These pages are dedicated to introducing ceramic 3D printing to creative people at all skill levels and from differing backgrounds. So, when I find a YouTube video that I believe to be helpful, I want to include it and comment on my observations.
First, let me say I find the vast majority of reviews for new products to be utterly useless. Generally, the reviewer opens the box, tries the product, makes a video giving their reactions and then sets the product aside never to return to it. The video I am including in this post, byNathan Builds Robots is a refreshing departure from that formula!
Realistic First Time Expectations
Clay is not plastic.
Nathan could have edited out all of his startup hurdles. But, that would have deprived us of the reality of using a new 3D printer that uses an entirely new material. I really appreciated that Nathan walks us through each step including those that resulted in the kinds of failures that we need to overcome to be successful. Not only did Nathan learn from those bumps in the road, we learned, with him, how to put them behind us.
I came away believing that I just witnessed what I can realistically expect from my own first time experience with a ceramic 3D printer. This, alone, is enormously valuable. But, how Nathan proceeds through his learning curve is even MORE valuable.
Rewards of Tenacity
We constantly use 3D design and printing to emphasize the life lesson "Your Failures Are Not Final". You can bet we will show this video to our students because it show how we can turn failures into success by using critical thinking skills to come up with new solutions to try. We also use 3D design and printing to help students build "Resiliency" skills.
Nathan's tenacity is a great example of resiliency in action.
As we watch Nathan evaluate each printing attempt, we see him using the critical thinking skills that can turn that failure into developing a strategy to overcome that hurdle. Nathan wasn't content to print once and quit. He recorded repeated attempts over several days and every day brought about better and better results.
While he acknowledges that he has more to learn about the ceramic printing process, I look forward to future videos from Nathan as he continues to refine the ceramic 3D printing process.
Multi-machine Applicability
Another thing I appreciate about Nathan's video is that what he is experiencing and learning will have broad applicability across all of the new desktop ceramic 3D printers. The quest to find the right clay viscosity, flow pressure along with cleaning and firing tips will be useful to ALL of us, no matter which printer we end up purchasing. So, I, for one, have subscribed to his channel. I can't wait to see more.
The is no point in continuing to consider ceramic 3D printing if our life, or organizational, situation cannot implement every aspect of the workflow required to successfully integrate ceramics 3D printing into our goals.
This is probably not a complete description of the final workflow demanded of a user of a ceramic 3D printer. But, it will give us a good start at trying to determine how well we might be able to fulfill the basic requirements.
3D Design for Ceramics
Clay Selection & Procurement
Clay Preparation
3D Printing Process
Cleanup
Post-Printing Processing
Firing
Marketing (if applicable)
Anticipate Scalability
Obviously, this is a simplistic list of the elements of the workflow. But, it is a good start for taking a realistic look at our ability to truly implement ceramic 3D printing into our 3D printing goals for those we serve.
Workflow Requirement #1: 3D Design for Ceramics
Even the most talented traditional clay artist would fail to benefit from 3D printing if they could not find a way to create the virtual files from which to print. Fortunately, for us, we have found that our students enjoy using Moments of Inspirationto print with our traditional 3D printers, so at a bare minimum, we are confident that we can successfully meet the needs of this requirement.
But, it gets better than that. Quoting from the Eazao Blog:
"The major upgrade of the Eazao 3D printer this time is the software part. We cooperated with the Shandong University IRC Laboratory
to develop a series of software specifically for ceramic 3D printing,
which will greatly enhance the experience of Eazao 3D printers and lower
the entry barrier.
The software will be released for free in the near future. The
software is in the stage of intensive improvement. We integrate modeling
and slicing together to achieve a seamless connection between design
and manufacturing. It is currently divided into the following four
sections: sweeping modeling, lofting modeling, rotation modeling, and
texture mapping. At the same time, we also developed an interactive
modeling tool based on leapmotion."
The development version of this software is available for free download atClayontec.com. I have downloaded the software and, while it is not yet complete, I am convinced that ANYONE will be able to use this software to design almost unlimited designs suitable for meeting this requirement. It's remarkable software that produces very complex designs with very simple controls.Equally importantly, it can even be used to add material qualities to designs our students have created in MOI3D or any other CAD/3D Design program.
In the past, the question about whether or not an individual might have the skills to design clay vessels for a 3D printing was probably the biggest barrier to adoption of 3D ceramic printing. But, thankfully, Clayon goes a LONG way to make this particular question almost moot.
