Soft and cuddly aren't words used to describe the plastic or metal things typically produced by today's 3D printers. However, a new type of device developed by engineers at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) and Disney Research Pittsburgh can turn wool and wool blend yarns into fabric objects that people might actually enjoy touching.
The device looks something like a cross between a 3D printer and a sewing machine and produces 3D objects made of a form of loose felt. Scott Hudson, a professor in CMU’s Human-Computer Interaction Institute who developed the felting printer with Disney Research support, claims the results are reminiscent of hand-knitted materials.