Breadbaord Pincushion

Intro: 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

STEP 2: Prepare and Cut the Materials

Cut two rectangles of regular fabric.
Fuse some of the fusible interfacing to the back of a piece of the conductive fabric, then cut the conductive fabric into strips. Remove the backing before cutting the strips into even smaller pieces, as shown in the pictures.

STEP 3: Fuse the Breadboard Design

Lay the pieces of conductive fabric out on one of the regular fabric rectangles. Use some tweezers if necessary. Then carefully iron over the pieces to fuse them together.

STEP 4: Sew the Cushion Together

Lay the rectangular pieces of fabric on top of one another with the conductive pieces facing inwards. Thread a needle with regular thread and sew around the edge of your rectangle, leaving a hole large enough for you to turn the cushion inside out through. Without cutting the thread, turn the cushion insideout. Stuff the cushion with sufficient stuffing and then use the remaining thread to close the hole neatly.

STEP 5: Insert Pins and Components

Now you are finished. Insert pins and components into your cushion, penetrating the conductive strips of fabric when you want to electrically connect components.

Comments

[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!