[Cyborg] Fw: Re: [Noisebridge-discuss] SuperFlex EL fabric is here

[Eric Boyd]

Some very interesting info about the EL fabric - apparently $50 is the price for the 5x5 with inverter (driver circuit).  But, lifetime is actually shorter than you'd think at only 1000 hours (that's only 40 days!)

Eric

--- On Mon, 4/5/10, Jonathan Foote <jtfoote at ieee.org> wrote:

> From: Jonathan Foote <jtfoote at ieee.org>
> Subject: Re: [Noisebridge-discuss] SuperFlex EL fabric is here
> To: "Sai Emrys" <noisebridge at saizai.com>
> Cc: "NoiseBridge Discuss" <noisebridge-discuss at lists.noisebridge.net>
> Date: Monday, April 5, 2010, 7:04 PM
> Wow, nice informative answers and not
> just marketing.
> 
> NB you (we) can build your own inverters at a considerable
> savings
> over what they are charging.
> 
> On Mon, Apr 5, 2010 at 4:03 PM, Sai Emrys <noisebridge at saizai.com>
> wrote:
> > And some followup info from the source...
> >
> > - Sai
> >
> >
> > ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> > From: Jill Simpson <jsimpson at crosslinkusa.com>
> > Date: Mon, Apr 5, 2010 at 7:34 AM
> > Subject: RE: SuperFlex demo kit request
> > To: Sai Emrys <sai at saizai.com>
> >
> >
> > Sai,
> > Thanks for the note -- and the video.  I watched it
> an laughed a couple
> > of times, like at the suggestion of a SuperFlex
> bikini...
> >
> > Some answers:
> >
> > * what is the grid of dots faintly visible in the
> background of the
> > treated square?
> > The grid of dots are images of vacuum holes from our
> press bed. [A
> > slight vacuum is used to 'fix' the fabric to the press
> bed during
> > production.]  With thicker fabrics you don't see the
> grid, or we can use
> > a modified press bed.  We are usually trying to AVOID
> having these holes
> > visible in our finished product -- obviously you got a
> sample where they
> > are pretty visible...
> >
> > * how seriously do you mean the 'don't touch/etc while
> in use'? Is
> > this just a CYA for 'don't touch live wires'?
> > Yes -- this is a CYA...  If we use a really thick,
> really insulating
> > overprint/final layer, we can reduce the possibility
> of getting a shock,
> > but then usually the overall brightness is further
> reduced.
> >
> > * what's the time-to-50% if it's exposed to sunlight?
> > Not sure -- maybe 500 hours?  Without sunlight the
> time to half
> > brightness is around 1000 hours.
> >
> > * is it waterproof? If not, what are the problem
> points / can they be
> > fixed?
> > Not currently waterproof.  This is something we would
> like to fabricate
> > in the future.  Waterfproofing will require
> improvement in the
> > electrical connections (rubber gasketing, epoxies,
> etc.) as well as
> > lamination of the entire lamp between two films of
> plastic.  This will
> > reduce the flexibility somewhat.
> >
> > * how much would the 5x5 / 20x29 pieces cost?
> > 5x5 lamps, with 9V inverter pack              
>  $50 each (quantities
> > <100)
> > 20x29 lamps, with cables but no inverter        
>        $350 each
> > (quantities < 100)
> > Inverter for large lamps (powers up to six lamps)  
>     $300 each
> >
> > * how much would a custom printed piece cost, say
> about 15"x40" (or
> > somewhat less, if that hits some barrier)?
> > 20x29 is the largest we can print here at Crosslink,
> limited by the size
> > of our press, but larger sizes could be
> toll-manufactured. Setting up
> > toll-mfg would require at least 3 months and would
> require order
> > commitments to make it cost-effective for the toller,
> etc.
> >
> > Re-tooling of presses and preparation of films and
> screens for custom
> > sizes costs about $3000 - $4000 total (depending on
> the size and
> > complexity of the custom design).  This is in
> addition to the cost of
> > the inks and lamps made with the custom design, which
> would have prices
> > similar to those quoted above for the 5x5 and 20x29
> lamps.
> >
> > * what if it were also using multiple colors? What
> colors can you do?
> > (E.g. red, amber, etc...)
> > There are orange/amber phosphors, but they are
> inherently very
> > short-lived and quite dim, making it better to use the
> color filtering
> > technique on a green phosphor instead.  We have a
> "color book" for
> > creating (almost) any color.
> >
> > * can you do native colors other than blue-green? I.e.
> do all other
> > colors require filtering (and therefore less
> brightness)?
> > The only really bright native phosphors available for
> EL lamps are green
> > and blue-green.  So... yes...filtering is a practical
> necessity.
> >
> > --Jill
> >
> > ________________________________
> > Jill C. Simpson, Ph.D.
> > General Manager
> > Crosslink
> > _______________________________________________
> > Noisebridge-discuss mailing list
> > Noisebridge-discuss at lists.noisebridge.net
> > https://www.noisebridge.net/mailman/listinfo/noisebridge-discuss
> >
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