Development of an Multi-Process Planning Tool

This project seeks to provide methods and set of tools for processing, modifying, and generating 3D models that use multiple materials and fabrication processes. Areas of research include planning of fabrication steps, automatic part modification, optimization of component properties, and generation of the files and fixtures needed to produce multi-material parts. Implementation of these algorithms is done in Python using a voxel-based model representation. This work will make multi-material fabrication more accessible for educational and research robotics. Current work is focused on applications of graded materials in the design of robust material transitions. The results will inform the design of stronger flexible joints for use in low-cost robotics applications. More information is available on the project GitHub repository.

Students

Cole Brauer, Jude Brauer, Charles Jeffries

Funding

This work was supported in previously part of a Masters’ thesis, the topic of a FURI project as well as a Barrett Honors thesis