Craft, Computers, Hands, and Robots: 3D-Printing Ceramic and Textile Artifacts

3D printing involves digitally controlling a robot’s movement to deposit material layer-by-layer until we end up with the shape we want. When people talk about 3D printing, we usually think of thin filaments of plastic stacked on top of each other – but can we use other materials with this method? The answer is yes! This course will cover the intersection of digital fabrication and two traditional craft practices, i.e. ceramics and punch needle embroidery. At the end of the course, everyone will have made one rigid ceramic and one fluffy textile object using a combination of digital and manual craft techniques. We will learn about writing code that controls the machine’s movements, working with our hands to process clay, digitally designing 2D and 3D shapes for 3D printed fabric and pottery, and embroidering 3D printed fabric with yarn and punch needles.

Supported by: NSF Division of Information and Intelligent Systems #2026286

Taught by: Ashley Del Valle and Mert Toka, Ph.D. students in Media Arts and Technology