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DefeXtiles: Redefining Textile Fabrication

DefeXtiles, a revolutionary project by Jack Forman, introduces a rapid and low-cost technique to produce realistic high-fidelity textiles on 3D printers. This innovative approach enables the quick printing of thin, flexible textiles into complex 3D shapes, unlocking a myriad of applications including full-sized garment printing, deformable tangible interfaces, and ultra-tough shuttlecocks.

Forman's groundbreaking technique leverages under-extrusion to create thin, flexible textiles using common 3D printing materials with an unmodified 3D printer. By combining the properties of textiles with the advantages of 3D printing, DefeXtiles offers rapid iteration, hands-free fabrication, and computer-aided design, opening up new possibilities for smart textiles, tangible online shopping, toys, fabric design, and everyday life.

Inspired by the need for a fast and accessible approach to manufacture textiles into 3D forms, DefeXtiles presents a significant leap forward in textile fabrication technology, offering a solution that is both efficient and cost-effective.

In this paper, Forman and his team demonstrate how under-extrusion can be harnessed to print thin, flexible textiles with textile-like aesthetics and properties, such as breathability, flexibility, and stretchability, even with traditionally rigid materials. The project, initiated in October 2019 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, was completed in June 2020 and will be presented and demoed at the ACM User Interface Software and Technology Symposium 2020.

Forman's work on DefeXtiles not only introduces a new approach to textile fabrication but also overcomes the creative, technical, and research challenges associated with democratizing access to 3D forms with textiles. The project's innovative strategy enables the 3D printing of textiles into complex 3-dimensional forms using unmodified commodity 3D printers and no new software, marking a significant advancement in the field of advanced manufacturing.

With DefeXtiles, Jack Forman has not only redefined textile fabrication but has also been recognized for his exceptional innovation, as the project was awarded the Silver A' Design Award in Textile, Fabric, Textures, Patterns, and Cloth Design in 2021.

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