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Technology

Origami glass technique produces hard-to-make shapes

A method for mixing glass particles into a soft material, folding the mixture like origami, then applying heat to melt it can be used to build beautifully folded glass structures

By Karmela Padavic-Callaghan

28 March 2023

A feather made using the technique

A feather made using the technique

Tao Xie

A method for shaping glass based on origami can create delicate and intricate objects that are difficult to make otherwise.

Household glass objects like jars or bottles are typically made by a combination of pressing glass into moulds and glassblowing, while more unique glass objects can also be 3D printed. But these methods are rarely ideal for making intricate and delicate objects: unmoulding them in one piece can be difficult, blowing requires lots of time and a skilled artisan and 3D printing can give …

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