Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

An old patent inspired the new "Y-zipper", a three-sided fastener

news.mit.edu

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

41–50 of 50 posts

Re: An old patent inspired the new "Y-zipper", a three-sided fastener

#41

Post by superb_dev »

rationalist wrote: post #24

Zippers are usually attached to something. Is this design practical? What would it be used for? With this zipping mechanism, can anything be attached? Edit: Apparently I stopped watching the video too early. They demonstrate some uses where at max only one of the three sides can be attached to something, and it is used to create a rigid structure rather than joining multiple surfaces. The most interesting use demonst…

I thought the extendable robot legs were the most interesting use with how compact the legs are when retracted

Re: An old patent inspired the new "Y-zipper", a three-sided fastener

#42

Post by amelius »

rationalist wrote: post #24

Zippers are usually attached to something. Is this design practical? What would it be used for? With this zipping mechanism, can anything be attached? Edit: Apparently I stopped watching the video too early. They demonstrate some uses where at max only one of the three sides can be attached to something, and it is used to create a rigid structure rather than joining multiple surfaces. The most interesting use demonst…

Also a stuck zipper now means your entire tent becomes useless.

Re: An old patent inspired the new "Y-zipper", a three-sided fastener

#43

Post by IdiotSavage »

Is any of MIT's stuff "open"?

Clicking around on news.mit.edu I see lots of cool ideas. Articles mention "the software allows users to...", yet I never see a link to actual software.

For example, I expected to be able to try that 3D-zipper generator they show in the video myself.

Edit: found something:

https://github.com/tichaesque/FabObscura

Re: An old patent inspired the new "Y-zipper", a three-sided fastener

#44

Post by sggyamg »

qrush wrote: post #8
probably_wrong wrote: post #3

I 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

Thanks.

Re: An old patent inspired the new "Y-zipper", a three-sided fastener

#46

Post by rafram »

tempestn wrote: post #32
jbmchuck wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's definitely pretty whiz bang but I'm curious how it would hold up to the dirt and grime of a backpacking trip. I'm also not convinced it is any better or lighter than poles (which can be pretty light with the right materials...)

Even if it weren't lighter, it might be faster to set up and take down.

The video showed well over a minute of manual setup time! Most dome tents of a comparable size can be set up in less time than that. Elastic cords help pull the poles together, you put the ends into the grommets and clip the tent body on.

Re: An old patent inspired the new "Y-zipper", a three-sided fastener

#48

Post by [deleted] »

surround wrote: post #28
rationalist wrote: post #24

Zippers are usually attached to something. Is this design practical? What would it be used for? With this zipping mechanism, can anything be attached? Edit: Apparently I stopped watching the video too early. They demonstrate some uses where at max only one of the three sides can be attached to something, and it is used to create a rigid structure rather than joining multiple surfaces. The most interesting use demonst…

Poles. The video shows a tent they set up just by zipping up the y zipper.

[deleted]

Re: An old patent inspired the new "Y-zipper", a three-sided fastener

#49

Post by ngvrnd »

ayashko wrote: post #35

Same concept as in this 'zipper mast' video from over 10 years ago. Surprisingly compact as each side is from flexible steel sheet that can be rolled up ala tape measure style, then connected as they unroll to form a rigid shaft. Pretty cool; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3P_UTV3rV-k

ah the packbot. I remember working on that.
Post reply on HN