Dearest Gentle Reader, you may have noticed the new(ish) samples hopefully hanging on one of the lasers hooks. They are made with 1.4mm card and the amount of time it took to cut each sample is written on the back. Go ahead – give them a wiggle.
Those my friends are some wickedly simple ways to make rigid materials bend, it’s called kerfing.
Kerfing definition: The act of removing specific sections of material without compromising its structural integrity
Autodesk Instructables (website link: Curved Laser Bent Wood : 10 Steps (with Pictures) – Instructables) has a plethora of examples, each with their own flex and strength, some only bend back and forth, others can be stretched out in all directions. There are also some tutorials on how to kerf along a curve using photoshop.
Next time you’re making a wearable piece of tech with a living hinge, a life size model of a reptile that needs lots of fun texture, …or making a box, give kerfing a try.