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SAO lapel pin experiments

I have been building a new series of art PCBs (printed circuit boards) that can be worn either as an SAO (simple add-on), or as an affordable “enamel” pin, also known as a lapel pin. I love enamel pins, but the cost is quite prohibitive, making it difficult to keep the cost affordable. PCBs, on the other hand, are much cheaper to produce and have the added bonus of all the things circuit boards can do! By harnessing the fabrication layers of a circuit board, I can create unique artworks that would otherwise not seem like a circuit board upon first glance. As an example of the cost difference, a 2″ enamel pin costs $3.39 each at a minimum quantity of 100, not including shipping. This would be at least $350! A batch of 100 2″ PCBs from JLCPCB costs about $25. This is a $325 savings difference! I have to solder the pin to the back of the PCB, but for a cost savings of over $3 per pin, it’s well worth it. Also, since I usually try to throw a circuit on the back of the pin, I have the option of using it as a functioning circuit board, which adds to its potential use-cases.
Keep in mind that this does not include the cost of SMT components or assembly time, but at that point, it is a different product. I try to add a pin backer option to SAO designs so they can all double as a wearable pin if wanted.

The PCBs are designed in Kicad, with the art layers produced in Procreate and Affinity Designer. Designs blatantly pulled from 90s hacker era media inspiration.

Check out some examples of the test results from my last batch of PCBs

Aeon Flux eye with illuminated iris and fly

 

“Hack the planet” SAO pin design with Angelina Jolie from the movie “Hackers”.

My next goal is to figure out how to add a battery circuit to the designs so that they can be worn as standalone illuminated pins. I also plan on using two soldermask colors, which some manufacturers support. Currently, they have to be attached to a badge with an SAO port, or connected to a battery base, which is not ideal for a wearable pin.

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Pathlighter PCB

The Pathlighter PCB, initially known as the Glow Club PCB, is a wearable piece of PCB art crafted for the community.
It serves a dual purpose: as a practical tool for teaching about LEDs and soldering, and as a creative demonstration of using a PCB’s foundational layers to craft a unique art piece. Designed to be worn on a lanyard, the Pathlighter PCB acts as a beacon, lighting up the night and ensuring safety for its wearers.

This innovative PCB made its debut in an electronics education group and has since been featured in soldering workshops at ToorCamp 2022 and Chaos Communication Camp ’23. Its design is particularly well-suited for larger events where workshop demand often outstrips available resources. The Pathlighter PCB’s efficient design allows newcomers to complete their project in approximately 20 minutes. This swift completion rate creates a “revolving door” dynamic in the workshop, allowing for a continuous flow of participants and maximizing educational outreach.

Having been taught to over 450 students so far, the Pathlighter PCB workshop has been a delightful experience to teach students how to solder and to earn a unique wearable art piece. Each participant not only learns valuable skills but also becomes an honorary member of the Glow Club. May we all shine brighter together through these shared experiences.

 

For inquiries, email me @ GlowClub@DarcyNeal.com

 

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EMF Explorer badge

 

The EMF Explorer Badge is an electromagnetic frequency sensing circuit that lets you listed to the world of hidden electromagnetic frequencies around you.

So much can be discovered through listening. The way that Bluetooth hardware sounds when it’s operating. How cellphones sound when they are transmitting data. What a laptop touchpad sounds like when it detects touch. The electronics world is invisibly emitting sounds around us all the time that we are mostly unaware of.

The completed PCB can also be worn as a badge on a lanyard, used to illuminate yourself at night, and be ready to sniff out hidden EMF signals with the use of headphones. No previous electronics experience is required to appreciate and use this badge, and it’s a great way to learn more about your world by exploring the different properties of our surroundings. The kit requires soldering and runs on two AAA batteries.

Sound examples

Listening to EMF at the hackerspace

Assembly Instructions

Text Assembly Guide

Video Assembly Guide

– Did you get your kit from the Open Hardware Summit, ToorCamp, or dadaLab? That assembly guide is here: EMF Assembly guide for green & purple PCBs

 

Where to Buy

Buy a ready-to-assemble kit from the Maker shed

– Order a bare PCB from OshPark

 

Design files available on my GitHub page.

Interested in a workshop?  Get in touch to receive future updates:

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Sonic Textiles

Exploring textiles as a medium for interactive art, I aimed to design pieces that were not only aesthetically pleasing but also compact, flexible, and portable. My vision was to create a textile-based device that would enhance the visual aspect of my performances while being convenient to transport. The culmination of this effort was a visually appealing polyphonic USB controller that is also remarkably thin, composed of just a few layers of material, and extremely portable.

During my artist residency at Sou’ Wester Arts Week, I successfully completed a working demo unit. This prototype was not only an important proof of concept, but also served as an interactive exhibit for others to experience.

Looking ahead, I plan to employ flexible PCBs and CNC equipment for future versions. This approach will streamline the production process, enhancing the durability, portability, and consistency of new controllers. This project stands as a testament to the innovative potential of textiles in interactive art, merging functionality with artistic expression.

The initial concept for this e-textile controller came to life during a two day Hackertrain event, which was an innovative gathering that brought together artists and hackers from across the West Coast & beyond. All participants boarded the same train, converging on a singular, exciting destination: SuperCon at Hackaday headquarters in Pasadena, CA. This unique environment provided the perfect backdrop for the birth of the first iteration of the e-textile controller, blending the creative energies of diverse individuals in a dynamic setting.

 

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Interactive Twister Music Hackathon

In this project, I explored the intersection of collaborative creation and interactive technology. My role involved conceptualizing and designing a large-scale interactive piece, with a focus on creating a framework for a project that was meant to be completed as a group, which resulted in a highly interactive piece that merged both art and technology. The initial phase consisted of prototyping and programming, laying the groundwork for a more expansive collaborative effort.

The project was structured into a series of steps, each designed to be sequentially and independently achievable within a group setting. This approach facilitated a weekend-long hackathon, where I, along with approximately eight assistants, dedicated eight hours to the construction, assembly, and refinement of the piece. Our collective efforts culminated in the creation of an interactive MIDI Twister board.

This piece, a fusion of artistic vision and technical expertise, has since been featured in various CETI events. It stands as an example of how technology can be harnessed to create engaging, interactive art experiences, and reflects a commitment to the collaborative process in artistic endeavors.

 

 

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DynaController

The DynaMandala is an interactive 3D visual synthesizer built inside of Unreal Engine, with the visual modulations controlled by the viewer via the DynaController. Using 3D objects being modified by user-controlled parameters through the DynaController, the DynaMandala becomes a dynamic visual experience, embodying a profound exploration of the intertwining realms of sight, sound, and interaction.

The DynaController is a custom-built touch-activated sculpture which invites participants to actively engage with the DynaMandala, completing the artwork through their interaction. It’s a responsive touch-reactive instrument, unique in the hands of each player, creating a mesmerizing fusion of patterns and sounds that are as individual as the players themselves. Paired with a quadraphonic speaker system that moves with the visuals, the environment becomes a fully enveloped immersive experience.

Ultimately, the DynaMandala is a celebration of life and a testament to the collaborative nature of our existence. It is an invitation to experience and contribute to a shared journey of artistic and spiritual exploration.

 

The Dynamandala is the brainchild of Stefan Henry Biskup III. As a lifelong game developer, he’s spent years honing in on the vision of the Dynamandala created entirely with custom scripting in Unreal Engine. The Dynacontroller was designed, built and programmed by Darcy Neal, with the goal of creating a robust controller that completed the experience of the interactive visuals. The LED animations were programmed by Daniel Young, creating an alluring illuminated interface that invites the viewer to interact and explore.

 

 

The Dynamandala project was displayed at the following events:
CONSTELLATIONS ’23 at CETI.institute in Portland, OR
Portand Winter Lights Fest ’24 in Portland, OR
Face Guts Gallery in Los Angeles, CA
_______
Coming soon: Bay Area Maker Faire ’24

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Trashprinter: Revolutionizing Large-Scale 3D Printing with Shredded Plastic

The Trashprinter is a large format 3D printer that prints directly with shredded waste plastic.  It reduces the dependency on expensive filament and utilizes waste plastic that would otherwise be thrown into the landfill. The Trashprinter was originally designed by Sam Smith, creator of the Metabolizer project. In early 2018 Darcy Neal helped Sam to get the early prototype of the Trashprinter printhead up and running by helping build and program an MPCNC designed by V1engineering. Over the course of several years, Sam has developed various prototypes of the Trashprinter and has worked up to V4 of the Trashprinter printhead, and Darcy Neal is now back at it experimenting with the V4 design to help dial in the settings, automate some cool features, and see how fast and big we can get it to print. Here you can see a series of the experiments that took place during the ongoing testing and calibration of the Trash Hackers Trashprinter.

 

This is an ongoing project with a long list of ideas that are being worked through.

Some points of interest are:

-Developing a custom set of GCODE commands for various print processes.

-Automating the documentation of prints in real-time so that print settings and video footage is collected every time a print is run.

-Dialing in temperature profiles, feeds, and speeds to get maximum efficiency for the fastest printing.

-Printing a collection of useful objects for community use.

-Printing a series of sculptural objects in the pursuit of a low-impact artform that repurposes waste materials vs. producing waste normally seen in the process of creating sculpture. (more to come)

Your project description of the Trashprinter is already quite detailed and informative. To refine it with a more professional and academic tone, you might consider the following revision:

The Trashprinter represents a pioneering leap in sustainable 3D printing technology. It is a large-format printer that innovatively prints using shredded waste plastic, significantly reducing reliance on costly traditional filament and addressing the critical issue of plastic waste destined for landfills. This groundbreaking concept was initially envisioned by Sam Smith, the creative mind behind the Metabolizer project. He took the concept of the Precious Plastics injection molder, redesigning it using commonly found materials to produce a lightweight and repeatable design.

In the early stages of 2018, Darcy Neal played a crucial role in bringing the Trashprinter’s initial prototype to life. Neal’s expertise in CNC systems was instrumental in the construction and programming of the CNC controlled gantry, which formed the foundation of the Trashprinter’s printhead.

