FlexMaps: Computational Design of Flat Flexible Shells for Shaping 3D Objects

摘要

We propose FlexMaps, a novel framework for fabricating smooth shapesout of flat, flexible panels with tailored mechanical properties. We start bymapping the 3D surface onto a 2D domain as in traditional UV mapping todesign a set of deformable flat panels called FlexMaps. For these panels, wedesign and obtain specific mechanical properties such that, once they areassembled, the static equilibrium configuration matches the desired 3D shape.FlexMaps can be fabricated from an almost rigid material, such as wood or plastic, and are made flexible in a controlled way by using computationallydesigned spiraling microstructures.