Not every clay will work well in a 3D printer. Before buying the printer it is important that we ensure we have the information we need to select the proper clay for our 3D printing needs.We are fortunate that Manassas Clay is nearby and we enjoyed working with them when we explored powder-binder ceramic printing.
For those not having a great resource like this locally, the good news is that ceramics 3D printing is not a new technology, even if consumer desktop ceramic 3D printing is new. There are many articles by skilled 3D ceramic printer users that clearly spell out the kinds of clay appropriate for 3D printers. We will cover this topic extensively in the future.
This is one of the most serious questions we need to ask ourselves before fully committing to incorporate ceramics into our 3D printing environment. The first step is to admit the challenges. The next step is to ensure we have come up with effect ways to meet those challenges.
There are videos and articles that can help us understand the clay preparation process. So, that does not concern us.
The real issue has to do with effects of introducing clay, itself, into our environment. Let's face it. Clay can be messy.
Part of our responsibility is to ensure that we have planned the processes to minimize negative aspects of using clay. This includes identifying equipment to keep the area clean and safe. We're ahead of the game in this regard because we already had to deal with the impact of using fine clay powders, which are far more potentially harmful than working with moist clay. We found many ways to use our regular 3D printers to create tools to help us keep our space as clean as possible.
Notice that I emphasized the word "fully" above. Some of our mitigation strategies might require obtaining a single printer for testing before we can fully understand what it will take to introduce it as an essential element of our program.
Workflow Requirement #3: 3D Printing Process
What is required for feeling confident with this step is going to be quite different from person to person.
We know that printing with ceramics, while similar to that of printing with plastic will have its own unique requirements. But, we not only have FDM printing experience; but, powder-binder and SLA technologies as well. Each of these have their own challenges and learning curves. But, we have always treated our learning space as a LAB. For this reason, we're confident that not only can we learn to use the ceramic 3D printer; but, thrive with using it.
For those with NO 3D printing experience, the Clayon software, mentioned earlier, combines both design and preparation of the files used by the printer. It even has a special functionality where it will test a design and report the likelihood of printing success.
Clayon Evaluation Report
This makes it significantly more likely that even a novice can find success with their desktop 3D printer. I might also add, that I have found that Eazao's support team has responded to all of my questions in a timely manner. Help is also available on their Facebook group.
Support has to be factored into determining if one can be successful with this aspect of using a desktop 3D ceramic printer.
Workflow Requirement #4: Printer Cleanup
One of the major differences between traditional 3D printers and a ceramic 3D printer is the absolute necessity of disassembling and cleaning parts as necessary to remove the potential negative affects of clay hardening. "Due Diligence" demands we consider this aspect of using s ceramic 3D printer in our environment.
TIME is one of the factors we need to address. Who will be expected to perform the cleaning is another.Actually, in a educational setting, they are related. The class period for a person starting a print may end before the print is completed.We will need to come up with workable policies before 'fully' integrating ceramics 3D printing.
Even in a home setting, it would be wise to ensure that just as much importance is placed on cleaning the printer as using it.
Workflow Requirement #5: Post-Printing Processing
When we finish a print with a traditional 3D printer we can usually get by with no significant post-processing. But, every printing attempt with ceramics will require some form of post-processing. This is true even of failed prints where it should be handled in a way that allows it to be recycled.
Without going into detail, post-processing involves a series of steps leading to final firing. These include, drying, low-firing, decorating and hand shaping. It's the place where the magic happens that can fulfill the need for hands-on creating that traditional clay artists cherish.
For us, it is also a place where those who face challenges in using 3D design software can be included in the creative process. Planning for this step in the workflow is a critical part of the "Due Diligence" required to get the most out of the ceramic 3D printing experience for participants of our program.
Workflow Requirement #6: Firing
We face a significant hurdle here.
There are reasons why a traditional clay kiln my not be permitted on our site.For others, the challenge may be the cost of a traditional kiln.
Fortunately, I have a kiln, at home, large enough to fulfill the requirements of firing in batches as we get started. And, the printed objects using a desktop ceramic printer can be dried enough to survive travel. (That was NOT the case of powder-binder prints!) But, to ensure continuity we will need to make long-term arrangements with an outside provider of kiln services.
While it limits the sizes of the objects our students might produce there is another option provided by Eazao and others.
That is a Microwave Kiln. The viability of using a Microwave Kiln can be tested independently, even before buying a desktop 3D printer.
