BlowFab

Blowfabは、レーザーカッターとブロー成形を組み合わせることで、高速に再利用可能な2.5Dオブジェクトを作成できるプロトタイピング手法である。マスキングテープ、PETからなる多層構造のプラスチック板をレーザー加工することで、粘着箇所と空洞箇所を作成する。その後、2枚を重ね、ヒータを用いて温めることで板が軟化し、粘着箇所が自然に熱融着する。軟化時に空気を注入することで、硬質なプロトタイプを作ることができる。さらにカットパターンを工夫したり、耐熱樹脂を組み合わせることで、任意の角度に曲げたり、耐熱フィルムを用いることで表面に凹凸加工を施すことができる。

BlowFab is a prototyping method used to create a 2.5-dimensional prototype in a short time by combining laser cutting and blow molding techniques. The user creates adhesive areas and inflatable areas by engraving and cutting multilayered plastic sheets using a laser cutter. These adhesive areas are fused automatically by overlapping two crafted sheets and softening them with a heater. The user can then create hard prototypes by injecting air into the sheets. Objects can be bent in any direction by cutting incisions or engraving a resistant resin. The user can create uneven textures by engraving a pattern with a heat-resistant film.

UIST2017 [honorable mention]

Junichi Yamaoka, Ryuma Niiyama, and Yasuaki Kakehi. 2017. BlowFab: Rapid Prototyping for Rigid and Reusable Objects using Inflation of Laser-cut Surfaces. In Proceedings of the 30th Annual ACM Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology (UIST ’17). ACM, New York, NY, USA, 461-469.

https://dl.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=3126624

ProtoMold

ProtoMold is a novel fabrication machine which uses interactive vacuum forming system for rapid prototyping. ProtoMold combines a dynamical shape-changing surface that consists of 12 × 8 linear actuators and a vacuum forming system. According to the shape of the surface, this system can mold various 2.5 dimensional objects quickly. Another characteristic of this system is that users can reuse molded objects and change their design; by applying tension and heat to a molded object, the object becomes flat and can be molded again. We also designed user several interaction methods for manipulating ProtoMold. In addition to loading predesigned data, the user can control the shape of the pin display directly using gesture input or physical objects.

We propose several use scenarios for ProtoMold: changing the design of a plate based on objects placed on it, fabricating a facemask with a printed texture, and fabricating electrical devices with printed electronic circuits. By using this system, we conducted a user test and discuss the known limitations and potential applications of our system.

ProtoMoldは、高速かつやり直し可能な2.5Dプリンターです。近年普及している一般的な3Dプリンターなどのデジタルファブリケーションツールは、造形に時間がかかり、材料は使い捨てです。そこで、高速かつやり直し可能な真空成形法(バキュームフォーム)と動的なピンディスプレイを組み合わせたProtoMoldを開発しました。ユーザは、ジェスチャ入力や、3Dスキャナなどを使って、ピンディスプレイを制御し、型を作ります。型の成形後、樹脂の板を熱で柔らかくし、吸引器で吸引することで、一瞬で型に定着させます。完成後、樹脂の板を熱することで平らになり、再び利用することができます。

本装置を用いることで、日々の食材の形に応じたトレーを食事ごとに作り直すことができ、輸送や材料のコストを削減できます。またインクジェットプリンターと組み合わせることで、お面や地形のデザインが簡単にできます。さらに導電性インクを用いることで、回路を含めたプロトタイピングが可能です。例えば、LEDを内蔵した光る造形物や、複数のシートを組み合わせることでヘッドマウントディスプレイの試作など複雑な形状も試作可能です。さらに形だけではなく、印刷した模様や回路もやり直しができます。

dl.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=3025498&CFID=934053129&CFTOKEN=46155125

Junichi Yamaoka and Yasuaki Kakehi. 2017. ProtoMold: An Interactive Vacuum Forming System for Rapid Prototyping. In Proceedings of the 2017 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI ’17). ACM, New York, NY, USA, 2106-2115. DOI: doi.org/10.1145/3025453.3025498

MiragePrinter

The rapid proliferation of digital fabrication machines has resulted in creating an environment that enables more people to make various creations. From a viewpoint of Human Computer Interaction, interfaces bridging between works in the digital environment and the physical environment are necessary to support design for personal fabrication. To fill the gap, we propose a new type of fabrication machine called MiragePrinter that connects the users’ digital works and physical works seamlessly. More concretely, we make three contributions. Firstly, we propose a hardware, which can show floating images on a 3D printer stage. With this machine, users can simultaneously view optical images of their models and their physical manifestations in identical positions. We utilized the mid-air imaging display to superimpose images on physical objects. By using these optics, the system can show floating images without interfering the printing mechanism. Secondly, we have developed software and interfaces, so that users can control the displayed images and the printer actuations simultaneously. The user can design models using CAD software overlapped on the stage in real scale. In addition, users can manipulate models using face movements or a rotating stage. Thirdly, we open up new methods for fixing or customizing existing physical objects. [Editing 3D Objects While Printing] we suppose a scenario that a user makes a smartphone stand. The user can put the smart phone on the printing stage. He can test suitable angle for it physically and design the standby referring it directly. [Quick Scanning of Existing Objects] Users can scan and modify the shape of existing physical objects just by tracing the shape without using a high spec 3D scanner. [Direct Printing onto Existing Objects] This system enables the user to directly add new parts to an existing object (e.g. A new handle for an existing cap).

Junichi Yamaoka and Yasuaki Kakehi. 2016. MiragePrinter: interactive fabrication on a 3D printer with a mid-air display. In ACM SIGGRAPH 2016 Studio (SIGGRAPH ’16). ACM, New York, NY, USA, , Article 6 , 2 pages. DOI:

http://dl.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=2929489

MiragePrinterは、立体映像を組み合わせた新しい3Dプリンターです。3Dプリンタの中に立体映像ディスプレイを配置することで、プリンタの中で設計(モデリング)ができます。完成形をプリンタの中でみることできます。立体映像と造形物は実寸大なので、既製品をプリンタの中に入れて、見比べながら設計したり(本物のペンを置いてペンスタンドを設計)、既成品の上に直接プリントすることができます。またプリント途中に、造形を止めて、設計をし直すことで、途中で形をかえることができます。