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DefeXtiles: A Game-Changing Innovation in Textile Fabrication

Jack Forman introduces DefeXtiles, a groundbreaking technique revolutionizing textile fabrication. This rapid and low-cost approach enables the production of realistic high-fidelity textiles on 3D printers, offering a myriad of applications, including printing full-sized garments, deformable tangible interfaces, and ultra-tough shuttlecocks.

In a pioneering effort, Forman demonstrates that under-extrusion defects can be finely controlled to quickly print thin, flexible textiles into complex 3D shapes. This innovative method addresses the need for a fast and accessible approach to manufacture textiles into 3D forms, marking a significant advancement in the field of textile fabrication.

DefeXtiles leverages under-extrusion to print thin, flexible textiles using common 3D printing materials with an unmodified 3D printer. This approach combines the properties of textiles with the advantages of 3D printing, allowing for rapid iteration, hands-free fabrication, and computer-aided design.

Forman's work on DefeXtiles will be presented and demoed at the ACM User Interface Software and Technology Symposium 2020, showcasing the potential applicability of this innovative approach for smart textiles, tangible online shopping, toys, fabric design, and everyday life.

Forman's groundbreaking research introduces a new strategy, called DefeXtiles, to 3D print quasi-woven fabrics that are thin, flexible, and fast to fabricate. This approach enables the production of complex geometries, including pleated, curved, and metamaterial structures, using a standard 3D printer. The use of multi-material printers also allows users to embed circuit traces into the textile via conductive filament.

DefeXtiles represents a significant leap forward in democratizing access and ability to make 3D forms with textiles. Forman's innovative technique allows textiles to be 3D printed into complex 3-dimensional forms using unmodified commodity 3D printers and no new software, marking a pivotal moment in the evolution of textile fabrication.

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