An innovative approach to 3D felt manufacturing has been developed

An innovative robotic needle felting process has been developed by researchers at the Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning in the US.

Wes McGee, Tsz Yan Ng and Asa Peller are the brains behind this new process, which would lead to an improvement in the precision and speed of manufacturing of felt.

It would also mean that felt could be made in more complex shapes than before and could also have additional properties built into the panels even though they would not necessarily be seen on the surface.

It presents a unique opportunity to investigate the potentials of an additive manufacturing approach.

Using wool, polyester or a combination of both, the printing prototypes utilise three different felting techniques – quilting, shiplap and shingle. Shiplap is a technique of overlapping which is often used in timber planks, while shingle is a technique with overlapping tiles.

“While notable CNC examples exist, such as weaving and 3D knitting, these processes impose limitations on the resulting part thickness and fibre density," said the team.

"Given the unique capacity of felt to be seamlessly 'added' into a cohesive solid, it presents a unique opportunity to investigate the potentials of an additive manufacturing approach."

Community comments

Latest News

Webinar Replay: BIM’s Role In Product Specification

Posted 27.03.2024

Introduction to BIM Webinar: BIM’s Role In Product Specification
Play VideoPlay Video

This webinar series was curated especially for an audience concerned with the Australian built environment. A range of industry pioneers revealed how BIM & Revit content is going to transform the world of construction there. It featured practical tips and real-life experience from knowledgeable experts. In this second episode, hear from Adam Ward, CTO of Space Group. This very accessible session is for people at all stages of their Building Information Modeling (BIM) journey. He will take you through BIM and its role in product specification.

Hamworthy Heating: The benefits of Stainless Steel in hot water generation

Posted 26.03.2024

With stainless steel becoming a popular choice for hot water products, our friends at Hamworthy Heating take a look at some of the key factors driving this trend.

Fire Protection Is Key for New FrameSafe FR Membrane

Posted 25.03.2024

Leading manufacturer Glidevale Protect has launched Protect FrameSafe FR - a new Class A2-s1, d0 flame retardant external wall breather membrane offering fire protection across low, medium and high-rise buildings.

CloseClose