# Clay 3D-Printing: Beyond Digital Design > The possibilities of digital fabrication go beyond the creation of complex geometries; interaction with materials offers opportunities for expression or for exploiting their characteristics. This also means that the physical prototypes will often look or react differently from w… ## At a glance - Format: On-demand course - Price: €85.00 (list €100.00) - Difficulty: Intermediate - Duration: 8 Hours - Schedule: Aug 15-16, 2026 - Instructors: Edurne Morales - Categories: 3D-Printing - Software: Rhinoceros 3D, Grasshopper 3D, KUKA PRC, Robots, Cura - Students: 18 - Rating: 5.0 / 5 - Canonical: https://paacademy.com/course/clay-3d-printing-beyond-digital-design - Enroll: https://paacademy.com/course/clay-3d-printing-beyond-digital-design --- ## About this course Clay 3D-Printing: Beyond Digital Design is a 2-day digital fabrication workshop that teaches material-aware design for clay 3D printing using Rhinoceros and Grasshopper. Participants study material behavior in semi-liquid fabrication processes, generate toolpaths and print paths parametrically, and produce a customized brick element or facade system. The workshop concludes with live clay printing of participant designs at ZHAW's Digital Lab using a Delta WASP 40100 Clay printer, with remote participation via Zoom. No prior Rhino or Grasshopper experience is required. ## What you'll learn - Understand material behavior in digital fabrication and in clay 3D printing. - Design and model architectural elements using Rhino 8. - Develop parametric systems using Grasshopper. - Generate and prepare 3D-printing toolpaths for fabrication. - Translate digital designs into robotic and printer-based workflows. - Participate in live clay 3D-printing and physical prototyping. ## Methodology The workshop will have a theoretical and a practical section. We start with a **theoretical section** by going through: - Case studies using diverse fabrication processes, with specific examples on semi-liquid materials. - Introduction to the 3D printing process, and the particularities of robotic and printer-based 3D printing. Such as production capabilities, scale, programming, and data generation. - Considerations and possibilities when printing with clay: viscosity, texture, drying stages, firing, additives, paints, and glazings. And follow with a **practical **section, which will be individual or groups (depending on the quantity of participants) and will involve: - Tutorial on print path generation, effect, texture, and shape manipulation - Tutorial on data generation for robots and 3D printers - Workshop time for technical doubts and design - Practical workshop for the application of print path using a Delta WASP 40100 Clay, available at the Digital Lab in ZHAW The typology to be used is a standard brick, which participants will manipulate individually or as a system to apply specific textures, functions, and details. The main software used will be Rhinoceros and Grasshopper, which will be used to generate the geometries and print paths. ### Program of the Workshop **Day 1:** - Introduction by tutor and digital fabrication case studies - Introduction to 3D printing (robots and 3D printers), clay, and ceramics - Tutorial [Rhinoceros + Grasshopper]: Toolpath generation options (textures, effects, infill, height, and shape control) - Individual design development and technical Q&A **Day 2:** - Review of participant designs - Technical troubleshooting and discussion of participant work - Tutorial [Grasshopper (KUKA PRC, Robots), Ultimaker Cura profile manipulation]: Fabrication data generation, simulation, and visualization - Introduction to material preparation and machine setup, tips, and best practices - Live 3D printing of participant designs (participants will print one or two projects) ## Curriculum ### Session 1 - Introduction & PAACADEMY Updates (05:36) - Computational Ceramic Design Systems (47:21) - Parametric Textures Material Properties (44:26) - Parametric Toolpath Scripting Fundamentals (58:22) - Grasshopper Curve Modulation Logic (48:55) ### Session 2 - Computational Ceramic Design Systems (35:31) - Grasshopper Ceramic Design Optimization (32:04) - 3D Clay Slicer Parameters (35:43) - Live Clay Printer Setup (23:21) - Real-Time Clay Flow Calibration (37:31) - Live Prototype Printing Tests (55:20) ## FAQ ### Will I be able to see my design being 3D printed? Yes. The workshop includes a live clay 3D-printing session where selected participants' designs will be printed. ### What software will I need for the workshop? You will use Rhino 8 and Grasshopper. Additional tools such as KUKA PRC, the Robots plugin, and Ultimaker Cura will also be introduced. ### What will I create during the workshop? You will develop computational design strategies to generate clay 3D-printable geometries, exploring textures, toolpaths, and material-driven forms for architectural applications. ### Will I get access to the workshop recordings? Yes. You will have lifetime access to the recordings of all purchased courses, allowing you to revisit the content anytime. ### What is Grasshopper used for in clay 3D printing workflows? Grasshopper, running inside Rhino, is used to generate parametric geometries and toolpaths for clay 3D printing. In this workshop, participants use Grasshopper to control print effects, layer height, texture, infill patterns, and shape manipulation, and to produce fabrication data for the Delta WASP 40100 Clay printer and robotic systems using plugins like KUKA PRC and the Robots plugin. ### What does the Clay 3D-Printing workshop at PAACADEMY cover across two days? Day 1 covers theoretical foundations, including digital fabrication case studies with semi-liquid materials, an introduction to clay and ceramic printing, and a Rhino and Grasshopper tutorial on toolpath generation. Day 2 moves into design review, fabrication data generation using KUKA PRC and Ultimaker Cura, material preparation, machine setup, and live clay printing of participant designs on the WASP printer at ZHAW's digital lab. ### Do I need prior experience with Rhino or Grasshopper to join this workshop? The workshop introduces the basics of Rhinoceros and Grasshopper as part of the program, specifically for clay printing applications, so no advanced prior experience is required. Participants will learn toolpath generation, geometry development, and fabrication data preparation from scratch within the workshop sessions. ### What will I produce by the end of the clay 3D printing workshop? By the end of the two days, participants will have a fully developed parametric brick element or system, generated toolpaths and fabrication data, and a physically printed clay prototype produced on the Delta WASP 40100 Clay printer at ZHAW's digital fabrication lab, either individually or as part of a group depending on enrollment.