PaperMech: FoldMecha Simulator, 2014-2016

HyunJoo Oh, Jeeeun Kim, Cory Morales, Mark D. Gross, Michael Eisenberg, Sherry Hsi.

FoldMecha: Exploratory Design and Engineering of Mechanical Papercraft, TEI 2017: DOI PDF

FoldMecha: Design for Linkage-Based Paper Toys, UIST 2015: DOI PDF

Our design simulator, FoldMecha supports interactive exploratory engineering design of moveable paper crafts. It combines the strengths of designing with a physical construction kit with the flexibility of design software and rapid manufacturing. In FoldMecha, a designer assembles component mechanisms and changes parameters of linkages, gear sizes, and motor types. As a user constructs a design, FoldMecha shows its behavior in simulation. Users design new modules by linking mechanisms or assembling more complicated moveable objects by revising movement modules. FoldMecha then generates the folding net to cut for physical prototyping.

FoldMecha supports users to select where they want to start from–either motions or mechanisms. In our workshops, we noticed that the unfamiliarity of domain specific languages, such as rack and pinion gears or crank mechanism, concerns novice designers from the beginning. So it inspired us to develop the FoldMecha system to start with familiar languages and ideas such as up-down, open-close, or flapping. Users can choose the mechanism and specify details of the local parameters while exploring the simulation of the motions.

You can explore FoldMecha [here].