PROCESS
The journey started with the idea to create a fashionable yet technological dress that would inspire other women to create their own unique pieces while also learning about the technology behind it. After researching, Alicia and Jerika decided to challenge themselves by learning how to use and manipulate flexinol. They were inspired by MIT's High-Low Tech Group, which has created multiple projects using the muscle memory alloy.
They chose to build a flower design that would incorporate the embedded flexinol, which would allow the petals to rise and fall when voltage was applied. The goal was to allow a user to shine a light on the flower, which would come to life by actuating a light sensor that would send voltage to the flexinol.
They chose to build a flower design that would incorporate the embedded flexinol, which would allow the petals to rise and fall when voltage was applied. The goal was to allow a user to shine a light on the flower, which would come to life by actuating a light sensor that would send voltage to the flexinol.
In order to assemble the petals, Alicia and Jerika soldered around 32 pieces of 1-1.5" cut flexinol to conductive beads. In order to do so efficiently, they both had to divide the work and use wire cutters to clamp or flatten the conductive beads to the ends of the flexinol. The next step involved soldering the conductive beads to miniature square pieces of copper tape.
After soldering their next task was to laser cut the petals. This was a suggestion made by their professor, David Tinapple, in order to quickly cut the petals with a clean, cauterized finish. Test petals were also cut in order to visualize the flexinol connected to fabric. Alicia handled the sewing of the flexinol into the laser cut fabric.
Throughout the process, Alicia and Jerika struggled with burning out the flexinol wire too soon. They found through multiple iterations that 5 Volts were not enough for their intended effect and 9 Volts was burning the wire too soon. They thought that by connecting the flexinol in a daisy chain pattern, they could spread the voltage enough to prevent burn-out. They did manage to make the flexinol react in accordance with a photocell sensor (refer to documentation page for video).
After soldering their next task was to laser cut the petals. This was a suggestion made by their professor, David Tinapple, in order to quickly cut the petals with a clean, cauterized finish. Test petals were also cut in order to visualize the flexinol connected to fabric. Alicia handled the sewing of the flexinol into the laser cut fabric.
Throughout the process, Alicia and Jerika struggled with burning out the flexinol wire too soon. They found through multiple iterations that 5 Volts were not enough for their intended effect and 9 Volts was burning the wire too soon. They thought that by connecting the flexinol in a daisy chain pattern, they could spread the voltage enough to prevent burn-out. They did manage to make the flexinol react in accordance with a photocell sensor (refer to documentation page for video).
Although Alicia and Jerika did not manage to finish the dress, they did manage to create a flower pin that achieves their end goal. The flexinol's reaction is slight, however; it does manage to bring the petal to life. Please take a look at the Documentation page to get a better feel of Alicia and Jerika's journey through their Capstone project. A lot of work went into the project and although the dress may not be complete, the large portions and idea are definitely well-thought out and present. The only future steps would be to assemble the flower pin to the dress and apply the correct amount of voltage to prevent burn out while also creating our intended effect.