On Material and Method in the Experimental Lab
The Experimental Lab operates within the Advanced Technology framework as a site for fabrication-based research. The lab treats making as an analytical method through which material behavior, fabrication constraints, and the translation between digital models and physical matter can be examined.
The emphasis is not on production outcomes but on understanding how tools and materials condition architectural thinking.
The lab’s 3D printing infrastructure is structured around differentiation rather than redundancy. Each printer supports a distinct research condition defined by material logic, scale, speed, and environmental control. These differences allow specific questions to be isolated and tested.
Printing Systems
Elegoo Centauri
Single-material fabrication for controlled studies of geometry, tolerance, resolution, and structural behavior.
Bambu X1 Carbon + AMS
Enclosed, high-speed multi-material fabrication for comparative studies and repeated testing.
Prusa XL
Large-format, multi-tool fabrication for differentiated material systems and integrated assemblies.
Elegoo Centauri
The Elegoo Centauri, by Elegoo, is a single material extrusion printer used for foundational fabrication studies. Its configuration supports investigations into geometry, layer orientation, tolerance, surface resolution, and structural behavior without the added variables introduced by material transitions.
The Centauri is primarily used for early stage prototyping, calibration, and iterative testing where isolating material behavior is essential.
Bambu X1 Carbon + AMS
The Bambu X1 Carbon with AMS, produced by Bambu Lab, enables multi material printing with up to four filaments. The enclosed build chamber and air filtration system allow the use of materials that require controlled thermal and environmental conditions.
Its high printing speed and automated material switching make it suitable for producing multiple components within a single build, supporting comparative studies, modular systems, and repeated testing across sets.
Material transitions rely on purge material, increasing material consumption and making waste a visible factor in multi material workflows.
Prusa XL
The Prusa XL, developed by Prusa Research, is a large format printer equipped with up to five independent tool heads. Each material is printed through a dedicated nozzle, eliminating purge towers and reducing material waste during transitions.
The larger build volume allows components and assemblies to be fabricated in a single print. This configuration supports research focused on material differentiation within one object, structural and flexible interfaces, and coordinated multi material systems where materials perform distinct roles.
Each printer is selected based on research intent rather than output optimization. The Centauri supports single-material behavior and process control. The Bambu X1 Carbon supports speed, enclosure, and repetition under controlled conditions. The Prusa XL supports large-scale fabrication and efficient multi-material integration.
Conclusion
Together, these tools define the Experimental Lab as a research environment in which fabrication is used to generate knowledge. Projects developed in the lab are documented and shared through an open archive that records processes, observations, and findings, contributing to broader discussions on material driven architectural research.