SeamLess: Bridging the Machine Gap in Personal Fabrication

Abstract

Manufacturing objects often involves several different materials and production machines. Intermediate products have to be physically transferred from one machine to the next and properly aligned for the next production step. With SeamLess, we introduce an implementation of a holistic approach to personal fabrication that helps makers bridge this machine gap. Our open-source software implements an example workflow between laser cutting, 3D printing, textile embroidery, and electronics. It adds information to machine files that creates alignment guides on the fabricated parts and machines themselves. In a workshop, SeamLess had a significant positive impact on bridging the machine gap without impacting existing maker processes.

Authors 5

1. Adrian Wagner Aachen

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

2. Simon Glimm Aachen

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

3. Paul Miles Preuschoff Aachen

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

4. Simon Voelker Aachen

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

5. Jan Borchers Aachen

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany