The Protopiper, A Handheld Device for Quickly Fabricating Large-Scale Real-World 3D Designs Using Adhesive Tape

protopiper
photo via Hasso Plattner Institute

The Protopiper is a handheld device for quickly fabricating large-scale real-world 3D designs out of adhesive tape. The device extrudes and manipulates the tape into tubes that are then cut into a variety of ends to allow for different configurations during construction. The hollow tubes allow for strong and lightweight construction that can give designers a better idea of the scale of their final project.

Stefanie Mueller, one of the designers of the Protopiper, details the finer points o f how the device was built-in a post to her website.

protopiper GIF

protopiper build GIF

GIFs via Prosthetic Knowledge

via Prosthetic Knowledge

Glen Tickle
Glen Tickle

Amelia's dad. Steph's husband. Writer, comedian, gentleman. Good at juggling, bad at chess.