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Using the "create pattern" function of my CAD software, Fusion 360, I created a grid of duplicate cookie cutters. That enables 3D-printing up to 25 at a time. While it is impossible to remove them while the clay is soft I can leave them in the cutters overnight, the next day they just drop out. Creating the rounded top edges is easily done first using a little stretch wrap as shown, then it is just a matter of pushing the cutter the rest of the way through and setting them aside to dry. This method creates a high-quality edge finish. Of course, the embossed design was first stamped into these Polar Ice porcelain tiles using a letterpress plate.
This is the most complex shape known that can fit together organically. It was just discovered by mathematicians in 2023. It is easy to cookie-cut these out of clay (notice the cutter I made at the top). Placing the tiles is tricky because it is only logical to seek a pattern, but that does not work. Starting with a center tile and moving outward in a spiral around it seems to be the best way. Mathematicians are seeking to prove that placement can grow infinitely without ever repeating a pattern. Making the cookie cutter in Fusion 360 was easier than expected because the shape is built from the pie-slices that result from cutting a regular hexagon into six pieces midway across the straight sides. Because of the complexity of the shape I have found that it is best to print multiple cutters (I can do eight at a time), and stamp the shapes without using stretch wrap (letting them dry overnight in the cutters). The randomness seems confirmed in that when I piece together a few dozen tiles it is very difficult to do a count (because they are not in rows). In addition, to piece together 28 tiles requires turning eleven of them over - if there was a pattern I would expect to turn over exactly half of them. One issue: To create a setting with straight sides it appears I will need a dozen shapes.
Projects |
Cookie Cutting clay with 3D printed cutters
We are finding more and more applications for this simple process of cookie-cutting shapes in ceramics. You won't believe whats possible and how easy it is to get started. |
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