My very first test order in glazed ceramic arrived today (ordered on the 21st May but also packed with a Bowie)
Unfortunately I'm not as happy as I'd hoped to be with the result...
The model is an espresso cup about 5cm high with a pattern of ripples over the surface that are generated by an implementation of the 2D wave equation.
I used a random collection of oscillators to make ripples spread over the surface; they reflect from the top and bottom but can go all the way around.
I chose a version of the model with I hoped would be a good mix of amplitudes of ripple to see what kind of surface detail I could expect to get.
The model (rendered using my non-existent Blender skills) is next to the printed cup. The image above is the roughest side, with the most large ripples - you can make out the intended pattern but it's a bit submerged in the roughness of the surface. The stepping on the handle is very clear.
This is the smoother side, with only small ripples, here the rough surface makes it hard to tell that it should be smooth.
The base, which should be flat with the dished area in the centre, is very rough but it's not visible normally. The cup sits flat on a table.
I'd hoped to make a set of co-creators from this but I don't think I'd get many orders with these as product photos. I'd also not feel really happy to sell it at this level of quality.
The examples on the front page did make me hope that this would work but, they seemed much smoother than this. I'm not too upset, it's an experimental process and on that basis I've got what I wanted since this was an experimental order, but I'm not sure I'll order anything else.
Is this the quality that we're supposed to get from glazed ceramic?
Chris