Breadbaord Pincushion

This breadboard doubles as a pincushion, or vice-versa. The pincushion design has strips of conductive fabric adhered to its surface, so that metal pins or component contacts that protrude through the same piece of conductive fabric are electrically connected. This cushion can be used for prototyping electrical circuits as well as for storing pins, needles and components.

Make your own >> http://www.etsy.com/listing/81731914/breadboard-pincushion-kit

Video: http://www.flickr.com/photos/plusea/6106904173/in/photostream

Hard vs. Soft video

Step 1: Materials and Tools

- scissors
- some regular fabric
- conductive fabric (i recommend stretch conductive fabric from LessEMF because it is soft so that the pins can penerate it nice and easily)
- fusible interfacing (fabric heat glue)
- iron
- regular thread
- stuffing
- sewing needle
- some pins and electrical components

Comments

[JesusGeek]

@synthdust
I believe that is an ATTINY, probably ATTINY45 or ATTINY85.

[synthdust]

so cool.

[synthdust]

Just curios what IC you are using there...555?

[person%]

professional

[AngelInTheNight]

Okay one more question (sorry!) Where did you get the conductive fabric?

[Plusea]

from LessEMF (http://lessemf.com/fabric.html), as listed in the materials section.

[AngelInTheNight]

Oh I feel like a blond. Thanks for answering :)

[AngelInTheNight]

If you added a battery to that would it actually work like a real breadboard?

[Plusea]

it is a real breadboard (only in fabric), so if you build a circuit on it then it would work just the same. you prompted me to make the following photo:-)

>> http://www.flickr.com/photos/plusea/6099780841/in/photostream

[AngelInTheNight]

Thanks for the picture! Now I can say this is epic and inspiring! I must get my hands on some conductive fabric and thread.

[projectsugru]

this is AWESOME !!!! very clever and cool, I love it, well done.

[frank26080115]

Do you know what will be a great use for this? Have two pads on one cushion, and connect to a multimeter or LCR meter. Now you can just plug in a component into the cushion to find its value.

[Kasm279]

Only problem is that conductive fabric tends to have more resistance in it than wires.

[hcaz-301]

That would be great :P

[dulciquilt]

some soldering tips are shaped like irons, but may get too hot for fabric. They make tiny irons like in the photo for quilters and they can be found in the quilting section of most fabric stores. Clover is the main brand you will see. They have different ones and some have several interchangeable tips.

[anezch]

Hey, that's interesting. I've never known there are such soldering tip that can be used like an iron :)

[nicolasvanpassel]

Very smart!

[musick_08]

great instructable!

you could make a large model of this with a pillow

[tireswing]

Even though i am not "into" elctronics, I just think that this is great. Soft, conductive and reusable. Thanks!