Microwave Kiln
For home users, in particular, a Microwave Kiln allows them to get started with ceramic 3D printing without having to make a large investment in a traditional kiln.
For some, whether or not there is a market for what they produce is irrelevant. But, for us, it is an important consideration.
If there is potential that some of the at-risk individuals in our program may be able to develop their ceramic design and printing skills to the point of being self sufficient then we would be remiss in not providing training for them if at all possible.
The bad news about the parts produced by consumer 3D printers is that they lack perceived value. Parts produced on industrial quality printers are usually limited to the industrial marketplace and those markets are narrow and specialized. It is hard to learn those markets.
Ceramic 3D prints have a much higher perceived value by many orders of magnitude.
The possibility that one can discover a market for 3D printed ceramic parts they design has real potential. So, from the potential alone, ceramic 3D printing deserves serious consideration. But, marketing success does not just happen. It will take as much 'due diligence' effort as any of the other aspects when evaluating whether or not ceramics 3D printing can meet the ultimate goals and aspirations of our program.
Workflow Requirement #8: Anticipate Scalability
Our initial consideration concerns a small desktop ceramic 3D printer. This is perfect for exploring the potential of 3D printing in ceramic materials. But, ultimately we need to fully consider the scalability options should we need to expand. This is more than just thinking about bigger printers. It also has to do with the scalability of the skills learned while working with an entry level ceramic printer. The include design skills that might be expanded and hands-on skills related to the workflow involved with the entire clay creation process. Do the peripheral skills gained by working with ceramics enhance the future opportunities for users. For instance, our organization also has a home building vocational initiative. How might working at the entry level in 3D ceramic design relate to the future of 3D home building technologies?
Adding scalability to the evaluation might end up adding some elements to the workflow, like airbrushing, creating multi-object installations or incorporating into home building. So, it is important to begin with scalability in mind.
SUMMARY
Whether it be an individual or an organization, successful implementation of Ceramic 3D printing depends on being willing to ask serious questions that take into account the entirety of the ceramic workflow. Fortunately, Eazao has made some significant moves beyond simply creating and building a piece of hardware. Those moves, like the creation of Clayon, go a long way to make positive answers to the questions possible for the widest community of potential users.
If one takes the time to look through all of the posts in this blog, I have explored several different technologies promising to enable the at-risk young at-risk people with whom I work to 3D print in ceramics with the ultimate goal of being able to support themselves.
Sadly, thus far, none of the technologies we studied has brought us closer to that goal.
All this time, and in truth, since the time I obtained my very first 3D printer, there has existed another type of ceramic printer that has been conspicuously missing from this blog. And, that is clay extrusion.
Why I have avoided Clay Extrusion in the Past
Before going further, I need to explain why a person professing an interest in 3D ceramic printing would avoid THE most common methodology of printing ceramics in 3D. The answer lies not in the technology itself; but, the target audience I hope to reach.
The early kits, based on modifying existing 3D printers, required a commitment to tinkering and a level of technological skill that didn't suit the user I have in mind. The next generation of dedicated ceramic printers tended to be large, complex and costly enough that only experienced ceramic artists or universities could afford. Again, those that I hope to help have more limited means and space. Until now, I didn't see a fit between those I want to help and the existing extrusion ceramic printers.
The Parallel in my Search for a Standard FDM 3D Printer
I started blogging about 3D printing in 2007. But, until 2012 my articles were only exploratory. The 3D printers before 2012 were largely aimed at tinkerers and hobbyists. It wasn't until 3D Systems announced the first 3D printer specifically aimed at consumers that I found a printer that I thought matched the audience in whom I was interested. It was compact, simple to operate and required no construction on the part of the owner.
I dove deeply into helping Cube users get the most out of their investment with the CubifyFans Blog.
In the first 5 months (beginning in January 2012) of my blog I could only write articles preparing potential users for its public release. It wasn't until May of 2012 that the Cube 1st Generation was released.
1st Generation Cube 3D Printer
From that time until the present, I was able to effectively serve an active community of users of 3 generations of Cube 3D printers by finding ways to get around issues and providing free tricks and designs of tools that enhanced their experience. While most Cube owners have gone on to purchase newer and more advanced 3D printers, the Cube was an excellent introduction to a lot of people to the benefits of 3D printing and the blog continues to have followers. And it was able to do so by reaching a consumer base rather than a technical or tinkerer base.
