Pottery Via 3D Printing

By on April 25th, 2012 in Design

Tags:

We never realized it, but extrusion-based 3D printing is quite similar to traditional methods of making ceramic pots. In the ancient method, a roll of clay is set in a circle, then another is affixed on top, gradually building up the object into a full pot. Sound familiar? 
 
Artist and potter Jonathan Keep realized this and attempted to move his potting activities to a more modern technique: 3D printing. He says: 
 
I have long wanted to get the virtual forms I was creating out of the computer and into the physical world as real ceramic objects to be felt and held in the hand. Touch is such an important sensation. This is an exciting new way to work.
 
Using an inexpensive RapMan 3D printer, modified to extrude clay instead of thermoplastic, he was able to produce some amazing results. 
 

By Kerry Stevenson

Kerry Stevenson, aka "General Fabb" has written over 8,000 stories on 3D printing at Fabbaloo since he launched the venture in 2007, with an intention to promote and grow the incredible technology of 3D printing across the world. So far, it seems to be working!