Robotic Plaster Carving

Plaster has long been integral to architectural construction due to its fire-resistant nature and its ability to support highly intricate surface detail. This research reconsiders plaster's role in the digital age by exploring how industrial robotic arms can be used for subtractive fabrication. We present a bottom-up investigation into robotic plaster carving workflows, focusing on toolpath geometry, tool orientation, carving speed, carving profile, and stroke aggregation. The study aims to improve control and understanding of the tool-material interaction, identify fabrication parameters and defects, and formalize an adaptable workflow. The outcomes demonstrate how robotic plaster carving can revive and transform historic surface practices into contemporary digital craft and architectural detailing applications.