Robotic Needle Felting

Robotic Needle Felting explores the development of an additive manufacturing technique for nonwoven textiles. Nonwoven textiles, such as felt, can be natural materials (wool), synthetic polymers (polyester), or blends of the two. These textiles have numerous performative aspects for architectural applications including excellent acoustic absorption, thermal insulation, and tactile characteristics. The nonwoven textiles can be manipulated by a process called needle felting – whereby barbed needles, when punching through layers of material, entangle the fibers together making it a uniform material. This process binds the material together seamlessly without the addition of sewn thread or toxic adhesives, making this technique a more environmentally friendly process.

https://doi.org/10.35483/ACSA.AM.107.74

Volume Editors
Amy Kulper, Grace La & Jeremy Ficca

ISBN
978-1-944214-21-0