Artists have been carving stone and marble sculptures for centuries, but now, the world has entered a new era of sculpting with the invention of Robotor, a robot chisel driven by self-programming software. With Robotor, users can feed data into the robot to produce magnificent and highly detailed sculptures that can rival those of human artists. Co-founders Filippo Tincolini and Giacomo Massari see their technology as a solution to the tiring, risky, and dangerous nature of manually working on marble sculptures.
The inspiration for Robotor came from the heart of the quarrying district of Carrara, the very same district that produced the prized marble used by Michelangelo to carve his statues. Tincolini and Massari believe that their technology marks the beginning of a new era in which sculptures are no longer “made of broken stones, chisels, and dust, but scans and draws.”
The robot chisel’s hardware and build have been designed to withstand heavy loads and work in the most hostile environments. If the user is experienced with programming, they can easily direct the robot chisel with complex data, and it can handle the workload with ease. The self-programming software, OR-OS, simplifies the production of complex sculptures and enables real-time programming of the robot for its speed, effort, and power of milling.
Workflow and Processing Phases
Robotor analyzes the stone or material it is going to work on, reviewing its properties, corners, and shape. After identifying the points around the material where it can carve, the robot chisel begins the reproduction process. Users plan the workflow, starting with the scan of the product they want the robot to produce. Alternatively, the self-programming software can enable the robot chisel to work autonomously.
The software nudges the robot chisel to select the types of tools it will use during the different stages of the process, from sculpting the material to polishing it and even dusting it off with bursts of water. The robot chisel’s ability to repurpose discarded materials during production reduces material waste, operating costs, energy consumption, and production times.
Flexibility and Autonomy
Robotor is equipped with a mechanical arm that uses electro-spindles and automatic tool change. It stands over a base that contains electrical and hydraulic components, inspired by the lunar modules. The rotary table the robot chisel is on can support workpieces up to 50 tons, making it an essential accessory to take advantage of the robot’s flexibility.
Users can use the OR-OS software to program the robot chisel from any 3D shape, even just by scanning original work clients and users want to reproduce. The system can program itself to work autonomously and manage and control the reproduction all by itself. While intervention by users is still welcome, the robot chisel can work on its own to create stunning sculptures.
Conclusion
Robotor is revolutionizing the art of sculpting with its advanced solution drawing on research and interaction between art, the local area, tradition, and technology. Co-founders Tincolini and Massari have created a robot chisel that can produce magnificent and highly detailed sculptures with ease, reducing material waste, operating costs, energy consumption, and production times. Robotor’s flexibility and autonomy make it a game-changer in the world of sculpting, enabling artists and designers to create complex sculptures that would have been impossible to produce by hand. As Tincolini and Massari put it, “the era of sculptures made of broken stones, chisels, and dust is over.”
Source: Robotor
