Huaishu Peng

We present a new type of 3D printer that can form precise, but soft and deformable 3D objects from layers of off-the-shelf fabric. Our printer employs an approach where a sheet of fabric forms each layer of a 3D object. The printer cuts this sheet along the 2D contour of the layer using a laser cutter and then bonds it to previously printed layers using a heat sensi-tive adhesive. Surrounding fabric in each layer is temporarily retained to provide a removable support structure for layers printed above it. This process is repeated to build up a 3D object layer by layer.

Our printer is capable of automatically feeding two separate fabric types into a single print. This allows specially cut layers of conductive fabric to be embedded in our soft prints. Using this capability we demonstrate 3D models with touch sensing capability built into a soft print in one complete printing process, and a simple LED display making use of a conductive fabric coil for wireless power reception.

Created by:
Huaishu Peng, Jennifer Mankoff, Scott E. Hudson, Jim McCann.

Awards: CHI 2015 “Best Paper Nominee”.

Selected Press:
TechCrunch | Disney’s New 3D Printer Prototype Makes Huggable Things ...
NBC News | This Disney 3-D Printer Uses Fabric to Create Soft ...
Engadget | Disney Research has a 3D printer that can sew bunnies for ...
CNET | Disney Research's New 3D Printer Can Print in Fabric ...
Gizmodo | Disney Made a 3D Printer That Creates Soft Objects ...
3DPrint | Disney Research Develops New Fabric 3D Printer ...
3DPrintingIndustry | Disney's Fabric 3D Printing – It's Not Just Soft, It's ...
PCWorld | Disney's fabric-based 3D printer puts out squishable objects ...
Digital Trends | Disney Research Has Developed a Wild New 3D Printer that ...
Kurzweil | Disney Research 3-D Printer Can Combine Fabrics, Wiring ...
New Atlas | Layered Fabric 3D Printer Creates Squeezable Interactive ...
Makezine | Disney 3D Prints with Fabric, Makes Soft Interactive Toys ...
Geek | Disney Made a 3D Fabric Printer that Can Put Tech into Dolls ...
3Ders | Disney Researchers Develop 'Soft' 3D Printer that Creates Objects ...
ALL3DP | Disney’s on to Something Big with 3D Printed Fabric ...
Inferse | Disney Developing Fabric 3D Printer that Will Revolutionize Toy ...
Slash Gear | Disney’s Prototype 3D Printer Makes Things from Soft Fabric ...

Research Paper:
In Proceedings of CHI '15.