3D Printing Clay Research Project
Disciplines
Ceramic Arts | Ceramic Materials | Computer-Aided Engineering and Design | Other Engineering
Abstract (300 words maximum)
The question this project aims to answer is which regional clay bodies are most compatible with 3D printing? This project is a synthesis of the last year of research conducted as an advanced ceramics student as well as the lead student assistant in the 3D Tech Lab in the School of Art and Design. This unique pursuit bridges two distinct disciplines together, one being an ancient building medium and the other being a modern, innovative technology. Research in context would include Jonathan Keep’s literature, as it has been fundamental to the conceptualization of this project. The research being conducted makes a unique contribution to the area of inquiry since testing commercially available clays for 3D printing makes the technology more accessible to students, faculty, and the university. Readily available materials and more interaction with the 3D printing machine will allow its use to gain more traction and awareness, as well. The methods behind the completion of this project will involve testing locally available clays by printing them in a standard form and having them analyzed throughout the ceramic process to compare and contrast the clays to each other. The analysis will allow for the creation of sculptural forms that are informed by the material findings. The work produced will be exhibited in the Senior Capstone exhibition this fall and the data will also be synthesized and presented to the university’s 3D Tech Lab network. The anticipated results of this research would consist of artifacts and documented data. By understanding which clays work best with the equipment given, the frontier of 3D printing with clay becomes less unknown. There is plenty of new territory to be explored with this practice, and this research project can bridge the ancient medium of clay with the modern technology of printing even closer than before.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
COTA - Art and Design
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Jeff Campana
3D Printing Clay Research Project
The question this project aims to answer is which regional clay bodies are most compatible with 3D printing? This project is a synthesis of the last year of research conducted as an advanced ceramics student as well as the lead student assistant in the 3D Tech Lab in the School of Art and Design. This unique pursuit bridges two distinct disciplines together, one being an ancient building medium and the other being a modern, innovative technology. Research in context would include Jonathan Keep’s literature, as it has been fundamental to the conceptualization of this project. The research being conducted makes a unique contribution to the area of inquiry since testing commercially available clays for 3D printing makes the technology more accessible to students, faculty, and the university. Readily available materials and more interaction with the 3D printing machine will allow its use to gain more traction and awareness, as well. The methods behind the completion of this project will involve testing locally available clays by printing them in a standard form and having them analyzed throughout the ceramic process to compare and contrast the clays to each other. The analysis will allow for the creation of sculptural forms that are informed by the material findings. The work produced will be exhibited in the Senior Capstone exhibition this fall and the data will also be synthesized and presented to the university’s 3D Tech Lab network. The anticipated results of this research would consist of artifacts and documented data. By understanding which clays work best with the equipment given, the frontier of 3D printing with clay becomes less unknown. There is plenty of new territory to be explored with this practice, and this research project can bridge the ancient medium of clay with the modern technology of printing even closer than before.