UNIQ

DESIGN: Maja Sobura

Poland

make me! 2016

UNIQ is a graduation project, and Maja Sobura started her work on it by asking herself “Are we able to create a unique product with robots?”. Her main inspiration was the dripping technique typical of representatives of abstract expressionism. She decided to achieve something new in terms of 3D printing techniques by avoiding typical ceramic prints. Using a KUKA KR 6 900 six robot, a Zmorph extruder and 3D printer, she designed a process for ornamenting ceramics with liquid porcelain. To achieve a specific effect, Maja Sobura used the same robotic movements at different porcelain extrusion speeds. She controlled almost all parameters, such as the extruder speed, the robot programming, and the consistency of the porcelain. As it is a natural and surprising material, the end result always remained unpredictable. She shared the authorship of her project with the KUKA robot, which she did not just treat as a tool to achieve her goal. Rather, she found that they were partners, trying to achieve success together. Five different types of ornament made jointly – by her and the KUKA robot were the final result. The properties of liquid porcelain mean that hundreds of different designs are possible, but each object will still be unique and unrepeatable.