Methods and apparatus for three-dimensional printed composites based on folded substrate sheets

A method of fabricating a three-dimensional object, comprising the steps of:

• applying liquid on all or part of at least one of a plurality of substantially flat substrate layers, wherein each substrate layer is a side-by-side tile on a master sheet;
• positioning powder on at least part of at least one of the plurality of substrate layers, wherein at least some of the powder adheres to the previously applied liquid;
• removing excess powder;
• folding the substrate layers on the master sheet in a predetermined order for creating the three-dimensional object;
• and
• transforming at least some of the powder into a substance that flows and subsequently hardens into a hardened material, thereby binding the plurality of substrate layers together, wherein the hardened material is disposed in a spatial pattern that infiltrates or coats at least one positive region in the plurality of substrate layers and does not substantially infiltrate or coat at least one negative region in the plurality of substrate layers, the three-dimensional object comprising the positive regions of the stacked plurality of substrate layers that are infiltrated.