Computer-Controlled 3D Freeform Surface Weaving

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel computer-controlled weaving system capable of fabricating complex 3D surface structures using high-stiffness threads, combining new machinery, processes, and computational methods for precise surface shaping.

Contribution

It presents a new weaving machine, manufacturing process, and computational approach for converting 3D surfaces into weaving instructions, enabling advanced 3D surface weaving with diverse materials.

Findings

Successful fabrication of 3D woven structures with various materials

Development of a computational method for surface-to-weaving conversion

Demonstration of complex surface weaving with prototype system

Abstract

In this paper, we present a new computer-controlled weaving technology that enables the fabrication of woven structures in the shape of given 3D surfaces by using threads in non-traditional materials with high bending-stiffness, allowing for multiple applications with the resultant woven fabrics. A new weaving machine and a new manufacturing process are developed to realize the function of 3D surface weaving by the principle of short-row shaping. A computational solution is investigated to convert input 3D freeform surfaces into the corresponding weaving operations (indicated as W-code) to guide the operation of this system. A variety of examples using cotton threads, conductive threads and optical fibres are fabricated by our prototype system to demonstrate its functionality.