Jetclay

Creator: Jetclay|Art form: Cultural hetitage, Design|Knowledge valorisation : Co-creation|Place: Madrid,Spain|Location : Hybrid|Target group: Academics, Cultural and creative professionals and institutions, General public, Private companies / industries, Public authorities & policy makers|Domains: Digital Age|Duration : Long-term project

Open-source Platform that explores the world of 3D printing and ceramic

Challenge: How to create an opensource community around the innovation of ceramics in relation to 3D printing in order to share knowledge and develop new tools.

Jet Clay is an initiative based on 3D printing of ceramics, based on ancient technologies related to sustainability and the protection of cultural heritage through pottery and clay creation. They have a Clay 3D printing service using the LDM (Liquid Deposit Modelling) equipped with a specialized extruder, for the deposition of dense fluid material such as clay mixture. They own a variety of 3D printers with different sizes, being able to print with small nozzles of 0,4mm for small objects up to 10mm nozzles for the large format projects with a printing volume of 1m high and 70cms wide. Any type of clay might be used with this system such as earthenware, stoneware, porcelain, etc. They also offer the firing service both in low and high temperature.

In JetClay they develop Open-Source 3D printers & extrusion systems that they share with the community, publishing them in repositories like WikiFactory and also making workshops focusing on the building and use of these tools. These workshops are addressed to 3d printing users that want to add clay to their material palette but also to ceramists, artists and designers that want to start out in additive manufacturing with clay.

Resources needed

3D printing open-source platform for sharing ceramics and printing linked to ancient crafts and cultural heritage protection.

Purpose of artistic intervention

The project seeks to share and disseminate, through open source, ways of creating ceramics and printing based on ancestral crafts that respect the environment, allow the optimisation of resources (for example, through the cooling function of the Spanish jar) and recover intangible cultural heritage and ways of doing things from the past. The initiative has a high component of co-creation as it is an open-source dissemination platform that seeks to promote collaboration.

Positive impacts

Jet Clay positively impacts sustainability by merging ancient pottery techniques with modern 3D printing, preserving cultural heritage while promoting eco-friendly practices. Their 3D printing service, using Liquid Deposit Modelling (LDM), supports various types of clay, enabling versatile artistic and functional creations. By offering open-source 3D printer designs and extrusion systems, they foster community collaboration and innovation. Workshops provided by Jet Clay empower artists, designers, and 3D printing enthusiasts to explore clay additive manufacturing. This initiative encourages sustainable production, reduces waste, and supports cultural preservation through modern technology.

Replication

The replicability of Jet Clay is high due to its open-source approach and community focus. By developing and sharing their 3D printer designs and extrusion systems on platforms like WikiFactory, they enable easy access and adaptation. Their workshops help disseminate knowledge and skills required for building and using these tools, making it accessible for 3D printing users, ceramists, artists, and designers. The use of widely available materials like various types of clay and compatibility with different printer sizes further enhance its adaptability. This model can be replicated in various regions, fostering local sustainable production and cultural heritage preservation.