Smart Tooling for Ceramic Extrusion

Jorgensen, Tavs

Abstract

This presentation will outline research into ceramic profile extrusion. The research was initiated as creative explorations within the author's own craft practice. However, the project has since developed into a UKRI funded project, with global companies, such as Arup, Sibelco and Wienerberger as collaborating research partners.

The ceramic profile extrusion method dates back to the 17th century is an extremely efficient production method that is a highly utilized manufacturing process in the production of bricks, clay pipes and cladding products. However, ceramic extrusion is generally limited to the productions of straight linear sections and remain significantly under-utilised in many aspects of ceramic production. This research project seeks to explore how digital fabrication technologies can be used to establish new approaches with the extrusion technique that extends conventional capabilities to provide new creative and commercial opportunities. The research investigates how customised, curved and bespoke shapes can be generated through the application of robotics and how rapid workflows from computer aided designs to creation of extrusion dies be developed through the use of parametric scripting and digital fabrication approaches.

The experiments that led to the development of the project was initiated as practice-based research experiments. These experiments concerned the use 3D printing to create a series extrusion tools (dies) that were designed to affect the clay extrusions to curve as they emerge from the die. A series jugs were produced using this approach. The material characteristic of clay means that the extruded forms will always have a level of unpredictability, and the shape of each of the jugs will always be unique.
In contrast the current phase on the research concerns the development of methods which ensures a high level of control over the extruded forms to make the research relevant to the requirements of the architectural industry.

An initial key finding of the first stages of the project is that practical, in-depth experience with materials is a key aspect in innovation process that concerns the manipulation of physical mediums through new digital fabrication approaches.

• Presentation Conference Type: Presentation / Talk
• Conference Name: Material Research Exchange
• Start Date: Feb 19, 2020
• End Date: Feb 20, 2020
• Deposit Date: Mar 4, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 5, 2020
• Keywords: Materials, Innovation, KTN
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/5604289
• Additional Information: Material Research Exchange 2020; http://www.materialsresearchexchange.co.uk/ ; MRE; Materials Research Exchange (MRE20) is a two-day exhibition and conference which showcases the wealth of UK materials research and investment opportunities.; ; With the ultimate goal being to accelerate the process of bringing these innovations to the commercialisation stage, the event presents ground-breaking new materials and their manufacturing process. MRE is organised by Innovate UK & the Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN). ; ; MaDE; The Materials and Design Exchange (MaDE) is a resource network of partners and advisors: Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN), Royal College of Art (RCA), Institute for Materials Discovery University College London, Institute of Engineering Designers, Barron Gould, Creative Interfaces, and Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining (IOM3).; ; MaDE inspires and facilitates the interaction of materials, design and making communities towards material development and application. Our activity challenges material scientists to consider applications and provides designers and makers with material and production options, thus turning ideas and technologies into products the market wants.; ; MaDE at MRE ; The MaDE partners have been offered space in the exhibition and time in the conference to: ; • Raise awareness within the materials community of design, making and craft involved in material development and application ; • Inspire makers to consider advanced materials in their work