# Experimental Techniques

Beyond materials experimentation, there are many different experimental techniques that produces a physical print that looks and behaves differently compared to the digital model. Usually, these techniques revolve around manipulating the 3dprinting toolpath and extrusion rates.

## DeFextiles

DeFextiles is a research project conducted at MIT that investigates the use of under-extrusion in 3D printing to create quasi-woven textiles.

![Image from MIT Media](https://1820679795-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LXautSvCbUco5Lv7YrH%2F-MS0Aeu8iu_6VHnr56Xh%2F-MS0C6eN-MhA7DOMKLhG%2Fimage.png?alt=media\&token=a78db229-ec62-4e05-99f3-9e6aafdacd07)

{% embed url="<https://vimeo.com/465508515>" %}
Video from MIT Media
{% endembed %}

You can read up more about it here as well as the published research paper:

{% embed url="<https://www.media.mit.edu/projects/defextiles/overview/>" %}

{% embed url="<https://www.media.mit.edu/publications/defextiles-publication/>" %}

## Non-Planar Printing

Non-planar printing is a process that leverages the z-axis movement of the printer to create non-planar top surface solid fills. It started as a research project from TAMS in the University of Hamburg. You can find out more about it here:

{% embed url="<https://tams.informatik.uni-hamburg.de/research/3d-printing/nonplanar_printing/>" %}

{% embed url="<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=km1lvuva5mI&ab_channel=TAMSUHAM>" %}
Video from TAMS, University of Hamburg
{% endembed %}

There is also a store that sells special nozzles for non-planar 3D printing as well as Grasshopper scripts to generate the associated g-code:

{% embed url="<https://www.nonplanar.xyz/>" %}

## Spiral Vase Mode

Spiral vase mode is  a mode that will result in seamless prints. It can be used on single-perimeter wall prints. During a vase mode print, the z height is continuosly and gradually increased, rather than printing one layer at a time. This will avoid the usual weak point and unsightly 'scar' where the layer change usually occurs.&#x20;

This printing method derives its use case from being particularly suited to printing vases and is a setting that can be turned on within PrusaSlicer.