research that demonstrated how to impregnate paperlike material
(technically a “nonwoven textile”) with the kind of liquid metal used to make
conductive ink. Initially, the impregnated material is nonconductive because an
insulating oxide layer forms that encapsulates microscopic droplets of the
liquid metal. However, applying pressure via shaped molds will crack open the
insulating layer, allowing neighboring particles to merge, and thus creating
conducting regions in the shape of the mold.
Both of us were introduced as children to origami and kirigami (similar to
origami, except that cutting is allowed in addition to folding). We, along with
our colleagues, decided to see if those traditional techniques could be used on
the new material to eliminate the need for molds. Our goal was to allow
crafters to make hybrid papercraft creations that contained easily integrated
elements such as LEDs and motors."
Via Esther Schindler.
Share and enjoy,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
