#self folding

Researchers remotely control sequence in which 2-D sheets fold into 3-D structures

Inspired by origami, North Carolina State University researchers have found a way to remotely control the order in which a two-dimensional (2-D) sheet folds itself into a three-dimensional (3-D) structure.

"A longstanding challenge in the field has been finding a way to control the sequence in which a 2-D sheet will fold itself into a 3-D object," says Michael Dickey, a professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at NC State and co-corresponding author of a paper describing the work. "And as anyone who has done origami - or folded their laundry—can tell you, the order in which you make the folds can be extremely important."

"The sequence of folding is important in life as well as in technology," says co-corresponding author Jan Genzer, the S. Frank and Doris Culberson Distinguished Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at NC State. "On small length scales, sequential folding via molecular machinery enables DNA to pack efficiently into chromosomes and assists proteins to adopt a functional conformation. On large length scales, sequential folding via motors helps solar panels in satellites and space shuttles unfold in space. The advance of the current work is to induce materials to fold sequentially using only light."

Self folding origami robot is amazing!

Thanks! You've turned me on to some fascinating stuff. This, for some reason brings to my mind Persian tile work.

New technique uses templates to guide self-folding 3D structures

Researchers from North Carolina State University have developed a new technique to control self-folding three-dimensional (3-D) structures. Specifically, the researchers use templates to constrain deformation in certain selected areas on a two-dimensional structure, which in turn dictates the resulting 3-D structure of the material.

The new technique does not rely on cutting or printing on the material, as most other self-folding origami techniques do. It is also different from continuous shape morphing, which is typically controlled by engineering the in-plane strain at various parts of the material. Instead, the researchers applied paperboard sheets to a polymer substrate, forming specific patterns.

"When heat is applied to the polymer, it shrinks," says Yong Zhu, a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at NC State and corresponding author of a paper on the work. "However, the sections of polymer that are attached to the paperboard are restrained from shrinking, causing the overall substrate to bend and curve."

Cheap 3-D printer can produce self-folding materials

CMU process takes advantage of a common printing defect

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have used an inexpensive 3-D printer to produce flat plastic items that, when heated, fold themselves into predetermined shapes, such as a rose, a boat or even a bunny.

Lining Yao, assistant professor in the Human-Computer Interaction Institute and director of the Morphing Matter Lab, said these self-folding plastic objects represent a first step toward products such as flat-pack furniture that assume their final shapes with the help of a heat gun. Emergency shelters also might be shipped flat and fold into shape under the warmth of the sun.

Self-folding materials are quicker and cheaper to produce than solid 3-D objects, making it possible to replace noncritical parts or produce prototypes using structures that approximate the solid objects. Molds for boat hulls and other fiberglass products might be inexpensively produced using these materials.

Yao will present her group's research on this method, which she calls Thermorph, at CHI 2018, the Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, April 21-26 in Montreal, Canada.

Title: Hydro-Fold

Category: #selffolding

Author: Christophe Guberan

Year: 2012

Url: http://www.creativeapplications.net/other/hydro-fold-by-christophe-guberan-self-folding-inkjet-printed-paper/