Clay ARTools: Precise Machine Toolpath Editing for Clay 3D Printing With Craft-Inspired Direct Manipulation Tools in AR

Paper Title

Clay ARTools: Precise Machine Toolpath Editing for Clay 3D Printing With Craft-Inspired Direct Manipulation Tools in AR

Publication Info

• Topic area: Augmented reality systems for CAM-based design in clay 3D printing.
• Keywords: Augmented reality, CAM-based design, clay 3D printing, digital ceramic tools, toolpath editing, embodied interaction, surface texturing, craft-inspired tools, procedural modifiers, HCI.

Background and Problem

• Problem / challenge: Current clay 3D printing workflows rely on CAD-based systems that abstract physical craft practices, limiting embodied spatial design and precise toolpath control.
• Significance: Bridging the gap between manual ceramics practices and computational precision in clay 3D printing can expand creative possibilities and improve accessibility for ceramicists.
• Motivation and related work: Prior research has explored CAM-based design and AR systems for fabrication, but these approaches lack the precision and embodied interaction necessary for skilled clay 3D printing. This paper addresses the gap by integrating physical tool metaphors into AR workflows.

Solution

• Proposed approach: Clay ARtools, an AR system for CAM-based design, introduces digital ceramic tools inspired by physical tools to enable precise toolpath editing and embodied interaction.
• Novelty:
  1. Development of digital ceramic tools (rib, stamp, brush) as AR proxies for physical tools.
  2. Introduction of procedural modifiers (texturing, repetition, masking) to augment tool functionality.
  3. Integration of AR workflows with clay studio environments for in-situ design.
• Procedure and key techniques:
  • Tools interact with the toolpath through mid-air gestures, allowing deformation and texturing at the resolution of individual toolpath points.
  • Modifiers extend tool capabilities, enabling effects like radial repetition and grayscale-based texturing.
  • A simple authoring workflow allows users to create custom tools and textures using 2D bitmap images.
  • The system runs on HoloLens 2, using Unity for gesture-based interaction and visualization.

Results

• Concrete findings:
  • 23 clay 3D-printed artifacts were produced, showcasing diverse forms, textures, and functional elements.
  • Procedural repetition and texturing modifiers enabled intricate designs, such as drooping loops and tiled motifs.
  • The system supported precise toolpath editing and embodied interaction, allowing users to shape forms and apply textures simultaneously.
• Advantage over baselines:
  • Unlike CAD-based workflows, Clay ARtools allows direct manipulation of the toolpath with embodied gestures, preserving the craft logic of physical tools while enabling computational precision.
  • The system facilitates intuitive design workflows, reducing reliance on external slicers and complex CAD software.
• Experiments / evaluation:
  • Collaborative development with a professional ceramicist informed tool design and workflow validation.
  • Iterative sessions demonstrated the system’s usability and creative potential, with artifacts reflecting professional standards for aesthetics and functionality.
• Limitations and future work:
  • Lack of tactile feedback and challenges in precise mid-air interaction were noted as limitations.
  • Future work could explore haptic integration, computational alignment techniques, and applicability to other craft domains.

Summary

Clay ARtools bridges the gap between manual ceramics practices and computational precision in clay 3D printing by introducing AR-based digital ceramic tools and procedural modifiers. The system supports embodied interaction and precise toolpath editing, enabling the creation of intricate forms and textures. Collaborative development with a ceramicist demonstrated its usability and creative potential, producing 23 artifacts that showcase its capabilities. While limitations such as the lack of tactile feedback remain, the system offers promising directions for extending AR workflows to other craft and fabrication domains.