Origami Press - Butterfly

This 3D printed Origami Press can be used to pre-crease 75mm origami paper to aid in folding a simple but elegant butterfly model designed by Akira Yoshizawa.

Even with simple origami models it can be difficult to fold through many layers of paper accurately, and sometimes the mountains and valleys in the crease pattern alternate in such way that they must first be creased in the wrong direction when folding. Our press allows us to pre-crease the folds so that they can be folded the rest of the way individually, in the correct direction.

In particular, one of the final folds of this butterfly model pulls the paper together past its natural fold line, which is what creates the organic, curvy shape of the finished model. This press enables the folder to make this crucial fold very cleanly and thus produces a more reliable butterfly model.

The two panels of this press will be 3D printed together, connected by two small hinges. You can keep the hinges intact and slip paper between the hinged panels, or cut the hinges off if you prefer.

Links of interest:

• Read more and get the files at Hacktastic: Origami Press #2: Yoshizawa Butterfly
• See our Origami Press Collection