A new system developed at MIT CSAIL helps users design three-sided fasteners called “Y-zippers,” then 3D prints them. The devices can be attached or embedded to camping equipment, medical gear, robots, and art installations, seamlessly switching each item between soft and rigid.

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MIT News

MIT CSAIL researchers have revived a 1985 patent concept by William Freeman to create a three-sided 'Y-zipper' fastener. Using a custom software design tool and 3D printing with PLA or TPU plastics, users can customize and fabricate these triangular zippers that seamlessly switch objects between soft and rigid states. Applications include faster tent assembly, adjustable medical wrist casts, motorized robotic limbs, and dynamic art installations. Stress tests showed the zippers survived 18,000 open/close cycles before breaking, with durability attributed to their elastic stress-distributing structure. Future directions include metal versions, larger-scale fabrication, and potential use in disaster relief shelters and space exploration.

It took 40 years for technology to catch up to this zipper design