Abstract Scope |
Origami, a traditional Japanese paper folding art, has been applied to a wide range of engineering applications ranging from soft robotics to deployable satellites. Additive Manufacturing has sought to take advantage of various properties of origami including the ability to transform between flat, space-efficient unfolded states and complex, folded states with added functionality such as electronics. By selectively printing on the fabric, printed regions gain the rigidity of the added material and non-printed regions retain the flexibility of the fabric, becoming the hinges or 'creases' of an origami-like structure. This research builds upon that of other researchers by developing a process to print 3D deployable origami-inspired structures using multiple textile layers. The resulting parts of this technique can be unfolded into a 3D structure larger than the original build plate. Additionally, the textile provides added strength making it ideal for creating container-like structures which, when unfolded, can be quickly deployed. |