Cheap 3-D printer can produce self-folding materials

Alex Newton

May 4th

Engineering


"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 is a professor at the HC Interaction Institute and helped create these self-folding plastic objects. Self-folding objects help make them easier to transport. One of the examples they use is emergency shelter that can open up under heat of the sun. 

Others have tried to create self-folding with more exotic materials which are more expensive. Yao and his team was able to use a cheap 3D printer to create objects that would work just as good if not better.