The Ceramics Department has developed technology that can change how ceramics are created.

The technology, which has yet to be named, allows the user to create a digital file and convert that to an actual, three-dimensional finished product. The original technology was a rapid prototyping printer, which has been adjusted to print ceramic objects.

Senior Greg Pugh works with the technology. He is the only student who knows how to use it, and said there are numerous future applications, including filtration systems, biomedical, bone graphing, stone and brick and the tile industry.

‘Anything that can be broken down into a particle can be printed,’ he said.

The technology is the idea of former University digital arts graduate student Sebastion Dion. He approached Professor John Balistreri with the idea. They got a grant to try it, and it has been a success.

Balistreri is the leading researcher on the printer, and currently has two patents pending relating to the technology. The first is for clay powder and binder. The clay powder is a special mixture of different types of clay for the printer, and the binder is a special formulation that makes the clay stick together in the machine. The second patent is for a compression plate, which presses the clay together in the machine.

The University is the first to develop this technology, and while other schools are beginning to use the technology, the University is the most advanced.

Sophomore Andrew Holman is currently training to use the machine. He said once the technology becomes more widely used, it will benefit the ceramics department.

‘It’s going to look good for the Clay Club and ceramics studio when this technology gets bigger and more used,’ he said.

Senior Julie Storch said the technology seems great, but it can hurt the experience of creating art.

‘I think it’s a cool advancement of technology but it can take away from hands-on learning for students,’ she said.

The technology is still experimental, but the University is in negotiations with the Z Corporation to get the product licensed and become the sole distributor of the ceramic printing product.

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