From that time forward I have watched the consumer market for 3D printers blossom and mature. So, how does this relate to ceramics 3D printing?
Recently, I learned about a small 3D ceramic printer that may be the parallel answer for ceramic 3D printing that I have been searching for the last two decades. I can't be absolutely sure, since the first units are just being delivered to Kickstarter supporters. But, it does look promising. Here is why I think that.
EAZAO ZERO CERAMIC 3D PRINTER - COMPACT AND SIMPLE
The first thing that jumped out at me was the compact size of the Eazao Zero. The basic construction of the 3D printer platform is a tried and true form factor familiar to many first time consumer 3D printer users.
Eazao Zero Ceramic 3D Printer
The small footprint perfectly fits the needs of those with limited space and fits well in an educational classroom environment. The 1.4mm nozzle diameter size and 0.4 -1mm layer depth was a very pleasant surprise. Lest some might consider the 150 x 150 x 240 mm build area limited, I
have to say it is one of the things that appeals to me most! I can
easily visualize a lot of beautiful ceramic objects that could be
printed in that 5.9" x 5.9" x 9.4" envelope.
EAZAO ZERO CERAMIC 3D PRINTER - HISTORY
The Eazao Zero is the 2nd generation ceramic 3D printer fromCerambot, a company that released its first ceramic delta printers in 2019 through a Kickstarter campaign. They know ceramic extrusion printing. The fact that, in spite of the current supply chain challenges, the Eazao is in the hands of some supporters is a great sign.
Cerambot Team
EASAO ZERO CERAMIC 3D PRINTER - COMMUNITY FRIENDLY
The price point of is well below the $3K cost of previously released ceramic printers. Based on the success of their Kickstarter campaign, with approximately 500 units funded, provides a solid foundation for building a community of users that can be a great source of help to each other. Unlike those relying on DIY built printers, every one of these users will be sharing experiences with the same equipment platform. This has tremendous benefits as my CubifyFans experience can attest. What works for one user is likely to work for all users when it comes to clay preparation and slicer settings. That fact, alone, is worthy of calling the Eazao Zero a real game changer.
EASAO ZERO CERAMIC 3D PRINTER - THE BREAKTROUGH PRODUCT?
A breakthrough product is one that so significantly addresses the needs of an under served market that it virtually launches that product category to new levels of acceptance.The Spreadsheet did that for computers. MP4 compression did that for videorecording. for more than 20 years, I have mourned the fact that the benefits of 3D printing has failed to reach the market penetration that it deserves in the ceramics community.
I think the Eazao team just might have found the right combination of compactness, ease of use, simplicity and uniformity of operation that has the potential to introduce 3D printing to a vastly larger community of users.
I look forward to following their progress. Nice job!
Last week we conducted our twice a year training for the Youth ChalleNGe teachers. They got an extra treat this time.
Rafal Pruszynski, the Sales Manager for Super 3D Plus Inc of Calgary, Canada was in our area visiting several prospective buyers and stopped by to show us some sample parts created on the ComeTrue T10 and M10 powder/binder printers.
We have been using full-color powder/binder printing for some time using our ZCorp Z450 and ah\\have been experimenting with ceramics for a while using a ZCorp 310. So, it was interesting to compare what we have been able to produce on our older printers with the output of the new ComeTrue printers. It was also interesting to compare cost of operation between the old and new systems.
COMETRUE SAMPLE PARTS
So, let's take a look at some of the images we captured and discuss what they mean for us.
ComeTrue 3D Prints Gypsum and Ceramic Prints
The ComeTrue T10 can print in full-color, which does not need to be fired, or ceramic materials that need to be fired in a kiln. The above collection contains samples of each. The statue in the middle, was not fired. It's simply a gypsum print. However, it looked carved due to the detail of the print.
The Sponge Bob like house was ceramic and colored during the firing phase. The Owl, tiles and vase in the top left were also ceramic. OUR COMPARISON GROUP
In this next group, we will add some of OUR prints for making the comparison.
Powder/Binder Prints including Z450
The first thing to notice is that the Z450's colors are faded and, because it relies on a older HP cartridges to supply the color there is visible banding. The bust with the plaid shirt and the buildings were printed on our Z450. The other thing that stands out in the caparison is that our old printer is just CMY. There is no true black because the black cartridge is emptied to permit it to dispense the binder. So, we can never achieve true black.
COMPARING COMETRUE PARTS WITH Z450 PARTS
This next two images demonstrate the differences in stark contrast.
