# 3D-Printing Clay Mastery

> This workshop is designed for artists, architects, designers, and digital fabricators interested in deepening their understanding of clay 3D printing. Over two intensive live sessions, you’ll explore technical and material-driven strategies for generating optimized toolpat…

## At a glance

- Format: On-demand course
- Price: €93.50 (list €110.00)
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Duration: 8 Hours
- Schedule: Sep 20-21, 2025
- Instructors: Lili Yas Tayefi
- Categories: 3D-Printing, 3D Modeling, Design Workshops
- Software: Rhinoceros 3D, Grasshopper 3D
- Students: 63
- Rating: 4.9 / 5
- Canonical: https://paacademy.com/course/3d-printing-clay-mastery
- Enroll: https://paacademy.com/course/3d-printing-clay-mastery

---

## About this course

3D-Printing Clay Mastery is a workshop that teaches advanced clay 3D printing techniques using Rhino and Grasshopper for optimized, material-aware toolpaths. Using the LYT.Studio Grasshopper 8 plugin, students generate custom G-code directly from Rhino without an external slicer, designing for gravity, extrusion flow, cantilevers, overlaps, and drying behavior, with an optional path to integrate body-scan geometry for sculptural experimentation. The workshop is Intermediate level and covers the full clay workflow from recipe to print, drying, and shrinkage.

## What you'll learn

- Design optimized forms for additive layering with extrusion constraints in mind.

- Understand how line thickness, overlaps, cantilevers, and nozzle sizes affect real-world prints.

- Use the LYT.Studio Grasshopper 8 plug-in to generate custom G-code for clay 3D printers.

- Export toolpaths directly from Rhino without using an external slicer.

- Develop surface textures and clean a base for your model using parametric control.

- Integrate body-inspired geometries as a framework for sculptural experimentation (optional)

- Consider the full clay workflow: from recipe to print to drying and shrinkage.

- Troubleshoot issues related to scale, material stress, and deformation during printing.

## Methodology

### Workshop Format



This live workshop follows a hands-on, exploratory approach featuring live demonstrations and walkthroughs in Rhino and Grasshopper using a custom plug-in. Participants engage in design exercises that emphasize toolpath-based thinking.


### Technical Content



The course covers technical strategies for clay extrusion, including managing cantilevers, overlaps, and understanding geometry behavior during printing.


### Case Studies and Applications





- Real-world case studies from modular sculpture and architectural ceramics illustrate practical applications of the techniques taught.

- Participants may explore optional body-scan workflows for hybrid digital-organic design experimentation. 



### Support and Accessibility



An open Q&A session offers individualized troubleshooting support.

## Requirements

- Prior experience with Rhino and/or Grasshopper is recommended but not required—concepts will be
clearly explained.

- You do not need a clay 3D printer to follow along; the course is focused on simulation and design
preparation

- A body 3D scan (or simple 3D scanned object) may be used optionally for experimentation, but is not
mandatory

## Curriculum

### Session 1
- Introduction + PAACADEMY Updates (08:10)
- Intro to Ceramic Printing (01:07:46)
- Ceramic Printing Guide (32:25)
- Slicing with Grasshopper (33:24)
- Custom Clay G-code (31:42)
- LYT Studio Plugin (35:37)

### Session 2
- Texturing Clay Prints (28:52)
- Feed Rate & Flow (27:03)
- Advanced Clay Printing (52:30)
- Clay Printing Analysis (01:02:23)

## FAQ

### Do I need a clay 3D printer to participate in this workshop?
No. The course focuses on simulation, design strategy, and G-code generation. You don’t need a printer to follow along or benefit from the workshop.

### What is the LYT.Studio Grasshopper plugin, and will I be able to use it after the course?
Yes. The workshop teaches you how to use this custom plugin, developed by LYT.Studio, to generate material-aware toolpaths for clay printing directly in Grasshopper 8. You’ll be equipped to apply it independently in your own workflows.

### Can I use a body scan or scanned object in the workshop?
Yes, optionally. If you have access to a 3D scan (of a body or any organic object), you can incorporate it into your design process. It’s not required, but it opens creative possibilities.

### Is prior experience with Rhino and Grasshopper necessary?
It’s helpful but not mandatory. The workshop is designed to clearly explain the concepts and workflows, even for those with limited prior exposure to Rhino or Grasshopper.

### Will I learn how to troubleshoot real-world clay printing issues?
Yes. The course addresses practical challenges like drying, material stress, deformation, overlaps, and nozzle behavior.