An old patent inspired the new "Y-zipper", a three-sided fastener
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Re: An old patent inspired the new "Y-zipper", a three-sided fastener
#2> ... the Y-Zipper, a 3D-printed, three-sided fastener that can snap a floppy, flexible structure into a rigid, load-bearing beam with one smooth pull.
Not a mechanical engineer, but I'd figure both the "rigid" and "load-bearing" aspects will be far poorer than conventional beams of the same size and weight.
Re: An old patent inspired the new "Y-zipper", a three-sided fastener
#3I suggest reading the original linked article, if only because it includes a video with the zipper in action:
Re: An old patent inspired the new "Y-zipper", a three-sided fastener
#4> ... the Y-Zipper, a 3D-printed, three-sided fastener that can snap a floppy, flexible structure into a rigid, load-bearing beam with one smooth pull. Not a mechanical engineer, but I'd figure both the "rigid" and "load-bearing" aspects will be far poorer than conventional beams of the same size and weight.
Depends on the material that is being used and application. I could see this being highly useful for tents and similar fabric structures. I probably would not build a satellite solar panel structure/frame with them (atomic oxygen is a nasty critter) but for some lightweight terrestrial applications I can see much potential.
Re: An old patent inspired the new "Y-zipper", a three-sided fastener
#5> ... the Y-Zipper, a 3D-printed, three-sided fastener that can snap a floppy, flexible structure into a rigid, load-bearing beam with one smooth pull. Not a mechanical engineer, but I'd figure both the "rigid" and "load-bearing" aspects will be far poorer than conventional beams of the same size and weight.
Depends on the material that is being used and application. I could see this being highly useful for tents and similar fabric structures. I probably would not build a satellite solar panel structure/frame with them (atomic oxygen is a nasty critter) but for some lightweight terrestrial applications I can see much potential.
Interesting, which material?
Re: An old patent inspired the new "Y-zipper", a three-sided fastener
#6Earlier quoted context omitted.
Depends on the material that is being used and application. I could see this being highly useful for tents and similar fabric structures. I probably would not build a satellite solar panel structure/frame with them (atomic oxygen is a nasty critter) but for some lightweight terrestrial applications I can see much potential.
Interesting, which material?
For example, if you used PLA you'd get a stiffer, more mechanically-rigid structure in the zipped-up state. If you used TPU, you'd get a more flexible and elastic structure. I'd want PLA for tent seams and TPU for the door zipper.
Re: An old patent inspired the new "Y-zipper", a three-sided fastener
#7This reads like it’s been machine generated.
Re: An old patent inspired the new "Y-zipper", a three-sided fastener
#8I suggest reading the original linked article, if only because it includes a video with the zipper in action: https://news.mit.edu/2026/three-sided-y-zipper-design-0504
Direct link to video. These are some freaking cool zippers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWig98GVIno
Re: An old patent inspired the new "Y-zipper", a three-sided fastener
#9> ... the Y-Zipper, a 3D-printed, three-sided fastener that can snap a floppy, flexible structure into a rigid, load-bearing beam with one smooth pull. Not a mechanical engineer, but I'd figure both the "rigid" and "load-bearing" aspects will be far poorer than conventional beams of the same size and weight.
This might be one of those cases where it solves for problem spaces that aren't being considered yet.
What I mean by that is in the case of soft robotics, it was developments in manufacturing techniques for the inflated leading edge of kitesurfing kites, that unlocked the capabilities to make soft robots more feasible.
Re: An old patent inspired the new "Y-zipper", a three-sided fastener
#10It brings to mind satellites assembling themselves in space. Send up a tightly packed box of spaghetti and extrude it into the desired physical shape upon arrival in orbit. For increased rigidity, paint with a solar pumped laser to weld the links together.