Improved NASA Chainmail - Flexible 3D-printed Fabric
by syn3cd0che · via Printables
| Format | STL |
| Category | Other |
| License | CC BY |
| Triangles | 1.7M |
| Uploaded | Nov 5, 2025 |
⬇ 463 downloads
❤ 37 likes
👁 1.3k views
Description
This model is a ground-up redesign of the classic NASA Chainmail fabric. This flexible fabric is made of hexagonal tiles with interwoven loops on the back. The result is a sheet of hard plastic that can flex and fold like a thick, stiff fabric would. Basically every feature of the original model was modified in some way. Overall, the changes result in a part that prints and moves more cleanly with less material. The fabric can be printed with normal print settings and no supports. Several sheet sizes are provided, but if you would like a size that isn't listed, message me with the requested sheet size in tiles or mm. For extra flexibility, try printing a sheet out of TPU! The provided files were exported from Onshape using the “Coarse” STL preset to save on file size and slicer load times. This does not noticeably affect print quality. If you want the “Fine” STL or a STEP file instead for some reason, feel free to message me.
Originally published on Printables