Sotiris De Wit

Supersized pottery

Department: Man and Activity

Circular Contour Crafting

Experimenting with pottery, Sotiris de Wit searched for a way to produce large pieces industrially. A 3D printer could do the job, but it would take hours to complete a large vase or bowl. By combining an extrusion machine with a potter’s wheel, Sotiris designed a fast production process for round and geometric shapes. A seven tonne hydraulic press drives modelling clay trough a small nozzle. The expulsion is controlled in 2D while the base of the machine is turning, making the output 3D. The only thing the user has to do, is describe the size of the desired object: a 6-year old girl could turn a vase larger than herself in only five minutes.