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Recently, a new manufacturing method called Origami-forming is developed, based on traditional Origami approach. In particular, the new method follows the same steps as Origami, applying for wider rank of material (soft and hard material such as aluminum, high tensile steel, etc), and folding by a reconfigurable robot system. This method is suitable for high-variety low-volume, because of the unnecessary of die and punches. However, achieving the goal is still a challenge for researchers. Bending of hard material causes springback, increase risk of cracking, and require large pressure. In this study, by mimicking from the traditional Origami that we should make crease line before folding, bending method by grooving at the bend-line is proposed to reduce the necessary force to constraint the blank and get a high limit of bending. Firstly, several shapes of groove are compared: half-circle, gauss distribution, half-haxegon and rectangle. Then based on the comparison, the optimization of the shape is investigated. Lastly, handling system is considered to find an effective way of grasping the blank.Copyright © 2015 by ASME

In order to produce the origami-based foldable structures, designers have to determine the industrial material type, the geometry of structures and dimensions etc. These structures may be deformed in proportion to the load at the first step, and show the property of spring. Next step, the deformation will become non-linear conduct. However, deformation mechanism in these structures cannot be estimated yet well. So, appropriate design for shock absorbers cannot be done easily. In this paper, by experiments and FEM analysis, we present the theory of deformation mechanism on origami based foldable structures, which are made of resin or metal, have many types of dimensions and geometry. This theory shows not only the relationship between dimensions of structures and spring constant but also the relationship between material constant and the load to fold structures.