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Auxetic Living Hinge Generator

Pro

Create auxetic cut patterns made of rotating squares. Short horizontal and vertical slits alternate on a grid; the squares between them hang on narrow ligaments and rotate when stretched – the material expands in both directions when bent and wraps around doubly curved surfaces such as spheres or saddles. Export your design as SVG, DXF or PDF for your CNC router or laser cutter.

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Parameters
Configure the living hinge pattern

Material

Width of the plate

Height of the plate

Cut Pattern

15 mm

Length of each individual cut line

4 mm

Bridge width between cuts in the same row

5 mm

Distance between cut rows

Appearance

No design generated

Rotating Squares

The classic auxetic pattern: slits in a checkerboard, every square hangs on four ligaments and rotates when stretched. No cut touches another and no region is enclosed.

Parametric

Adjust plate size, slit length, and ligament width – the cell size follows from them. Changes are shown instantly in the preview.

SVG, DXF & PDF Export

Export your design directly as SVG, DXF or PDF for your CAM software. All coordinates in millimetres.

Auxetic Hinge Tips

  • Material Thickness: Auxetic patterns need thin, tough material (1–4 mm). The thinner the material, the further the squares can rotate.
  • Ligament Width: The ligaments at the corners carry all the movement. Use 1.5–2.5 mm in plywood and 2–3 mm in acrylic – below 1 mm they tear quickly.
  • Cell Size: Small cells (short slits) wrap tighter around curves, large cells stretch further. For spherical surfaces a test cut with two sizes pays off.
  • Material: Aircraft plywood, polypropylene, and thin MDF work well. Brittle materials break at the ligaments.
  • Test Cut: Make a small test piece first and stretch it in both directions to find ligament width and cell size for your material.

Application Examples

Domes & Spherical Surfaces

Flat material that stretches over spheres, domes, and saddle surfaces – made possible by expansion in both directions.

Wearables

Arm cuffs, masks, and form-fitting accessories that adapt to the body in several directions.

Lampshades

Spherical lamps where the grid opens up when stretched and creates a lively light pattern.

Cushioning & Padding

Flexible inserts and protective surfaces that adapt under pressure instead of kinking.

Auxetic Living Hinge Generator