https://ars.electronica.art/radicalatoms/en Ars Electronica Festival 2016 Tue, 28 Jun 2022 13:26:43 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.6 https://ars.electronica.art/radicalatoms/en/english-active-wood-products/ Mon, 01 Aug 2016 10:54:56 +0000 https://ars.electronica.art/radicalatoms/?p=2519 Traditional wood-bending techniques require com- plex steaming equipment, labor-intensive forming processes and a high degree of expertise. In addi- tion, the natural pattern of wood grain and its physi- cal properties make it difficult to curve into complex shapes. Novel printing and composite material tech- nologies can now overcome previous limitations on wood forming. Flat sheets of custom-printed wood composite can be designed to self-transform in con- trolled and unique ways. We have developed a series of two-dimensional patterns, wood-printing tech- niques and processes for moisture-activation that promote precise transformation from a flat sheet to curved, twisted or folded three-dimensional forms. Active Wood Products are produced with a printed wood filament and carefully designed flat patterns that when subject to moisture can self-transform into the final shape of the product. We imagine a variety of products from tableware to jewelry and even furniture that can be designed and printed, then shipped flat in a moisture pack and self-trans- form at home.

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