The Surrogate Fold Catalog: a Design Tool for Origami-Inspired Mechanical Systems

Origami has inspired work in many fields of science and engineering. However, it can be difficult to transfer the motion of an origami design from folded paper to thicker, stiffer materials. When using engineering materials, creases from an origami fold pattern are usually replaced with “surrogate folds”. While many different surrogate folds have been developed, it is challenging for a designer to quickly survey and compare potential surrogate folds. Surrogate folds can improve many origami-inspired designs and applications by changing how the designs are manufactured and how they behave. This work categorizes compliant mechanisms that may be effective as surrogate folds in a large number of origami applications. This Surrogate Fold Catalog is a tool for designers of origami systems to select and/or design mechanisms that can imitate folds. Principles and characteristics are discussed that a designer should consider to design dynamic origami systems that more effectively meet design requirements, including manufacturing considerations; controlling and utilizing off-axis motion; and introducing secondary functions surrogate folds may play be-yond attaching panels together. Also presented are guidelines on how to use the Surrogate Fold Catalog to design new or adapt existing surrogate fold mechanisms by parameterizing aspects of material and geometry.