Over several years, Sam Smith has iteratively developed various prototypes of the Trashprinter, refining its capabilities up to the current V4 printhead. Darcy Neal has focused on the CNC portion of the endeavor, bringing fresh perspectives to the V4 design. Their current focus lies in optimizing the printer’s settings, implementing innovative automation features, and pushing the boundaries of its printing speed and scale.

These experiments represent critical steps in a larger, dynamic project characterized by continuous evolution and a broad spectrum of goals. This ongoing journey is marked by a commitment to exploring new frontiers in 3D printing technology, pushing the envelope in terms of efficiency, functionality, and sustainability.

calibrating the movements during the initial testing phase

 

 

 

 

Trashprinter set up at its new home at Manifestation PDX.
First test prints produced on the new trashprinter build
First test prints produced on the new trashprinter build
Initial test run of the new ‘lowrider’ gantry.
Building the first test platform in 2018
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Trash Hackers Collective

Trash Hackers Collective emerged as a grassroots initiative dedicated to pioneering new methods of repurposing discarded plastic. Our core mission is to harness and amplify community potential in transforming plastics, particularly those lacking local recycling pathways, into valuable resources rather than contributing to landfill waste. Our collective role has been pivotal in developing the necessary equipment and techniques, with my emphasis on meticulously documenting processes, and establishing safety protocols to creatively and safely repurpose these plastics.

For more detailed information, please visit our IG: https://www.instagram.com/trashhackers/

Trash Hackers Collective unites a dynamic group of artists, technologists, engineers, designers, educators, and learners. Together, we are committed to demystifying and comprehensively understanding the intricacies of plastic recycling. Our collective expertise and diverse perspectives are key in uncovering new insights into the myriad opportunities, challenges, and unexpected discoveries encountered in our hands-on approach to plastic recycling. Our goal is to share our experiences and findings from local-scale plastic recycling initiatives, contributing to a broader understanding of this critical environmental issue.

 

 

Initial Explorations in Shaping Plastic through Injection Molding Techniques

 

 

Ongoing Experimental Series: Transforming Melted Plastics into Sheets and Crafting New Forms through Laser Cutting

 

Showcase from the Trash Hackers Collective Gallery Exhibition at Paragon Arts Center, Summer 2019: A Display of Unique Creations by Myself and Fellow Members

Highlight: Multicolor Extruded Beam, Expertly Lathe-Sliced to Reveal Colorful Inner Layers

 

Interactive Shredding Booth for Public Recycling Demonstrations and Custom-Made Pendant Tokens by Alice Rotsztain for Participants

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Flaming Lips interactive LED sculptures

In a collaborative venture with Wayne Coyne of the Flaming Lips, we embarked on an ongoing project to create a series of sound-reactive lighting sculptures. Each sculpture operated as a standalone music box unit, equipped with an embedded microcontroller. This setup enabled the precise triggering of audio and lighting effects based on the frequencies detected in the songs, which were stored on a removable SD card.

Our primary focus was on creating custom-built sculptures where the lighting dynamically interacted with onboard audio through FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) analysis. This integral process involved designing custom sound reactive controllers for the RGB lighting and designing the audio playback system, adding dynamic visual and audible elements to the sculptures. Our work encompassed everything from custom circuit design, software development for sound processing and lighting control, precision CNC routed circuit housing, and the molding and casting of sculptural objects in crystal-clear resin.

Working with my production studio LadyBrain Studios, we worked with various mediums such as circuit design, custom programmed sound processing, CNC routed circuit housing, molded and cast crystal clear resin designs. Thanks to Haley Moore, the co-founder of LadyBrain Studios and to programmers Oguz Yetkin, Adam Love, and Ed Krohne.  

 

Freshly cast flaming lips skull

Later red versions of the Flaming Lips Skulls

Prototype 1 and V2
Flaming Lips skull Prototype V1 and V2
Darcy Neal and Haley Moore of LadyBrain Studios
Darcy Neal and Haley Moore of LadyBrain Studios

 

 

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Interactive LED Touch Wall

In 2017 I was asked to create an interactive installation for the Array Festival in Dallas, Tx.  I wanted to create a wall-hanging interactive installation that would invite users to play a musical performance that would be durable enough for installation in a public setting.  Having worked with Thomas Hudson and CTRLH in the past on his interactive cube installation, I decided to repurpose that existing hardware to work for this installation as a way to continue the momentum.  The programming was primarily written by Zac Archer and Gus Reiter helped to create the trailing light effects.  I built all of the electronic hardware and assembled the custom enclosure, which utilized a CNC milled wood baffling frame, acrylic diffusers, abs dividers, and piezoelectric sensors.  I would like to take this same electronic configuration and repurpose it for future sculptural ideas.

The electronics and CAD files were all pre-assembled in Portland, OR and then I cut and assembled all the hardware enclosures at the Dallas Makerspace a few weeks prior to the event.

Ripping down material for the LED touch wall
Ripping down material for the LED touch wall
Assembling components for the LED touch wall.
Assembling components for the LED touch wall.
Assembling components for the LED touch wall
Assembling components for the LED touch wall
Assembling touch panels for the LED touch wall
Assembling touch panels for the LED touch wall