Laser Cutting and Scoring: A Folded ShapePaul HaeberliNov 1996![]() This project explores using lasers to score and cut material to create very precise and complicated folded patterns. This was my first experiment in laser manufacturing. To get going, I read the AutoCad DXF spec and got a sample file from the studio that provides laser cutting services. Then I wrote a C program to allow me to generate a DXF file on my workstation with score and cut coordinates.
![]() The program generated a drawing that looked like this. Here, blue lines represent cuts, while the gray lines represent scores.
![]() I transferred the DXF file to a PC floppy and gave it to the studio with the laser cutting machine. A few days later, I got back several sheets of mylar and paper that were cut and scored in two different sizes.
![]() On mylar the scored lines appear a light gray color, while on paper these score lines are slightly brown. I found the mylar was even easier to fold than the paper.
![]() To make this shape, first the material is folded into a zig zag pattern.
![]() Then one side of the object is folded like this.
![]() Finally the other side is folded in a similar way to complete the object.
![]() This is the same shape fabricated from paper.
![]() It's nice to explore the possibilities of these shapes as they are manipulated.
![]() Perhaps someday we can model the dynamics of these kinds of surfaces on the computer.
![]() This is similar to the first structure, but fabricated at a larger size. For my next project in laser manufacturing, I created a plot of a 3D surface function from cardboard.
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