31 may 2013

ANTI-GRAVITY OBJECT MODELING (AOM)

 

Over the years we created a platform where students can work with us on new digital fabrication methods.  The "Anti-gravity object modeling" (AOM) project started in 2012 when Sasa Jokic and Petr Novikov from the Institute of Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC) started their internship at our lab. 

 

One of the wishes we had for a long time was large scale 3D printing without the need for support material. After studying many many options, we finally decided to work with smart custom build extruder and a two component thermo set plastic that hardens so quickly it allowed us to print in mid air. 

 

This new method of additive manufacturing allows the creation of 3D objects on any given work surface, independent of its inclination and smoothness, and without a need of additional support structures. Conventional methods of additive manufacturing have been affected both by gravity and printing environment. Creation of 3D objects on irregular, or non horizontal surfaces has so far been treated as impossible. By using innovative extrusion technology we are now able to neutralize the effect of gravity during the course of the printing process. The method gives us a flexibility to create truly natural objects by making 3D curves instead of 2D layers. Unlike 2D layers that are ignorant to the structure of the object, the 3D curves can follow exact stress lines of a custom shape. Finally, our new out of the box printing method can help create structures of almost any size and shape. 

 

Anti-Gravity Object Modeling is het result of the collaborative research between Joris Laarman Lab, the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC) and interns Sasa Jokic and Petr Novikov.