Origamizer

Environment

• Runs on Windows 2000 and XP (32bit). (Please tell me if it works on Vista.)
• Origamizer***.exe is now optimized for Pentium 4. It may fail to execute on other CPUs.

Basic Interface

• Double click on Origamizer***.exe.
• Left window : the 3D window showing the desired 3D model.
  • Red paths show the perimeter of the paper. This can be modified with a cut tool (Tool->Cut).
  • Red polygon is the selected polygon. This corresponds to the one on the CP window.
• Right window : the CP window showing the resulting crease pattern.
  • Shows the layout of mapped polygons and tucking-molecules.
  • If System -> Crease Pattern Generation is checked the crease pattern draws.
  • Green molecules (quadrilaterals) indicate that the tuck may penetrate the surface behind. You can split (sink fold) these either by chosing the "Model -> Split Extrawide Tucks" or by clicking the molecule with the split tool (Tool -> Split).
• Change View
  • right drag: rotate
  • wheel drag: pan
  • wheel scroll: zoom

Process Overview

The procedures written in boldface is always required.

1. Input
   • File -> Open and select or D & D *obj file.
   • Format is Wavefront OBJ
   • Model must be a single manifold polygon mesh.
2. Perimeter of Paper
   • The system automatically cuts the mesh into a topological disk (polygonal schema).
   • Tool -> Flood to recalculate the polygonal schema.
   • Tool -> Cut to add/delete/move paper perimeter on the surface.
3. Develop
   • Model->Develop to develop the polygons onto a plane.
   • The system automatically calculates the initial layout by iterative optimization.
   • If the iteration does not converge, Model->Develop again may work.
   • If System -> Angle Condition is checked, the layout is determined based on the sufficient conditions (not on necessary conditions).
4. Crease Pattern Generation
   • System->Generate to display the crease pattern.
5. Interaction
   • Tool -> Move : directly drag the polygons.
   • Tool -> Explode : use this like a paint brush to fatten or narrow tucks.
   • Tool -> Split : click to split (sink fold) the clicked tucks.
6. Output
   • Rotate to fit the crease pattern to a square.
   • File->SaveAs to save the crease pattern as a DXF file.
7. Fold
   • Enjoy folding your own 3D model!

Menu

• File
  • Open : Opens the 3D model in wavefront OBJ (*.obj)
  • ReOpen : Opens the current *.obj again.
  • SaveAs : Saves the current crease pattern as a DXF file.
• System : Specifies the processes automatically done by the system.
  • Avoid Intersection : If this is checked, the system automatically avoids the intersections between the mapped polygons.
  • Angle Condition : If this is checked, the system automatically calculates the sufficient conditions to origamize.
  • Crease Pattern Generation : If this is checked, the system draws the crease pattern.
• Model
  • Develop : develops the polygons of the polyhedron
  • Split Extrawide Tucks : automatically splits the extra-wide tucks indicated by green.
• Tool : Select the current tool
  • Move : Click on the face to select, drag to change the layout of the polygons.
  • Explode : Click and drag on the CP window to fatten or narrow (+Shift) edge-tucking molecules around the mouse cursor.
  • Split ETM : Click the edge-tucking molecule to manually split or merge (+Shift) the tucks.
  • Cut : Click on the edge to add and delete cut paths. Click on the face to relocate the cut path. Only faces are selected if Shift key is pressed.
  • Flood : Click on a face and you get a new cut path to make the polygon a disk.
• View : Specifies the types of elements to be drawn.

History

2008.08.29 : Release of ver 0.47 fixed problems in importing obj from wing3D.
2008.05.26 : Release of ver 0.43

Acknowledgement

Author