
D-FORMER: DEVELOPABLE SURFACE | Illustrator Plug-in
A Simple Fabrication System for Unfolding Complex Architectural Surfaces
2016-2017 | In Collaboration with the Department of Visualization & Computer Science at Texas A&M.
Collaborators: Shell, Orduño, Winard, Bierwagen, Borhani, Akleman
Links: D-Form Construction
Project Description: Due to limitations of an average person’ fabrication knowledge, available tools, and materials, forms with planar faces is in demand. Generally, without using CAD software, the real challenge for most people is determining how to convert a conceptual three-dimensional design into a series of flattened two-dimensional patterns to build physical models. This problem becomes more serious when the designs have compound curvatures that can not be easily flattened or unfolded. Here, we worked on a method called D-form that allows complex surfaces with positive or negative curvatures to be constructed from planar surfaces. By using simple cutting technology, the D-form method facilitates the construction of geometrically complex structures at significantly lower costs by allowing for such surfaces to be cut from flat panels. By working on a plug-in for Illustrator, our goal was to generate intricate three-dimensional forms from two-dimensional sheets, simply by using D-form method. The plug-in can help to generate two shapes with perfectly matching perimeters that also contain holes of equal distances for use in connecting the two shapes together. The plug-in aims to facilitate the exploration of D-forms and their use in addressing developable surfaces within the bounds imposed by material properties.

