HP Innovation Journal Issue 11: Winter 2018 | Page 42

4 RED HEXAGONS HP’s 3D solution enables printing of fabric-like structures with fine but strong interlocking pieces and no assembly required. A fabric of hexagons has more directions along which it can drape, compared to one of squares or rectangles, but it is also stiffer. This is because each hexagon is a sandwich encasing tiny posts that limit the rotational freedom of the triangular, inter-hexagon connectors. The fabric’s sandwich design means there is no “wrong” side. Designed by Mary Baker 40 HP Innovation Journal Issue 11