Disney Researchers or better called Imagineers always have some new technology up their sleeves and this time it's a 'Layered 3D Fabric Printer' that can create soft, flexible 3D objects. We live in an era where custom manufacturing technologies are on the rise. Not only are companies letting users create & own wearable custom jeans, but there's a huge demand for getting 3D models printed and mailed to your doorstep. It's no wonder therefore that we are imagining the next soft toys of our favourite Disney Characters be it Mickey Mouse or Lion King 3D printed for children to hug and play with. Coupling electronics with 3D printing tech, researchers are working on creation of interactive physical objects from daily life materials. Making waves in the exciting new research arena, scientists from Disney Research, Cornell University and Carnegie Mellon University got together to build the new 3D Fabric Printer. Let's see how it works.
Using any off the shelf fabric, this 3D fabric printer creates multiple layers of fabric sheets in a pre-defined design. A laser cutter is used to cut each sheet along the 2D contour. These layers are stuck together using a heat sensitive adhesive. By repeating these steps, the shape of the desired 3D object is created. The new kind of fabric printer is so designed that it feeds two separate fabric types into a single print, so that specially cut layers of conductive fabric can be embedded in the soft prints.
The Disney 3D Fabric printer is structured similarly to other 3D printers in the market. Therefore, its head can easily be moved within a Cartesian system. However, this one uses two separate working platforms - 1. For cutting and 2. For bonding. The bonding platform can be found on the Z-axis whereas the cutting platform is located upside down above it.
In the following video, the team demonstrates how they created 3D models with touch sensing capability and a simple LED display making use of a conductive fabric coil for wireless power reception.
A typical 3D fabric printing routine involves turning on the vacuum to hold fabric to cutting table. Then, 2D layer shapes and a bounding box are cut out of the fabric material. After that, the bonding platform is raised to touch cut fabric, which is then released by turning vacuum off. Lastly, the platform is lowered and new layer is heat bonded to print.
In the Disney Research's new paper titled 'A Layered Fabric 3D Printer for Soft Interactive Objects', the team discusses how they were able to form precise, yet soft and deformable 3D objects from rolls of fabric. They have successfully demonstrated various 3D printed objects such as a soft cell phone case which contains a printed fabric coil capable of harvesting power from the NFC hardware of any smartphone we use today. Isn't that marvellous?
What are your thoughts about Disney's new 3D Fabric Printer? Share with us in comments below.
Using any off the shelf fabric, this 3D fabric printer creates multiple layers of fabric sheets in a pre-defined design. A laser cutter is used to cut each sheet along the 2D contour. These layers are stuck together using a heat sensitive adhesive. By repeating these steps, the shape of the desired 3D object is created. The new kind of fabric printer is so designed that it feeds two separate fabric types into a single print, so that specially cut layers of conductive fabric can be embedded in the soft prints.
The Disney 3D Fabric printer is structured similarly to other 3D printers in the market. Therefore, its head can easily be moved within a Cartesian system. However, this one uses two separate working platforms - 1. For cutting and 2. For bonding. The bonding platform can be found on the Z-axis whereas the cutting platform is located upside down above it.
In the following video, the team demonstrates how they created 3D models with touch sensing capability and a simple LED display making use of a conductive fabric coil for wireless power reception.
In the Disney Research's new paper titled 'A Layered Fabric 3D Printer for Soft Interactive Objects', the team discusses how they were able to form precise, yet soft and deformable 3D objects from rolls of fabric. They have successfully demonstrated various 3D printed objects such as a soft cell phone case which contains a printed fabric coil capable of harvesting power from the NFC hardware of any smartphone we use today. Isn't that marvellous?
What are your thoughts about Disney's new 3D Fabric Printer? Share with us in comments below.
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