Equation-Driven Pots
Equation-Driven Pots is a generative 3D design project for creating functional, printable pots, plates, and sculptural vessels from mathematical equations.
Instead of sculpting forms manually, the project defines geometry through sampled mathematical fields. In cylindrical mode, forms are driven by equations such as r(theta, z) or r(theta, z, v). In spherical mode, they are driven by equations such as r(theta, phi) or r(theta, phi, v). From those sampled fields, the project builds printable geometry such as outer walls, inner walls, bottoms, drainage openings, plates, and multi-part assemblies.
The result is a design system that can produce anything from simple round pots to highly sculptural objects with petals, ribs, lobes, waves, folds, nonlinear surface behavior, multi-color segmentation, field-based remapping, and world-space deformation.
At its core, Equation-Driven Pots treats mathematics not just as a way to describe geometry, but as a practical design medium for fabrication.
Project evolution
1. Fusion 360 Python experimentation
The project began as experimentation inside Fusion 360 using Python scripting and parametric sweep reconstruction. At this stage, the goal was not yet a dedicated pot generator, but a way to define complex 3D forms mathematically and reconstruct them as editable geometry inside CAD.
That work became:
Python/Fusion360/3d MathSweep Studio.py
This branch is useful when forms go beyond straightforward radial vessels and need additional CAD editing, reconstruction, or refinement after the initial mathematical definition.
Thingiverse page for the Fusion-based sweep branch:
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:7327723
2. Pure Python cylindrical pot generation
After the CAD experimentation, the project moved toward a more direct procedural workflow: generating pots in pure Python from cylindrical radial equations.
This stage focused on forms described by:
r(theta, z)
This made it possible to generate printable meshes directly without depending on a CAD environment. It established the core logic of the project:
- sample the equation over a coordinate grid
- generate the outer wall
- generate the inner wall
- add the base and drainage hole
- export a closed printable mesh
That work became the basis for the early Python tools:
- Python/Equation Driven Pottery.py
- Python/Equation Driven PotteryGui.py
- Python/GuipyVista.py
- Python/GuiDash.py
This stage made the project much more portable and practical for procedural pot generation.
3. HTML adaptation for browser-based use
Once the cylindrical Python workflow was stable, the next step was adapting the project into browser-based tools so designs could be explored online without a local Python setup.
That led to the HTML / JavaScript branch, including tools such as:
- JavaScript/PotDesigner.html
- JavaScript/SweepDesigner.html
This was an important transition. The project shifted from being code-first to interaction-first. Users could now explore equations, preview forms, and export geometry directly in the browser.
4. Expansion into spherical coordinates
The next major step was spherical-coordinate vessel generation.
Instead of describing forms only as cylindrical height-based structures, the project expanded into equations of the form:
r(theta, phi)
This opened a broader design space for egg-like, globe-like, shell-like, and polar-symmetric structures that are harder to express through cylindrical coordinates alone.
That stage included tools such as:
- JavaScript/SphericalPotDesigner.html
Thingiverse page for the cylindrical and spherical generated pots:
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:7327538
5. Unified textured design
The next stage unified cylindrical and spherical workflows into a single browser tool while introducing procedural surface texture as a second design layer.
This stage centered on:
- JavaScript/TexturedPotDesigner.html
The key idea was to separate:
- base scaffold
- surface texture
Conceptually, the system...
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Hans Mortensen
Ric Real
I like the idea of using mathematical equations to create 3d printable pots.
Have you printed any of these or similar designs?
I have applied a similar methodology with regard to Lissajous figures, here is an a example.
Lissajous large base vase. by 3dcad | Download free STL model | Printables.com