Traditional origami structures fold along predefined hinges, and the neighboring facets of the hinges are folded to transform planar surfaces into three-dimensional (3D) shapes. In this study, we present a new self-folding design and fabrication approach that has no folding hinges and can build 3D structures with smooth curved surfaces. This four-dimensional (4D) printing method uses a thermal-response control mechanism, where a thermo shrink film is used as the active material and a photocurable material is used as the constraint material for the film. When the structure is heated, the two sides of the film will shrink differently due to the distribution of the constraint material on the film. Consequently, the structure will deform over time to a 3D surface that has no folding hinges. By properly designing the coated constraint patterns, the film can be self-folded into different shapes. The relationship between the constraint patterns and their correspondingly self-folded surfaces has been studied in the paper. Our 4D printing method presents a simple approach to quickly fabricate a 3D shell structure with smooth curved surfaces by fabricating a structure with accordingly designed material distribution.
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August 2017
Research-Article
Four-Dimensional Printing: Design and Fabrication of Smooth Curved Surface Using Controlled Self-Folding
Dongping Deng,
Dongping Deng
Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial
and Systems Engineering,
University of Southern California,
Los Angeles, CA 90089
and Systems Engineering,
University of Southern California,
Los Angeles, CA 90089
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Tsz-Ho Kwok,
Tsz-Ho Kwok
Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial
and Systems Engineering,
University of Southern California,
Los Angeles, CA 90089
and Systems Engineering,
University of Southern California,
Los Angeles, CA 90089
Search for other works by this author on:
Yong Chen
Yong Chen
Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial
and Systems Engineering,
University of Southern California,
Los Angeles, CA 90089
e-mail: yongchen@usc.edu
and Systems Engineering,
University of Southern California,
Los Angeles, CA 90089
e-mail: yongchen@usc.edu
Search for other works by this author on:
Dongping Deng
Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial
and Systems Engineering,
University of Southern California,
Los Angeles, CA 90089
and Systems Engineering,
University of Southern California,
Los Angeles, CA 90089
Tsz-Ho Kwok
Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial
and Systems Engineering,
University of Southern California,
Los Angeles, CA 90089
and Systems Engineering,
University of Southern California,
Los Angeles, CA 90089
Yong Chen
Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial
and Systems Engineering,
University of Southern California,
Los Angeles, CA 90089
e-mail: yongchen@usc.edu
and Systems Engineering,
University of Southern California,
Los Angeles, CA 90089
e-mail: yongchen@usc.edu
1Corresponding author.
Contributed by the Design for Manufacturing Committee of ASME for publication in the JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL DESIGN. Manuscript received July 18, 2016; final manuscript received May 3, 2017; published online June 22, 2017. Assoc. Editor: Carolyn Seepersad.
J. Mech. Des. Aug 2017, 139(8): 081702 (13 pages)
Published Online: June 22, 2017
Article history
Received:
July 18, 2016
Revised:
May 3, 2017
Citation
Deng, D., Kwok, T., and Chen, Y. (June 22, 2017). "Four-Dimensional Printing: Design and Fabrication of Smooth Curved Surface Using Controlled Self-Folding." ASME. J. Mech. Des. August 2017; 139(8): 081702. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4036996
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