Toolpath Simulation,Design and Manipulation in Robotic 3D Concrete Printing

Abstract

Digital fabrication is blurring the boundaries between design, manufacturing and material effects. More and more experimental design processes involve an intertwined investigation of these aspects, especially when it comes to additive techniques such as 3D Concrete Printing (3DCP). Conventional digital tools present limitations in the description of an object, which neglects material, textural, and machinic information. In this paper, we exploit the control of extrusion-based 3D printing via programmed layered toolpath as a design method for enhancing the control of the manufactured architectural elements. The paper presents an experimental framework for design, analysis and fabrication with 3DCP, developing a system for materializing interdependencies between geometry, material, performance. This is applied to a series of architectural artefacts which demonstrate the advantages and possibilities opened by the introduced workflow, expanding the design process towards higher control on the objects buildability, structural integrity and aesthetic. manufacturing and material effects. More and more experimental design processes involve an intertwined investigation of these aspects, especially when it comes to additive techniques such as 3D Concrete Printing (3DCP). Conventional digital tools present limitations in the description of an object, which neglects material, textural, and machinic information. In this paper, we exploit the control of extrusion-based 3D printing via programmed layered toolpath as a design method for enhancing the control of the manufactured architectural elements. The paper presents an experimental framework for design, analysis and fabrication with 3DCP, developing a system for materializing interdependencies between geometry, material, performance. This is applied to a series of architectural artefacts which demonstrate the advantages and possibilities opened by the introduced workflow, expanding the design process towards higher control on the objects buildability, structural integrity and aesthetic."