ComeTrue Print (Left) vs. Z450 Print (Right)
Z450 Print(Left) vs. ComeTrue Print (Right)
While it has been great to have the Z450 to print in color, it is also clear that the ComeTrue T10 is infinitely better in terms of color, contrast and resolution. The ComeTrue 3D printer output is amazing!
COMETRUE PRINTS OF FULL BODY SCANS
But, I have one more sample to show you. I wish I had copies of these next images in full resolution so the detail could be examined at full size. But, the copies of the images I have appear to have been reduced to ease sending via email. Even so, I think you will be VERY impressed. No, that is NOT an image of a man. It is an image of a full-color print of a SCAN of a man! It's AMAZING!!!
Full color print of a scan printed on the ComeTrue T10
Needless to say, the teachers and our team a YouthQuest Foundation were very happy that Rafal was able to make it east and include us in his itinerary. The sample prints speak for themselves. I am including Rafal's contact information just in case you are interested in powder/binder printing. It is my favorite 3D printing technology and I have a new favorite powder/binder printer.
Rafal PruszynskiSales Manager Super 3D Plus Inc / 4G Vision Tech Ltd 1-(403) 452 2200 (office) 1-(403) 880 4 sales@super3dplus.com #140 3553 31 ST NW Calgary AB Canada T2L 2K7
Lastly, something most people may not think about.... open source materials and reliability. While we can use use 3rd party powders and binders in our ZCorp 310, that is not so with the Z450 or, as far as I know, of any of the present offerings from 3D Systems. Moreover, we could not keep our Z450 printer running very long without paying $6,000+ for an annual maintenance contract.
But, I am told most of the parts of the ComeTrue T10 are user serviceable and readily available. That is a HUGE consideration. And, I do mean HUGE!
I wanted to be sure that I paid tribute to a tool that is going to be super valuable as we seek to become experts in ceramic 3D printing. But, I always wanted to have a bit of fun with the grandchildren when we got together over the weekend.
I have been using Helicon Focus for years beginning with the product photography I did for my daughter's artwork. But, it's especially fun for me when using it for macro and micro-photography. So, naturally I wanted to try it with the Hayear HR-1200R when I had a chance to show it to my granddaughter on her way to college.
I had previously given her my MRJ-03T microscope with a 5mpx digital camera that was pretty lame. So, I wanted to see if she might like the HR-1200R. However, because she had so much other stuff to carry to school this time, she left her microscope at home. But, that didn't stop us from checking out the camera and measuring software in the HR-1200R's standalone configuration.
So, here are some images as processed through Helicon Focus:
First, a calibration slide to provide some sense of scale and resolution. The small grid in the center of the circle is 1mm marked in .01 increments.
Calibration Slide - 1mm
To demonstrate the resolution, here is a cropped version of that image.
1mm in 100 segments
With that in mind, here is an image of the stamen of a small flower. This has NOT been processed through Helicon Focus. It was captured using the EDF function built into the Hayear software. This functions in a way that is similar to Helicon Focus. But, is available in live mode as the capture is taking place. Very nice.
HY-1200R EDF Image
Now we will show that same flower at a bit of a different magnification and apply Helicon Focus.
Stamen - Helicon Focus
If you click on the above photo and study the image carefully, you'll get an idea of just how nice the the HY-1200R is in standalone mode.
Here is the setup with the flow in standalone mode.
HY-1200R in Standalone Mode
My little demonstration is going to cost me some money because my granddaughter agreed that the HY-1200R is infinitely better than the camera now mounted on her microscope. Not only was the image better; but, the software's measuring and processing capabilities are a biology major's dream when it come to being able to capture well documented images with annotation.
But, to really get the most out of the standalone mode, the stand will have to be upgraded to one that is a bit more rigid and having fine adjustment for focus.
That's the next upgrade. But, that will also require a different lighting since the lighting is not built into the base. Fortunately, Hayear ring lights are very inexpensive.
We've added another tool in our quest to understand ceramic 3D printing powders. It's a small scale capable of reading in 1000th of a gram
HomGeek Micro-Gram Scale
As you can see, I have measured out 25 grams of Tethon3D Porcelain powder. I will run this powder through 4 Talisman sieves with mesh values of 40, 80, 120 and 200. I will then weigh each of the piles of powder to get a percentage of particles at the various sizes and capture the particle shapes with the HY-1200R. This data will only be used to compare the different powders to see if we can predict performance when buying or creating future powders.
