Anemone Sensor (Silicone Circuit)

This concept is a rubber version of Plusea's Stroke Sensor: https://www.instructables.com/id/Stroke-Sensor/

The idea is the same, conductive and non-conductive lengths mixed together so that when the hairs are brushed past, it makes a connection. The idea would be to make a version that could maybe be used in air or water to detect the passing of a mammal or fish. You could also just make funky rubber noodles sensors as wearable bracelets or parts of costumes.

****Note this is a smaller instructable broken out from the full COMPREHENSIVE instructable all about Silc Circuits: https://www.instructables.com/id/Silc-Circuits-High...

The Recipe :

(Contributed to the Public Domain 2015)

Materials

· Platinum Cure Silicone ( Smooth-On Sorta Clear 40 $30) (will also work with cheaper, tin-cure silicone)

· Chopped Carbon Fiber (1 - 6mm max e.g Tenax 2 2lbs for $30) ***

· Rubbing Alcohol

Tools

· Butcher Paper (Lay it down to not get everything sticky)

· Disposable Cups (to mix in)

· Multimeter

· Mixing Stick (This stainless steel spatula from mcmaster is my favorite for silicone)

· (optional) Conductivity Testing Mixer (Make Your Own in Later Steps)

Process

1) Mix a small spoonful of chopped carbon fiber with a splash of rubbing alcohol. (just enough to get it wet)

2) Disperse the hairs. Stir it up real good, the alcohol will break apart all the little hairs, you can see them separate.

3) Let the alcohol evaporate

4) Add some of your dispersed carbon hairs to a cup of your Part A Silicone Mixture Goo

5) Mix REALLY WELL. Test the conductivity every-now-and-then to see when the mixture gets conductive. If you are mixing well, the goo should be gray with a metallic silver sheen.

6) Add Part B and Mix well again!

7) Mold into the shapes you want and let cure!

***Remember to use basic safety precautions when handling carbon fiber. The fibers themselves are non-toxic, but can be bad for you if loose ones get in your eyes or lungs. Wear a facemask when mixing up dry carbon fibers. More carbon fiber safety info here: http://www.protechcomposites.com/pages/Working-Wit...

The first principle of this comes from making fun silicone noodles, which are pretty easy to do and yield fun wiggle chunks of rubber! Squeeze your conductive or non-conductive goo through a small tube (make sure it is not a latex tube). Fill it up, let it cure, and pull the noodle out. Simple!

Load your noodles into something that you can use to bond them into rows. I used a pen case. Make a couple rows of these. Put conductive goo over the bottoms to unite them.

Wrap them in chunks with some silicone tape then into whatever shape you need! Maybe instead of a round one, you just want to make multiple strips!

Depending on how you organize it, you can use it for sensing brushes or movement in different directions.

Try out different configurations and have a fun time!