Self-folding structures have unique capability such as reconfiguration during their usage. Such capability can be beneficial for a wide variety of applications including biomedical and electronics products. In this paper, a novel fabrication approach based on a three-dimensional (3D) printing process is presented for fabricating self-folding structures that can be actuated in a heating environment. The thermo-actuating structures that are designed and fabricated by our method are two-dimensional (2D) origami sheets, which have multiple printed layers. The middle layer of an origami sheet is a prestrained polystyrene film with large shrinkage ratios when heated. Both its top and bottom surfaces are covered with cured resin that is printed in designed shapes. A foldable hinge is achieved by constraining the shrinkage of the film on one side while allowing the shrinkage of the film on another side when the origami sheet is exposed to a heating environment. Heuristic models of hinge's folding angles are developed based on the related folding mechanism. A 2D origami sheet design and fabrication method is presented for a given 3D structure. Various experimental tests are performed to verify the self-folding performance of the designed and fabricated origami sheets. Techniques on improving folding angle control are also discussed with possible applications.
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February 2015
Research-Article
Origami-Based Self-Folding Structure Design and Fabrication Using Projection Based Stereolithography
Dongping Deng,
Dongping Deng
Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and
Systems Engineering,
GER 240,
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0193
e-mail: ddeng@usc.edu
Systems Engineering,
University of Southern California
,3715 McClintock Avenue
,GER 240,
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0193
e-mail: ddeng@usc.edu
Search for other works by this author on:
Yong Chen
Yong Chen
1
Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and
Systems Engineering,
GER 201,
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0193
e-mail: yongchen@usc.edu
Systems Engineering,
University of Southern California
,3715 McClintock Avenue
,GER 201,
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0193
e-mail: yongchen@usc.edu
1Corresponding author.
Search for other works by this author on:
Dongping Deng
Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and
Systems Engineering,
GER 240,
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0193
e-mail: ddeng@usc.edu
Systems Engineering,
University of Southern California
,3715 McClintock Avenue
,GER 240,
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0193
e-mail: ddeng@usc.edu
Yong Chen
Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and
Systems Engineering,
GER 201,
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0193
e-mail: yongchen@usc.edu
Systems Engineering,
University of Southern California
,3715 McClintock Avenue
,GER 201,
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0193
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 May 10, 2014; final manuscript received November 6, 2014; published online December 4, 2014. Assoc. Editor: Carolyn Seepersad.
J. Mech. Des. Feb 2015, 137(2): 021701 (12 pages)
Published Online: February 1, 2015
Article history
Received:
May 10, 2014
Revision Received:
November 6, 2014
Online:
December 4, 2014
Citation
Deng, D., and Chen, Y. (February 1, 2015). "Origami-Based Self-Folding Structure Design and Fabrication Using Projection Based Stereolithography." ASME. J. Mech. Des. February 2015; 137(2): 021701. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4029066
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