Precision-folded, high strength, fatigue-resistant structures and a sheet
therefore are disclosed. To form the structures, methods for precision
bending of a sheet of material along a bend line and a sheet of material
formed with bending strap-defining structures, such as slits or grooves,
are disclosed. Methods include steps of designing and then separately
forming longitudinally extending slits or grooves through the sheet of
material in axially spaced relation to produce precise bending of the
sheet when bent along the bend line. The bending straps have a
configuration and orientation which increases their strength and fatigue
resistance, and most preferably slits or arcs are used which causes edges
to be engaged and supported on faces of the sheet material on opposite
sides of the slits or arcs. The edge-to-face contact produces bending
along a virtual fulcrum position in superimposed relation to the bend
line. Several slit embodiments suitable for producing edge-to-face
engagement support and precise bending are disclosed. With these
teachings, forming numerous three-dimensional load-bearing structures
from a two dimensional sheet are enabled. Examples of straight and curved
beams, chassis, and exoskeletons are disclosed.