Timer 555 origami

Etienne Cliquet, march 2006

• Final model
• Crease pattern download
• Folding steps

Timer 555 IC (0,40 euro at Selectronic, Paris)

The 555 timer IC was first introduced around 1971 by the Signetics Corporation as the SE555/NE555 and was called "The IC Time Machine" and was also the very first and only commercial timer ic available. It provided circuit designers and hobby tinkerers with a relatively cheap, stable, and user-friendly integrated circuit for both monostable and astable applications. Like an acarid, this chip is widely present in our everyday life but rather invisible at the same time. This situation is a bit like contemporary origami design. Its influence has been very important in math, science, technology and architecture in last two decades but origami is still considered by most people as a game for children. It seems to me logical to represent a Timer 555 in origami for these reasons.

PDF format (300Ko)
format A0 (2m90 x 85cm)

source : e-lektronik

The term diagram is used in origami design as well as in electronic. Visually and conceptually, the same word in the both context are very closed. For this reason, i've imagined to comment each node ot the Timer 555 origami crease pattern like a electronic block diagram to describe the big expansion of the origami design for fifty years in relation with math, science, architecture. About 2000 words wil be spread in all over the crease patternIt is a bit long so please come back in the next few weeks for more updates.

Folding steps :

screenshot of ORIPA design (software by Jun Mitani)


simulation of a PIN with ORIPA


sheet of paper (black on one side and silver on the other side) - 3 meters by 0.90 meter.


pre-folding


progressive assembling of the entire model


slow apparition of the form


finished model !

 

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pictures : Etienne Cliquet 2006