Contour Crafting (CC) is an additive fabrication technology that uses computer control to exploit the superior surface-forming capability of troweling to create smooth and accurate planar and free-form surfaces (Khoshnevis et al., 2001-a; Khoshnevis et al, 2001-b, khoshnevis 2002). Some of the important advantages of CC compared with other layered fabrication processes are better surface quality, higher fabrication speed, and a wider choice of materials.
The key feature of CC is the use of two trowels, which in effect act as two solid planar surfaces, to create surfaces on the object being fabricated that are exceptionally smooth and accurate. Artists and craftsmen have effectively used simple tools such as trowels, blades, sculpturing knives, and putty knives, with one or two planar surfaces for forming materials in paste form since ancient times. Their versatility and effectiveness for fabricating complex free-form as well as planar surfaces is evidenced by ancient ceramic containers and sculptures with intricate or complex surface geometries as well as detailed plaster work that have shapes as complicated as flowers, on the walls of rooms. Surface shaping knives are used today for industrial model making (e.g., for building clay models of car bodies).
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Fig. 1. Dimension process capability©http://www.emeraldinsight.com/content_images/fig/1560070104023.png, 2001  A concrete wall form fabricated by the CC machine: Fig. 2. designed span and height of concrete wall form (left) and Fig. 3 inserted form CC form ties (right) ©Int’l Journal Industrial and Systems Engineering, Vol. 1, No. 3, 2006 |
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