Hi!
In an earlier post I'd asked about using grommets to make nice holes in a knit scarf to snake wire through & to give me something more substantial to glue neopixels to once I'm done soldering. The brass grommets seem to work good (photo - I haven't wired this up yet, but am showing compared to non-grommet neopixel + wiring), but bonehead that I am, I hadn't thought that gluing the soldered neopixels onto brass might create a short. I am an electronics newbie trying to hardware up my code skills, so blushing while posting such a basic Q., but is there something I can do to prevent shorts (assuming this is something I need to worry about)? Can I coat the grommets in E6000, clear nail polish, or something similar as insulation?
Thanks!
John
Brass Grommets a no-no? if so, can I coat them?
Moderators: adafruit_support_bill, adafruit
Please be positive and constructive with your questions and comments.
- gallaugher
- Posts: 267
- Joined: Tue Aug 14, 2018 12:42 pm
- adafruit_support_bill
- Posts: 88037
- Joined: Sat Feb 07, 2009 10:11 am
Re: Brass Grommets a no-no? if so, can I coat them?
Coating the grommet might work. But coatings have a tendency to chip or wear off if there is any rubbing going on. I'd put a layer of tape on the back of the circuit board for good measure. Kapton tape is pretty durable. If you use something like masking tape, I'd double-up the layers.
I bought some plastic grommets a while back. But I don't remember the source offhand. I'll post again if I find it.
I bought some plastic grommets a while back. But I don't remember the source offhand. I'll post again if I find it.
- adafruit_support_bill
- Posts: 88037
- Joined: Sat Feb 07, 2009 10:11 am
Re: Brass Grommets a no-no? if so, can I coat them?
This was the place. But it looks like they only stock metal grommets at this time: https://www.seattlefabrics.com/
Here is another source - if you can stand the color: https://www.acehardware.com/departments ... gKBVfD_BwE
And here are some plastic snaps in various colors. The studs would make a passable grommet.
Here is another source - if you can stand the color: https://www.acehardware.com/departments ... gKBVfD_BwE
And here are some plastic snaps in various colors. The studs would make a passable grommet.
- gallaugher
- Posts: 267
- Joined: Tue Aug 14, 2018 12:42 pm
Re: Brass Grommets a no-no? if so, can I coat them?
Thanks for the recommendations, Bill.
I'll definitely pick up some Kapton tape for the back of the individual neopixels.
I have some Envirotex left over from a snowglobe project. Do you think painting a coat of this onto the brass grommets would provide some protection? Unsure if it'd be overkill to tape the back of the pixels, paint the brass grommets, and then E6000 down the pixels in a way that hides the wires.
Again - you're help is just flat out fantastic. You're really helping me get up to speed on all sorts of projects.
My best,
John
I'll definitely pick up some Kapton tape for the back of the individual neopixels.
I have some Envirotex left over from a snowglobe project. Do you think painting a coat of this onto the brass grommets would provide some protection? Unsure if it'd be overkill to tape the back of the pixels, paint the brass grommets, and then E6000 down the pixels in a way that hides the wires.
Again - you're help is just flat out fantastic. You're really helping me get up to speed on all sorts of projects.
My best,
John
- adafruit_support_bill
- Posts: 88037
- Joined: Sat Feb 07, 2009 10:11 am
Re: Brass Grommets a no-no? if so, can I coat them?
I would expect envirotex to be pretty durable. And a little overkill shouldn't hurt anything - as long as it doesn't add too much bulk.
- gallaugher
- Posts: 267
- Joined: Tue Aug 14, 2018 12:42 pm
Re: Brass Grommets a no-no? if so, can I coat them?
Thanks again for your help, Bill. Here's a look at the final product - a prototype. Hopefully we'll have many more students outfit in these, soon.
https://youtu.be/5ugjW9PbUBg
Cheers,
John
https://youtu.be/5ugjW9PbUBg
Cheers,
John
- adafruit_support_bill
- Posts: 88037
- Joined: Sat Feb 07, 2009 10:11 am
Re: Brass Grommets a no-no? if so, can I coat them?
That came out nice! Thanks for posting the video.
- gallaugher
- Posts: 267
- Joined: Tue Aug 14, 2018 12:42 pm
Re: Brass Grommets a no-no? if so, can I coat them?
Even more success. I bought plastic #3 grommets (1/2") from GoldStarTools. Turns out I didn't even need the grommet press. Plastic grommets can be hand-squeezed on either side of the acrylic knit scarf. Once in, we made a small cut in the center of the grommet for wiring. Hot glue was used to secure individual neopixels inside of the grommet holes. neopixels a bit too perfectly, so beading hot glue around the edges seemed to give enough grip area for this to work. Here's a short video of student experience:
https://youtu.be/GdXQozKjjwE
Thanks again!
https://youtu.be/GdXQozKjjwE
Thanks again!
Please be positive and constructive with your questions and comments.