Living hinge
Straight Slit
Straight cuts in offset rows; links twist evenly.
η 1.00 · cut length, bridge, row spacing
Support guide · pattern library
Parametric DXF Pattern Generator
Twelve parametric patterns run on one engine: seven living hinges that bend a sheet and five perforated arrays that open it up. Each card below is drawn live from the same geometry the living hinge generator exports; open one to edit every parameter.
Gallery
All 12 patterns
Thumbnails are raster previews of real layouts.
Living hinge
Sinusoidal Wave
Sine-shaped cuts; longer effective links, softest bend.
η 1.15 · cut length, bridge, row spacing
Living hinge
Honeycomb Hex
Half-hex brackets facing each other; holds its curve.
η 0.90 · cut length, bridge, row spacing
Living hinge
Chevron
Nested V cuts; resists side shear on lids.
η 0.80 · cut length, bridge, row spacing
Living hinge
Diamond
Closed rhombus cut-outs; decorative and firm.
η 0.75 · cut length, bridge, row spacing
Living hinge
Cross-Link
Cuts with a cross bar; springy in both bend directions.
η 1.10 · cut length, bridge, row spacing
Living hinge
Auxetic
Bars in every bridge form rotating squares; curves two ways.
η 0.70 · cut length, bridge, row spacing
Perforated array
Staggered Round 60°
Classic perforated sheet. Grilles, filters, light diffusers.
hole Ø d, pitch p, margin
Perforated array
Hexagonal Vent
Highest open area per web. PC and amplifier vents.
across flats s, pitch p, margin
Perforated array
Obround Slot
Directional airflow, stiff panel. Enclosure vents, SBC cases.
slot L × w, pitch X, pitch Y
Perforated array
Radial Speaker Grille
Rings centred on a driver. Speaker and fan grilles.
grille D, hole d, ring and tangential pitch
Perforated array
Attractor Gradient
Graded hole size. Decorative vents, lamp panels.
min and max size, pitch, linear or point
Compare
Parameters, curvature and flexibility
| Pattern | Family | Parameters | Curvature | Flex η or open area |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Straight Slit | Living hinge | cut length · bridge · row spacing | Single | η 1.00 |
| Sinusoidal Wave | Living hinge | cut length · bridge · row spacing | Single | η 1.15 |
| Honeycomb Hex | Living hinge | cut length · bridge · row spacing | Single | η 0.90 |
| Chevron | Living hinge | cut length · bridge · row spacing | Single | η 0.80 |
| Diamond | Living hinge | cut length · bridge · row spacing | Single | η 0.75 |
| Cross-Link | Living hinge | cut length · bridge · row spacing | Single, both directions | η 1.10 |
| Auxetic | Living hinge | cut length · bridge · row spacing | Double (dome, saddle) | η 0.70 |
| Staggered Round 60° | Perforated | hole Ø d, pitch p, margin | Flat | OA = 90.69 × (d/p)² |
| Hexagonal Vent | Perforated | across flats s, pitch p, margin | Flat | OA = 100 × (s/p)² |
| Obround Slot | Perforated | slot L × w, pitch X, pitch Y | Flat | OA = 100 × ((L − w)w + πw²/4)/(px·py) |
| Radial Speaker Grille | Perforated | grille D, hole d, ring and tangential pitch | Flat | OA = 100 × N × d² / D² |
| Attractor Gradient | Perforated | min and max size, pitch, linear or point | Flat | OA = mean of cell ratios |
For hinges, η is the flex factor against Straight Slit in the torsion model behind R_min: higher bends tighter. For perforated arrays the last column is the open-area formula the studio uses. Values are estimates; the 5-step swatch confirms them on your own sheet.
Choosing
Which pattern for which job
- Box corners and book spines
- Straight Slit for predictable corners, Sinusoidal Wave when a 180° spine has to fold flat. Hinge box generator →
- Enclosures that must hold shape
- Honeycomb or Chevron; they spring back less and resist side loads on lids.
- Domes, shades and saddles
- Auxetic is the only pattern here that curves two ways at once. Auxetic living hinge →
- Airflow and cooling
- Hex vent for maximum open area, obround slots for stiff directional vents. Ventilation slots →
- Speakers and fans
- Radial grille rings centred on the driver. Speaker grille generator →
- Decorative light panels
- Attractor gradient hex holes that grow toward one edge or the centre. Perforated panel DXF →
Every pattern keeps the same export rules: inner cuts on the blue layer first, the outline last, kerf compensation on closed contours and no duplicate lines. Read the DXF and SVG guide for the layer table, and the kerf bending calculator for the bend formula.
FAQ
Questions makers ask
What does the η number mean?
η is the flex factor of a hinge pattern compared with Straight Slit in the R_min torsion model. A pattern with η 1.15 lets each link twist 15% more, so it reaches a tighter radius on the same lattice; η 0.70 needs a larger radius.
Can I mix two patterns in one part?
Not in one export: each design uses one pattern, one lattice and one bend. To combine, export two parts, or cut a perforated panel and a hinge strip separately and glue them; the shared layer colours keep both files consistent.
Why do the thumbnails look different from my design?
Each card uses a small sample panel so the pattern reads at thumbnail size: hinges at 3 mm row spacing and 18 mm cuts, vents on a 120 × 68 mm panel. Open in generator loads the full default design for that pattern.
Are all 12 patterns free to design?
Yes. Every pattern, every parameter, the live 2D and 3D preview, the numbers, the proof PNG and the formula TXT are free without sign-up. The kerf-compensated DXF and SVG, STEP and STL, and the swatch PDF come with any plan.