System, method and apparatus for making and using flex column void based packing materials

A method of making a void packing material comprising:

• determining a two-dimensional pattern for a desired three-dimensional shaped flex-column;
• forming the two-dimensional pattern on a selected sheet of material having a selected thickness;
• separating the two-dimensional pattern from the selected sheet;
• folding the two-dimensional pattern along fold lines to form the three-dimensional shaped flex-column;
• and
• securing the three-dimensional shaped flex-column.

A flex-column comprising:

• a three-sided column having a triangular cross-sectional shape, an open first end, an open second end, and three corners, each one of the three sides including:
• a flex line dividing each of the three sides into two portions;
• at least one perforation along an edge of each one of the two portions wherein the edge of each one of the two portions coincides with one of the three corners;
• and
• at least one non-perforation along an edge of each one of the two portions, wherein the at least one non-perforation along an edge of each one of the two portions coincides with an intersection of the flex line and at least one of the three corners, wherein each one of the three sides has a thickness corresponding to a desired flex characteristic, wherein the at least one non-perforated portion along an edge of each one of the two portions has a length corresponding to a desired flex characteristic, wherein the at least one perforated portion along an edge of each one of the two portions has a length corresponding to a desired flex characteristic.