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This research is concerned with the engagement of waterjet cutting (a CAD/CAM technology mainly used in industrial production) from the perspective of a designer-maker. The research focus is on practical investigations in the field of ʻStudio Glassʼ a sub-branch of ʻStudio Craftʼ. Novel technical approaches of interlocking, construction, fusing and casting were developed through investigation and engagement with waterjet cutting, glass and a range materials to aid in the making of glass artifacts. Methods for creating ‘Marquetry’ in glass by interlocking shapes and reliefpatternmaking are made explicit through tests and artworks. Flexible materials, heat-resistant materials and porous materials were cut to aid in mould production for glass. The testing of interlocking by offset and topographic layering established potential routes for developing artworks. This research project has developed new technical and creative approaches for ‘Studio Glass’ through combining waterjet cutting with kiln-forming techniques. This project was achieved through practice-led research based on a ‘multi-method’ approach, by lending approaches from identified methodologies such as Bicoleur and Adopted Naturalistic Inquiry. Collaboration and facilitating projects proved that the research also have a wider application potential. The research journey shows evidence of how access to a digital fabrication technology has influenced and inspired the development of a new visual language for the researcher. It is also evident that strategies for developing ideas, as well as working-methods have changed as a consequence of employing CAD/CAM. Ideas inspired from the use of technology changed throughout the research. Initially works were based on testing, but were later were inspired by findings and as the waterjet became second nature to the researcher.

Le but de cette thèse a été l’évaluation d’une nouvelle technique de frittage, le spark plasma sintering (SPS) par rapport à une technique plus conventionnelle et employée par Saint-Gobain : le pressage à chaud (HP). La différence significative entre ces deux méthodes de frittage réside dans la manière de chauffer le système. Par HP, elle se fait par les résistances internes du four ; l’échantillon est alors chauffé par conduction thermique (de la matrice vers le compact de poudre). Par SPS, un courant électrique pulsé passe à travers l’outillage de compaction et/ou le compact de poudre à fritter, assurant alors le chauffage par effet Joule et conduction. Les vitesses de montée en température, accessibles par SPS, peuvent atteindre les 600°C/min, contre 20-30°C/min pour le HP, réduisant alors considérablement la durée des cycles thermiques. Pour pouvoir mettre en évidence un possible effet du courant, généré par le SPS, plusieurs matériaux pulvérulents présentant des conductivités électriques différentes, ont été sélectionnés (verre, zircone dopée, quasicristaux et cuivre). La comparaison entre HP et SPS s’est portée sur l’observation des microstructures post-frittage et sur la détermination des mécanismes de densification. Il a été ainsi montré que pour les matériaux moins conducteurs électriquement que la matrice en graphite, le courant passe à travers la matrice et n’a pas d’effet sur la microstructure et sur les mécanismes de densification du compact à fritter. Pour le cuivre, plus conducteur que le graphite, la microstructure ainsi que les mécanismes de densification sont différents entre SPS et HP. Le courant passe donc probablement à travers le compact de poudre. / The aim of this PhD thesis is the evaluation of a new technique of sintering, the spark plasma sintering (SPS), compared to a more conventional one, employed by Saint-Gobain, the hot-pressing (HP). The significant difference between both techniques is the way to heat. By HP, it is done by internal resistances of the HP furnace. The sample is heated by thermal conduction (from the die to the powder compact). By SPS, a pulsed direct current goes trough the compaction system and/or the powder compact. It provides the heating by Joule effect and thermal conduction. The SPS heating rates could reach 600 °C/min, versus 20 - 30 °C/min by HP, reducing drastically the duration of thermal cycles. To highlight a possible current effect, generated by SPS, different pulverulent materials having different electrical conductivities have been selected (soda-lime glass, quasicrystals, doped-zirconia and copper). The comparison between SPS and HP has been done on the microstructural observation of sintered samples and on identification of densification mechanisms. It has been shown that, for materials less conductive than the die in graphite, current goes through the die and has no effect on the microstructure nor on densification mechanisms of the powder compact. For copper, a more conductive material than graphite, both microstructures and densification mechanisms are different for SPS and HP. Current probably goes trough the powder compact.