HotFlex: Post-print Customization of 3D Prints Using Embedded State Change
Collaborative Fabricatio? Making Much of Machines
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Groeger, Daniel
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Loo, Elena Chong
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Steimle, Jürgen
Proceedings of the ACM CHI'16 Conference on Human Factors in Computing
Systems
2016-05-07
v.1
p.420-432
© Copyright 2016 ACM
Summary: While 3D printing offers great design flexibility before the object is
printed, it is very hard for end-users to customize a 3D-printed object to
their specific needs after it is printed. We propose HotFlex: a new approach
allowing precisely located parts of a 3D object to transition on demand from a
solid into a deformable state and back. This approach enables intuitive
hands-on remodeling, personalization, and customization of a 3D object after it
is printed. We introduce the approach and present an implementation based on
computer-controlled printed heating elements that are embedded within the 3D
object. We present a set of functional patterns that act as building blocks and
enable various forms of hands-on customization. Furthermore, we demonstrate how
to integrate sensing of user input and visual output. A series of technical
experiments and various application examples demonstrate the practical
feasibility of the approach.
