Structure formation apparatus, method and structure

A method of forming a second structure, comprising:

• forming a first structure by:
• providing one or more slots in a material, thereby to define a plurality of strips of the material, the slots defining a series of connecting elements connecting adjacent strips of the material, the connecting elements being spaced apart along a first direction, by moving the material in a material movement direction through a cutter assembly and cutting the material in a direction parallel to the material movement direction to provide the one or more slots;
• and
• forming the material to provide:
• an array of oppositely oriented channels, each channel extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and the array itself extending in the first direction, each channel comprising a base, and sides extending from the base;
• and
• a first, non-continuous, outer plane;
• and a second, non-continuous, outer plane,
• such that the first structure is foldable along each of the series of connecting elements about the first direction to bring the first outer plane of a first strip toward the first outer plane of a second, adjacent strip;
• forming the second structure from the first structure by folding, using a folder assembly, the first structure along each of the series of connecting elements about the first direction to bring the first outer plane of a first strip toward the first outer plane of a second strip, wherein:
• the second strip is adjacent the first strip, and
• the first direction is parallel to a material flow direction of the first structure through the folder assembly during the forming the second structure.