Publication
Meltables: Fabrication of Complex 3D Curves by Melting
Abstract
We propose a novel approach to fabricating complex 3D shapes via physical deformation of simpler shapes. Our focus is on objects composed of a set of planar beams and joints, where the joints are thin parts of the object which temporarily become living hinges when heated, close to a fixed angle defined by the local shape, and then become rigid when cooled. We call this class of objects Meltables. We present a novel algorithm that computes an optimal joint sequence which approximates a 3D spline curve while satisfying fabrication constraints. This technique is used in an interactive Meltables design tool. We demonstrate a variety of Meltables, fabricated with both 3D-printing and standard PVC piping.
Download publicationRelated Resources
See what’s new.
2024
Wavelet Latent Diffusion: Billion-Parameter 3D Generative Model with Compact Wavelet EncodingsAddressing a common limitation of generative AI models, WaLa encodes…
2023
Challenges in Extracting Insights from Life Cycle Assessment Documents During Early Stage DesignKnowledge transfer from LCA documents and building a structured…
2024
CalWave: Harnessing Ocean Power for a Sustainable FutureLearn how CalWave is advancing renewable energy sector with its wave…
2008
An FPGA-based model suitable for evolution and development of spiking neural networksWe propose a digital neuron model suitable for evolving and growing…
Get in touch
Something pique your interest? Get in touch if you’d like to learn more about Autodesk Research, our projects, people, and potential collaboration opportunities.
Contact us