Computers, 3-D printer permits design of balloon toys in any shape

ERJ staff report (DS)

Zurich, Switzerland - “Computational Design of Rubber Balloons” is the title of a paper due to be presented by Dr Mélina Skouras and Dr. Bernhard Thomaszewski  at Eurographics in Cagliari, Italy on Friday, May 18th.

The paper will demonstrate how to design an initial deflated balloon and then produce a mould or former using a 3-D printer.

The system works out how a membrane deforms as it is inflated under

pressure, and then reverses that process to get from the desired

inflated shape back to the deflated condition. This is the basic shape of the former. The balloon is then created from the former. When inflated, the balloon will adopt the desired shape - such as a rabbit or indeed the head of Mickey Mouse. 

The researchers did not say if they can apply extra material to certain points of the former, in order to develop specific geometries, or indeed, if such extra material is necessary. However, they noted that sharp, geometric edges are difficult to achieve with inflated models.

Skouras is part of a team at ETH in Zurich (Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich). In an on-going research effort with the Disney Corporation, the team has been attempting to develop systems which can create novel shapes in inflated materials.

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List of papers at Eurographics (Scroll down to final paper or search on “rubber”)

Home page of researcher Bernhard Thomaszewski from Disney Research