Having control of the line requires expertise in virtual modelling that I will explore through this blog, namely through G Code. I will write more about this in future, but essentially instead of modelling a 3D digital object in a software package, generating machine readable 'G Code' allows direct communication with the printer to provide more creative control.

Unfold's approach reminds me of Paul Klee's saying 'a drawing is simply a line going for a walk'. In Klee's case, the drawing exists on a 2d x,y coordinate plane, and pen variables include direction, line weight, colour, and speed. Taking a 3d printed line for a 3d walk adds complexity and requires careful calibration of additional variables, such as z height, material behaviour and flow rate. My practice will start with creating virtual objects to learn the 3d printing machine and its affordances. At first my files will be simply sliced to print in layers, but at some point, I intend to describe how to build an object through a material line, and then explore how machine code instruction can generate difference when released into the world of atoms.

The book arrived and I raced through it, working out what I could start to code and print. The example code is generally split into two parts, algorithms creating geometry for 3D printing slicer software, or algorithms simulating 3D printed lines. The sliced geometries worked like a dream, I will post some of the outcomes. However, controlling your 3d printer through G Code is on another level of complexity; I will post some of these colossal fails soon.

If you are interested in the advanced 3D printing world, I recommend viewing the webinar on Advanced 3D or buying the book.