[Noisebridge-discuss] SuperFlex EL fabric is here

[Sai Emrys]

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