Self-folding structures have unique advantages such as reconfiguration capability during their usage. Such advantages can be beneficial for a wide variety of applications including biomedical and electronics products. However, how to fabricate and actuate self-folding structures is still an ongoing research topic. In the paper a simple fabrication approach based on a 3D printing process is presented for the fabrication of self-folding structures that can be actuated using a constrain-based thermo responsive mechanism. A self-folding structure fabricated by our method is an origami sheet with multiple layers. The middle layer of the origami sheet is a pre-strained polystyrene film, which can have a large shrinkage when exposing to heat. Both its upper and bottom surfaces are covered with desired patterns in cured plastic resin. A foldable hinge is achieved by using the cured resin to constrain the shrinkage of the film on one side while the other side of the film is exposed to the heating environment. A model of the related folding mechanism is developed. Based on it, a hinge structure design method is presented for a given folding angle. Various experiments are performed to verify the folding control of designed self-folding structures. Possible applications of the developed self-folding structures are also demonstrated and discussed.
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ASME 2014 International Design Engineering Technical Conferences and Computers and Information in Engineering Conference
August 17–20, 2014
Buffalo, New York, USA
Conference Sponsors:
- Design Engineering Division
- Computers and Information in Engineering Division
ISBN:
978-0-7918-4637-7
PROCEEDINGS PAPER
Origami-Based Self-Folding Structure Fabrication Based on 3D Printing on Polystyrene Films
Dongping Deng,
Dongping Deng
University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
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Yong Chen
Yong Chen
University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Search for other works by this author on:
Dongping Deng
University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Yong Chen
University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Paper No:
DETC2014-34901, V05BT08A045; 13 pages
Published Online:
January 13, 2015
Citation
Deng, D, & Chen, Y. "Origami-Based Self-Folding Structure Fabrication Based on 3D Printing on Polystyrene Films." Proceedings of the ASME 2014 International Design Engineering Technical Conferences and Computers and Information in Engineering Conference. Volume 5B: 38th Mechanisms and Robotics Conference. Buffalo, New York, USA. August 17–20, 2014. V05BT08A045. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/DETC2014-34901
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