ReForm

Christian Weichel,Hans Gellersen,John Hardy,Jason Alexander

doi:10.1145/2807442.2807451

Abstract

Digital fabrication machines such as 3D printers and laser-cutters allow users to produce physical objects based on virtual models. The creation process is currently unidirectional: once an object is fabricated it is separated from its originating virtual model. Consequently, users are tied into digital modeling tools, the virtual design must be completed before fabrication, and once fabricated, re-shaping the physical object no longer influences the digital model. To provide a more flexible design process that allows objects to iteratively evolve through both digital and physical input, we introduce bidirectional fabrication. To demonstrate the concept, we built ReForm, a system that integrates digital modeling with shape input, shape output, annotation for machine commands, and visual output. By continually synchronizing the physical object and digital model it supports object versioning to allow physical changes to be undone. Through application examples, we demonstrate the benefits of ReForm to the digital fabrication process.

Highlights

Digital fabrication enables users to create custom physical objects
The creation process involves two separate tasks: first, the user generates or customises a digital model of the required object in virtual space; second, they hand the model over to a machine, to fabricate the physical object. This setup produces a rigid separation between work-spaces: the user can only manipulate the digital representation of the object, while the machine can only influence the physical object during fabrication
To overcome the rigidity of the conventional fabrication process, we introduce bidirectional fabrication: the ability for the user to move flexibly between working on the digital model and the physical object

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Digital fabrication enables users to create custom physical objects. The creation process involves two separate tasks: first, the user generates or customises a digital model of the required object in virtual space; second, they hand the model over to a machine, to fabricate the physical object. The fabrication process starts from either a digital model or a physical object—this can be an existing object or a clay object manually produced by the user. ReForm integrates several components in a novel way: a new material which is machinable, yet malleable; a five-axis CNC machine with a custom clay extruder and milling spindle; a physically aligned augmented reality interface; a structured light 3D scanner; annotation detection and custom toolpath generation to use our machines capabilities. Walkthrough: Smartwatch In this example we use ReForm to construct a smartwatch prototype that we mold to fit a users wrist, yet precisely hold electronic components This demonstrates how organic physical shaping and precise digital manipulation are combined in bidirectional fabrication.

DISCUSSION

CONCLUSION