Meet the DPFT!

Doubly Periodic Folding Tessellations (DPFTs) are a versatile family of deployable materials that repeat a pattern in ‘row’ and ‘column’ directions. FoldStar software prototypes DPFTs by controlling the shape of a crease in the ‘row’ direction, and a cross-section in the ‘column’ direction. The Row Edge (RE) and Column Cross-Section (CCS) define the surface’s ‘base state’. All DPFTs fold from a flat sheet to a base state, and often beyond, without bending! FoldStar software provides an intuitive editor directly in the SolidWorks menu for building arbitrary RE and CCS curves, animates the folding process, and integrates the folded tessellation directly in the SolidWorks part design tree. Start folding below! Use the RE and CCS presets available in the application to select combinations. Click and hold to move the structure in 3D space, and zoom using the mouse wheel.