Curt Hammerly is Pushing the Limits of Ceramics with CNC Machining
Meet ceramist and CNC machinist Curt Hammerly. Curt is the owner, operator, and mastermind behind the gorgeous creations at Hammerly Ceramics. He’s constantly looking for innovative ways to create simple and clean pieces, while evolving his skills. One way he’s doing this is by combining modern technology, like the Bantam Tools Desktop CNC Milling Machine, with traditional techniques.
Curt got his start with clay after an accident left him with a broken neck — and slew of other injuries. His road to recovery was long and physical activity was very limited. One of the ways he wound up passing the time was taking pottery classes at the Boulder Potters’ Guild. But what started out as unintentional art therapy sessions and a much needed creative outlet, quickly turned into a life-long passion.
Shortly after, Curt became an apprentice at the studio where he’d been taking classes and he started the @hammerlyceramics Instagram channel. Eventually he left the Boulder Potters’ Guild to work out of his basement, hired his brother, rented a 1,400-square-foot studio, bought a fancy custom pottery kiln from Amsterdam, hired 4 more people, and today is running a successful small business.
Curt is always looking for new equipment to get his hands on and experiment with. Originally, he started out using 3D printers and silicone to make the molds for his pieces, but they were expensive and time-consuming to make. This is what turned Curt onto machining. “CNC machining offered much faster and cheaper prototyping for new mold ideas. There are many artists that pierce their clay pieces by hand, but I figured a CNC could do it far more accurately, and so I’d get the geometric perfection I am always looking for,” Curt explains.
In particular, Curt has been using the Bantam Tools Desktop CNC Milling Machine’s 4th axis attachment to experiment and make prototyping projects. He programs the toolpaths with Fusion 360 using a mix of resources in our Support Center and on YouTube. “I cannot stress enough what an incredible prototyping, proof of concept, and educational tool the Bantam Tools Desktop CNC Milling Machine is,” Curt says. This combination has allowed him to learn different CNC strategies and techniques he can use to machine his creations.
Speaking of creations, have we mentioned their gorgeous? One example of what Curt has been milling are the bottles he makes from translucent porcelain. For these he had to mill at three different depths using the Bantam Tools Desktop CNC 4th Axis. “The varying thickness of translucent porcelain in the final product lets different intensities of light show through from the inside with a warm wonderful glow that I cannot wait to pursue more,” Curt says. And he isn’t planning to stop there. He also sees amazing potential for a scaled-up version, once he can work out the logistical challenges.
Milling clay does come with challenges. The materials found in clay are abrasive and can easily cause damage to any equipment. It’s the reason clay and ceramics aren’t supported materials on the Bantam Tools Desktop CNC Milling Machine. With this said, Curt is no stranger to pushing the limits, and a lot of tech he uses in his workshop are being used a-typically. To minimize any potential damage, he’s diligent about cleaning his machine thoroughly and doing regular maintenance checks. “There is always a risk as a business owner of investments not paying off,” Curt says. “But I have always found that differentiation from the normal way of working has paid off for me.”
The key to using a-typical equipment and workflows, according to Curt, is to find where the limits are. To find them with the Bantam Tools Desktop CNC Milling Machine, this requires him to push clay milling to the breaking point. One of the challenges he’s working on is finding the right end mills that will stand up to the clay’s abrasiveness. Finding the right tooling would allow for him to mill pieces efficiently and consistently.
As Curt continues to explore the frontier, he sees enormous potential for how CNC milling can play a role in his business. “For a small business owner like me, it has provided a low-cost, full-functioned machine that is teaching me everything I need to know before making a larger investment.”
About Curt Hammerly
Curt is a ceramicist who utilizes a background in design and fabrication to create useful objects that beg to be picked up. He’s the owner and operator of Hammerly Ceramics. He believes that when an object has been designed well and with the user in mind, it can become more than the simple use it was made for. Those pieces bring a greater enjoyment of the experience surrounding that object. Follow Curt on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and YouTube.
For the latest Bantam Tools news, sign up for our newsletter. You can also follow us on LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter. If you’re interested in adding a Bantam Tools machine to your workflow you can order directly from our online store or request a quote.
