Development of Flexible and Functional Sequins Using Subtractive Technology and 3D Printing for Embroidered Wearable Textile Applications

Embroidery is often the preferred technology when rigid circuit boards need to be connected to sensors and electrodes by data transmission lines and integrated into textiles. Moreover, conventional circuit boards, like Lilypad Arduino, commonly lack softness and flexibility. One approach to overcome this drawback can be flexible sequins as a substrate carrier for circuit boards. In this paper, such an approach of the development of flexible and functional sequins and circuit boards for wearable textile applications using subtractive and additive technology is demonstrated. Applying these techniques, one-sided sequins and circuit boards are produced using wax printing and etching copper-clad foils, as well as using dual 3D printing of conventional isolating and electrically conductive materials. The resulting flexible and functional sequins are equipped with surface mounted devices, applied to textiles by an automated embroidery process and contacted with a conductive embroidery thread.