The Material Processes and Systems Group (MaP+S), founded by Professor Martin Bechthold, is a research unit that takes materials as the starting point for a broad set of research involving computation, robotics, materials science and environmental psychology.
Here the authors, Hyeonji Claire Im, Sulaiman AlOthman and José Luis García del Castillo, present an advanced ceramic 3D printing system that, unlike conventional techniques, incorporates a laser feedback loop for real-time adjustment of clay deposition, ensuring greater geometric accuracy and structural stability. The process begins with a suspension of stoneware clay mixed with water, alcohol and a small portion of nylon fibers to optimize its viscosity and cohesion during extrusion.
The pressurized clay flows through nozzles of different diameters, where the system measures the deflection of each clay strand using a laser sensor (LRF) with sub-millimeter resolution. Software instantly recalculates print paths to correct for deviations caused by the weight and settling of the wet material, ensuring that each layer faithfully follows the digital model.
This approach promises to revolutionize ceramic additive construction, opening doors to complex structures with guaranteed accuracy and strength.
