Desktop Biofiber Spinning Machine for Smart Textiles Design

Close-up of threads passing through thread holes

The desktop biofiber spinning machine, like a 3D printer, enables prototyping and experimenting with bio-based fibers. The fibers can be tuned with different properties and then spun to create yarns. Importantly, these fibers can be easily dissolved, enabling electrical components to be recovered and recycled. Smart textiles integrate electronic materials into knitted or woven structures. They are widely used in soft and conformal electronic systems for applications in fashion, robotics and medicine. However, smart textiles pose significant environmental risks because they combine two highly toxic waste streams: textile and electronics waste. This work explores creating and using sustainable bio-based fibers that support disassembly and electronics recyclability.

Utility Research Lab  Unstable Design Lab  Living Matter Lab

 

Associated Researchers

Publications

Xin Wen, Eldy S. Lazaro Vasquez, and Michael L. Rivera. 2024. "Exploring a Software Tool for Biofibers Design". In: Adjunct Proceedings of the 37th Annual ACM Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology (UIST Adjunct '24). (Pittsburgh, PA, October 13-16, 2024).

Eldy S. Lazaro Vasquez, Mirela Alistar, Laura Devendorf, and Michael L. Rivera. 2024. Desktop Biofibers Spinning: An Open-Source Machine for Exploring Biobased Fibers and Their Application Towards Sustainable Smart Textile Design. In: Proceedings of the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI ’24), (Honolulu, HI, May 11–16, 2024).