[Lumilectric] is getting ready for Burning Man and made herself this fantastic fiber optic LED skirt.
She’s always been fascinated by fiber optics and the effect they create, so she wanted to try using them in a project, and this was just the ticket. The tricky part was figuring out how best to couple cheap fiber optic strands off eBay with a strip of RGB LEDs.
In the end she figured out a way to make rudimentary fiber optic coupling joints using vinyl tubing. She managed to fit 17 strands of 0.5mm diameter fiber into a 6mm diameter vinyl tube. To improve light transfer when it’s all together, you can gently melt the ends of the fiber optics together to glaze the plastic into a single clear surface — don’t melt the vinyl though!
In total she created 42 sets of fiber optic bundles which she glued to an RGB light strip that she turned into a belt. One battery pack and microcontroller later and she had a fully functioning, glowing, Jellyfish skirt.
Will LEDs become a staple in future clothing design? Who knows, but until then, they’re pretty cool! Glow sticks at a concert? Nah, glow yourself at the concert!
All the peeps on acid are going to enjoy watching the skirt. =)
I wonder if you sand blasted or lightly sanded the optical fiber, it would give it a more vibrant effect or not. any Ideas
Yes roughing up the fiber would let more light out the side. AFIK some types of LCD back light are a sheet of fiber optics with the right scratches on top to let out the light.
“Side glow” fiber is a thing. I suppose it’s simply abraded, as you suggested.
http://www.fiberopticproducts.com/Sideglow.htm
The emphasis on the glowing endpoints might be the desired effect for the skirt, though.
Why not heat shrink tubing instead of vinyl tubing?
perhaps she did not know about it?
is there clear heat shrink? I have not seen it, but haven’t gone looking for it either.
Anyone know what Micro it uses?
The Flora (Atmel Mega 32u4) from Adafruit
I’m conflicted. Intelligent women in the maker movement are such a turn on. But I’m not sure it’s enough to overcome the significant character flaw of going to Burning Man.
Gross. No one wants to know what turns you on. This is a technical website.
YOU are what really turns him on!
Oh.. and can’t forget this!
https://hackaday.com/tag/sex-toy/
I’m pretty sure there were other posts which should have carried that tag but didn’t btw.. not in a good place to go searching for them.
@Alan Hightower
God forbid women pursue other goals than wooing you.
I think a law forbidding it would be more practical.
Oh! I thought the jellyfish donated painful stingers to the skirt, something that might be useful at the OldFatNakedStoners gathering known as Burning Man.