Journal for Geometry and Graphics 28 (2024), No. 1, 103--116
Copyright by the authors licensed under CC BY SA 4.0
3D Printing of Flat-Folded Bistable Origami-Like Structures
Pamela Higa
University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
a20061417@pucp.pe
Yiyang Jia
Seikei University, Musashino, Japan
jiayiyang@st.seikei.ac.jp
Jun Mitani
University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
mitani@cs.tsukuba.ac.jp
3D printing has revolutionized manufacturing. However, its applicability has been limited due to lengthy printing times and the waste generated from the use of support materials. To address these limitations, this study introduces an approach for 3D printing of flat-folded structures. This approach utilizes bistable structures, which possess two stable states. We target structures consisting of connected bistable units. This alignment results in the formation of a tubular structure that follows a two-dimensional or three-dimensional curve. These structures have applications in product design, engineering, and architectural design. Additionally, the structures can be flat-folded and printed in this state, minimizing the use of support materials and printer space. We have demonstrated the functionality of this approach by printing models in a flat-folded state and then deploying them. To facilitate usage by designers, we have developed this system within the widely used Rhinoceros + Grasshopper environment.
Keywords: Origami design, bistable structure, computer graphics, 3D printing.
MSC: 51-08.
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