Disney’s research division has developed a new type of 3D printer that works with off-the-shelf fabric to create precise, but soft and deformable, 3D objects.
Developed by Disney Research in collaboration with Carnegie Mellon University, the “layered fabric” printer employs an approach where a sheet of fabric forms each layer of a 3D object. The sheet is cut along the 2D contour of the layer using a laser cutter and is then bonded to previously printed layers using a heat sensitive adhesive. Surrounding fabric in each layer is temporarily retained to provide a removable support structure for layers printed above it. This process is repeated to build up a 3D object layer by layer.
Of most use to Disney might be the ability to 3D print soft toys, but it could also be used to create smart objects or fabricate clothes. The prototype printer is multimaterial and can integrate two types of fabric into a single object, including harder materials and electronic components, giving rise to the potential for adding touch sensitivity or LED displays – creating custom objects on demand that are also interactive electrical objects.
The printer was unveiled at the Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems in Seoul, South Korea, on 18 April.
Disney Research's paper can be read here.
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