MIT CSAIL Realizes 1985 Three-Sided Zipper Patent With 3D-Printed Y-Zipper
Updated
Updated · Yanko Design · May 31
MIT CSAIL Realizes 1985 Three-Sided Zipper Patent With 3D-Printed Y-Zipper
1 articles · Updated · Yanko Design · May 31
Nearly 40 years after Bill Freeman patented the idea, MIT CSAIL built a working Y-Zipper that turns three flexible strips into a rigid, load-bearing triangular rod with a single pull.
CSAIL paired the fastener with an automated design system that lets users set strip length, bend angle and 1 of 4 motion modes before 3D printing the structure.
The reversible design addresses a key hurdle in tunable-stiffness systems, which often require manual assembly or are difficult to switch back from rigid to flexible.
Demonstrations have already covered camping gear, medical equipment, robotic limbs and art installations, while the team is exploring larger structures and stronger metal versions.
How can a single zip transform flimsy strips into rigid beams for robots, shelters, and even space exploration?
An inventor's rejected 40-year-old idea is now real. Can AI and metal printing make it a revolutionary material?