Nervous System Design Studio Offers Up 4D Printed Kinematics Textile Samples

When it comes to contemporary design and technology, don’t get too comfortable. Just as 3D printing is sweeping the world with one wave of innovation after another, it seems 4D printing is here to stay too, and if you find yourself starting to get to used to that, be assured something new is on the way to rock your world.

It wasn’t too long ago that we were all exclaiming over the shock and awe of 4D printing, tumbling onto the scene directly on the heels of 3D printing. Heads cocked suspiciously, many of us tried to conceive exactly what 4D meant. What we’ve discovered is that it’s best not to think about it too hard; just consider it, for these purposes, one fabric or medium that morphs into another one, within it’s space, to adapt to a particular condition or need—say activity or fit. In other cases, it might adapt or morph to fit weather conditions or a desired landscape.

Scale Shift swatch

While we’ve reported on several companies involved with the fourth dimension as related to 3D printed objects, the Nervous System (along with partner, Shapeways) design studio has been largely responsible for putting the 4D concept in the spotlight—and schooling us up on the basics of the fourth dimension–by way of haute couture with their 4D printed Kinematics dress—and the whole Kinematics system. Due to Kinematics, Nervous System is able to make extremely detailed fashion items that conform to the wearer’s shape through computational geometry techniques that employ rigid body physics and customization.

As popularity and knowledge regarding their 4D printed dress and other products has grown, Nervous System is just now rolling out a set of four Kinematics textile swatches to the public. Working as examples to show different styles and modules which make up the 4D printed fabric, the swatches come in 6×6 and 8×8 sizes. The set of four swatches has been created just in time to accompany the second Kinematics dress at the Autodesk Gallery in San Francisco.

The swatches offer a chance for the public to touch the fabrics and well as check out the different colors offered, with black being the default color when ordering, as Nervous System will also be offering the swatches at their online store at $110 each to clients who wish to own one or more.

They will be offering the following four swatches in black, blue, red, and white, all weighing 2 ounces:

• The Kinematics ‘Pattern Mix’ swatch (selectively laser sintered nylon), sized at 8 x 8 inches, is composed of polygonal, cellular, tetrahedral and solid panels.
• Kinematics ‘Scale Shift’ swatch (selectively laser sintered nylon), sized at 8 x 8 inches, is composed of cellular panels that morph in size.
• Kinematics ‘Stripe’ swatch (selectively laser sintered nylon), sized at 6 x 6 inches, is made up of a striped pattern of solid and perforated panels.
• Kinematics ‘Tetra’ swatch (selectively laser sintered nylon), sized at 6 x 6 inches, is made up of ‘protruding tetrahedrons.’

The textiles are made up of a collection of integrated pieces that move fluidly (imagine if someone were wearing a dress and turning or walking quickly). The swatches are all each integrated into one part, and do not require assembly.

Have you been following the progress of Nervous System’s 4D printed dress and other products? Share with us in the Nervous System 3D Printed Textile Swatches forum over at 3DPB.com.

Pattern Mix swatch

Stripe swatch

Tetra swatch