This is nice and rad. Thanks for the video review.<br><br>-Jack<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Mon, Apr 5, 2010 at 4:03 PM, Sai Emrys <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:noisebridge@saizai.com">noisebridge@saizai.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding-left: 1ex;">And some followup info from the source...<br>
<br>
- Sai<br>
<br>
<br>
---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>
From: Jill Simpson <<a href="mailto:jsimpson@crosslinkusa.com">jsimpson@crosslinkusa.com</a>><br>
Date: Mon, Apr 5, 2010 at 7:34 AM<br>
Subject: RE: SuperFlex demo kit request<br>
To: Sai Emrys <<a href="mailto:sai@saizai.com">sai@saizai.com</a>><br>
<br>
<br>
Sai,<br>
Thanks for the note -- and the video. I watched it an laughed a couple<br>
of times, like at the suggestion of a SuperFlex bikini...<br>
<br>
Some answers:<br>
<br>
* what is the grid of dots faintly visible in the background of the<br>
treated square?<br>
The grid of dots are images of vacuum holes from our press bed. [A<br>
slight vacuum is used to 'fix' the fabric to the press bed during<br>
production.] With thicker fabrics you don't see the grid, or we can use<br>
a modified press bed. We are usually trying to AVOID having these holes<br>
visible in our finished product -- obviously you got a sample where they<br>
are pretty visible...<br>
<br>
* how seriously do you mean the 'don't touch/etc while in use'? Is<br>
this just a CYA for 'don't touch live wires'?<br>
Yes -- this is a CYA... If we use a really thick, really insulating<br>
overprint/final layer, we can reduce the possibility of getting a shock,<br>
but then usually the overall brightness is further reduced.<br>
<br>
* what's the time-to-50% if it's exposed to sunlight?<br>
Not sure -- maybe 500 hours? Without sunlight the time to half<br>
brightness is around 1000 hours.<br>
<br>
* is it waterproof? If not, what are the problem points / can they be<br>
fixed?<br>
Not currently waterproof. This is something we would like to fabricate<br>
in the future. Waterfproofing will require improvement in the<br>
electrical connections (rubber gasketing, epoxies, etc.) as well as<br>
lamination of the entire lamp between two films of plastic. This will<br>
reduce the flexibility somewhat.<br>
<br>
* how much would the 5x5 / 20x29 pieces cost?<br>
5x5 lamps, with 9V inverter pack $50 each (quantities<br>
<100)<br>
20x29 lamps, with cables but no inverter $350 each<br>
(quantities < 100)<br>
Inverter for large lamps (powers up to six lamps) $300 each<br>
<br>
* how much would a custom printed piece cost, say about 15"x40" (or<br>
somewhat less, if that hits some barrier)?<br>
20x29 is the largest we can print here at Crosslink, limited by the size<br>
of our press, but larger sizes could be toll-manufactured. Setting up<br>
toll-mfg would require at least 3 months and would require order<br>
commitments to make it cost-effective for the toller, etc.<br>
<br>
Re-tooling of presses and preparation of films and screens for custom<br>
sizes costs about $3000 - $4000 total (depending on the size and<br>
complexity of the custom design). This is in addition to the cost of<br>
the inks and lamps made with the custom design, which would have prices<br>
similar to those quoted above for the 5x5 and 20x29 lamps.<br>
<br>
* what if it were also using multiple colors? What colors can you do?<br>
(E.g. red, amber, etc...)<br>
There are orange/amber phosphors, but they are inherently very<br>
short-lived and quite dim, making it better to use the color filtering<br>
technique on a green phosphor instead. We have a "color book" for<br>
creating (almost) any color.<br>
<br>
* can you do native colors other than blue-green? I.e. do all other<br>
colors require filtering (and therefore less brightness)?<br>
The only really bright native phosphors available for EL lamps are green<br>
and blue-green. So... yes...filtering is a practical necessity.<br>
<br>
--Jill<br>
<br>
________________________________<br>
Jill C. Simpson, Ph.D.<br>
General Manager<br>
Crosslink<br>
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