Free Form Clay Deposition in Custom Generated Molds

Abstract

In a context of free fab printing, this research explores a series of investigations into the potential of 3D printing with clay that address the problems of viscosity, tool paths and setting times. The material of clay is explored here in order to simulate architectural building processes that use both subtractive and additive methods of construction that cannot be performed by a gantry style model of robotics. The use of clay deposition on a robotic tooling path enables a continuous and sustainable adaptation process due to the fact that clay is reusable, can mimic other materials in viscosity and is compatible with a range of sustainable aggregates through to firing stages. This paper describes ongoing research into a two-step robotic fabrication of free form clay printing; namely, as (a) the robotic milling of a sustainable formwork; and (b) as controlled deposition of liquid clay into a form or mold.