Origami Folding Assisting Product

Defining the Problem: First, we explored the team's hobbies and identified potential motor-access barriers for each activity. Hobby 1: Ping pong Holding the paddle part of ping pong could be a barrier Hobby 2: Violin Holding the bow is hard for people with arthritis issues Reaching with the pinky for the strings Possible different handhold with some device that checks these boxes Pinky balances out bow Middle, ring, and thumb are used for grip Index variable pressure Hobby 3: Origami Creasing the paper is hard for those that can’t apply hard pressure Precreasing origami can be hard; lots of dexterity needed to fold in air / 3d space Paper thickness may increase the pressure needed It takes a lot of coordination to fold a crease precisely, holding down the paper, and finding the references. We ended up going with the origami hobby, as the problem seemed more universal than the violin and ping-pong problems. Additionally, because of our team’s experience in origami, it would be easier to empathize with users and identify pain points. For the violin, we found that improving the bow grip alone would only solve part of the accessibility challenge, since playing still requires significant fine-motor control in the opposite hand. This made it harder to design a product that would meaningfully improve overall accessibility.

Secondly, we did more research into origami and the experiences of those with motor-access barriers.

Origami requires precise creases, but creating them often involves carefully aligning reference points, holding the paper in position, and applying firm pressure to form the fold. These actions can be difficult for people with limited hand dexterity to form precise folds. But once a sharp crease has been established, it is much easier to complete the step using those folds. -Kevin’s experience, online testimonies

What does having limited hand dexterity mean? Dexterity issues often manifest in difficulty using the hands, fingers, and wrists to perform precise, coordinated, and skillful movements -Dexterity and Fine Motor Skills

Having dexterity issues can be symptoms of many conditions: Arthritis: swelling and pain from joints. Making grabbing, pinching, and pressing difficult. Link Parkinsons: decreased hand coordination. The Parkinson’s Foundation specifically notes changes in ease of hand and finger movements. Link Cerebral Palsy: affects muscle control, coordination, and involuntary movements. Some forms specifically make movements requiring high hand control difficult. Link Multiple sclerosis: causes weakness, clumsiness, slower movement, reduced fine-motor dexterity, and reduced strength in the arms and hands. Link

Thus, our team focused on: People with limited finger dexterity and hand-eye coordination. Helping users create precise creases with greater control and less fine-motor effort.

Market Research: We started by looking at current products on the market that may influence our design, including scorers, perforation machines, and bone folders. We’ve included our thoughts on the two products below.

Scorer:

Used to create a straight indentation in paper so it folds more easily. This indentation is not sharp enough to be considered a crease.

Pros: Simple/Intuitive to use. Has a backboard to measure references for different creases (halves, fourths, angle bisectors)

Cons: Still requires user-applied pressure and only scores the paper rather than creating a sharp fold. This may be due to the cross-sectional area of the groove being rectangular.

3D Design from YouTube:

Used to create equally spaced pleats.

Pros: Simple/Intuitive to use. Also makes sharp creases due to the cross-sectional area of the groove being ‘v’ shaped.

Cons: Still requires user-applied pressure; hard to roll.

Our goals for our solution: Thus, we wanted 1 product that achieved 3 things, which is currently unavailable on the market: Create a hard crease (and not just score/perforate it) Precisely crease between two references. (i.e., folding an angle bisector, halves, thirds, etc) Easy to use for those with dexterity issues (i.e., no pinching, hard pressing, or difficult hand-eye coordination required, ergonomically sound).

Sketch: Before we started CADing, we first started brainstorming different designs for our product using a sketch. Our sketch is below. Description:
Incorporated a ‘v’ shaped groove to ensure a sharp folded edge is created. Alignment board: users can line up any references needed (diagonals, halves, angle bisectors) Lever + Knob: allows for adjustments before paper gets secured and creased. CAD Design 1:

In our first CAD iteration, we combined the main features from our initial sketches. The user first places the paper on the alignment board and uses the board markings to position the desired fold line over the V-shaped groove. Once aligned, the paper-securing mechanism is lowered to hold the sheet in place. The user then slides the scoring knob along the groove, pressing the paper (in red) into the V-shape to create a precise crease.

Pros of this Design

Paper securement: Holds the paper in place so it doesn’t shift while the knob moves across the fold line. V-shaped groove: Helps create a sharp, well-defined crease with less effort. Alignment board: Makes it easier to line up precise origami references and gives the user more control over the fold. Instead of aligning, holding, and creasing the paper all at once, the user can separate the process into two simpler steps: align first, then crease. Cons of this design

Paper securement may be too secure, to the point that the paper can’t be shoved into the groove for the crease to be made. Hand calcs must still be made to determine the correct securement force. No handle to lift the lever up and down. Ergonomically hard to use still. The grooves may be too large. Hand calcs are still needed to validate the V-shaped groove in order for it to not be too deep, but also for it to not be too shallow to not be able to make the crease.

We later iterated on our first design based on our pros/cons list. We wanted to improve on our pain points while keeping the good things for our design.

CAD Design 2 (Final):

Design 2 works similarly to Design 1, with a few key improvements: Reduced the size of the paper securement piece to make the tool easier to use and avoid over-constraining the paper. This allows the paper to move slightly into the groove as the crease is formed. Added a handle that extends over the alignment board for easier operation. Added magnets to hold the securement piece in place, reducing the force needed to press down while scoring. Optimized the groove geometry for a permanent crease without tearing the paper. Stress and strain calculations were used to determine a bend radius that creates a strong crease while avoiding excessive paper damage. We found that a bend radius of 0.2 mm - 0.4 mm was optimal at creating a sharp crease. With more time, we would test out these range of values using prototypes and physical tests.

Materials Clear plastic (ABS) for the paper securement (lever mechanism) Allows visibility for adjustments in paper location. Not overly heavy for users with arm / hand strength issues. Ordinary plastic (ABS) for the alignment board with indicators of paper location for different folds Easy to manufacture (injection mold) at a cheaper cost. Magnets connecting the alignment board and paper securement Allows minimal effort to push the paper scorer to create crease. COTS dowel pin for hinge Glued to alignment board Prototyping Manufacturing Very 3d printing friendly design Simple mechanisms and easy assembly processes Mass Manufacturing: Injection molding the plastic parts (Paper securer, alignment board) Off the shelf parts can be used for magnets and dowel pins.

Broader Use Case: While designed to improve accessibility for people with dexterity challenges, the product can benefit any origami artist by creating sharp, precise creases along reference points. This is especially helpful for complex models, where accuracy is critical. Given Kevin’s experience with origami, this use is very helpful. Creasing precise folds is often a tedious, laborious task. But, with this product, it allows you to make sharp, accurate creases with mammal effort. Usually, Citations

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