YAYA

Texturing Matter: An Accessible Method of Creating Textures by Digital Subtractive Fabrication

In response to the growing interest in digital clay fabrication, this thesis introduces TEXTURING MATTER, a simplified, accessible method that integrates traditional clay knowledge with digital manufacturing. Built on the multifunctional Zmorph CNC platform and custom Grasshopper software, the system bridges manual and digital practices by enabling a wide range of users—from traditional artisans to digital makers—to design and carve clay textures. It emphasizes the importance of understanding clay-specific knowledge, such as material properties and firing, which is often overlooked in existing research.

TEXTURING MATTER includes a hardware toolkit, parametric path-generation interface, and user guide. It focuses on three core variables: tools, materials, and machine paths. Users engage in iterative texture experimentation to build intuitive understanding and creative control. The method was further validated through an internship at Vertico, a concrete 3D printing firm, by adapting the system to larger-scale concrete printing and CNC milling. This demonstrated the method’s scalability and cross-material adaptability.

Ultimately, the project promotes digital craftsmanship and lays the groundwork for a future digital ceramic fabrication studio in Taiwan, making decentralized digital making more inclusive and materially informed.

To facilitate a clearer understanding of the foundational knowledge behind the digital manufacturing process, the workflow is simplified it into the following diagram.