Complex laser folding and fabrication

1. A method of cutting and folding a substrate that defines a plane with a focused laser beam, directed from a direction to the substrate, to form a three-dimensional (3D) element with features in 3-dimensions, the method comprising:

(a) executing from said direction laser cuts to the substrate, which is initially unpatterned and planar, so as to provide one or more releasable segments; and

(b) executing one or more folds to form the 3D element by performing:

(i) from said direction one or more laser-executed upward folds to bend at least one releasable segment of the one or more releasable segments; and

(ii) from said direction one or more laser-executed downward folds to bend at least one releasable segment of the one or more releasable segments;

wherein the cuts and folds are structured so that precursors to the 3D element remain attached to the substrate while sufficient cuts and folds are made to form the 3D element; wherein the substrate is immobile during said steps (a) through (b), or is only moved in the plane of the substrate; and

wherein the method further comprises:

forming a reflector from the substrate; and

re-directing the focused laser beam using the reflector to cut, etch or fold at least one of the one or more releasable segments that would otherwise be inaccessible to the focused laser beam from said direction.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more of the folds comprises an upward or a downward fold in excess of 90° measured from a plane of the substrate which the at least one releasable segment being bent initially lies before said upward or downward fold.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the one or more of the folds comprises an upward fold in excess of 90° measured from the plane of the substrate which the at least one releasable segment being bent initially lies before said upward fold.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the one or more of the folds comprises a downward fold in excess of 120° measured from the plane of the substrate which the at least one releasable segment being bent initially lies before said downward fold.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising impinging the focused laser beam orthogonal to the plane of the substrate.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the substrate is conditioned to favor bending along at least one axis.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the substrate is conditioned to favor bending along at least two axes.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing the substrate to a fabrication zone from a roller.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising holding the substrate immobile during said steps (a) through (b).

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein one or more substrate regions, distinct from the one or more releasable segments, are laser folded such that their edges adjacent to the one or more releasable segments are above or below the plane, thereby removing the one or more substrate regions from interfering in the formation of the 3D element.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein one or more said edges are below the plane.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein both steps (b)(i) and (b)(ii) are executed.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more folds comprise permanent plastic deformation of the material.

14. The method of claim 1 , using a single laser to execute the laser cuts and laser-executed folds.

15. The method of claim 1 , using a single laser to execute from above the one or more upward folds and the one or more downward folds.

16. The method of claim 15 , using the single laser to execute the one or more upward folds via a temperature gradient mechanism of the substrate material and the one or more downward folds via a buckling mechanisms of the substrate material.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein forming the reflector comprising: cutting and folding a portion of the substrate.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the reflector comprises one of the one or more releasable segments.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reflector is incorporated into and remains a part of the 3D element once formed.

20. A method of cutting and folding a substrate that defines a plane with a focused laser beam, directed from above the substrate, to form a three-dimensional (3D) element with features in 3-dimensions, the method comprising:

(A) providing:

a first reel configured for dispensing the substrate;

a second reel configured for receiving the substrate;

a guide element for providing a flat area of the substrate between the first and second reels; and

the focused laser beam configured to strike the substrate in the flat area;

(B) executing from above laser cuts to the substrate, which is initially unpatterned and planar, so as to provide one or more releasable segments; and

(C) executing one or more folds to form the 3D element by preforming one or more of:

(i) from above one or more laser-executed upward folds to bend at least one releasable segment of the one or more releasable segments; or

(ii) from above one or more laser-executed downward folds to bend at least one releasable segment of the one or more releasable segments,

wherein the cuts and folds are structured so that precursors to the 3D element remain attached to the substrate while sufficient cuts and folds are made to form the 3D element, and wherein the substrate is immobile during said steps (B) through (C), or is only moved in the plane of the substrate pursuant to the operation of the reels; and

wherein the method further comprises:

cutting and folding a portion of the substrate to form a reflector; and

re-directing the focused laser beam using the reflector to cut, etch or fold at least one of the one or more releasable segments that would otherwise be inaccessible to the focused laser beam from above.

21. The method of claim 20 , further comprising depositing material on the 3D element formed.

22. The method of claim 20 , further comprising operating a 3D printer configured to deposit material on the 3D element formed.

23. The method of claim 21 , wherein depositing material comprises welding.

24. The method of claim 19 , wherein the reflector is positioned at a first position for re-directing the focused laser beam, and at a second position in the 3D element once formed.