Robutter

Two-day experiment exploring boundaries between handcraft and industrial production

You can make your own butter by shaking cream until your arms hurt. Or you can use robots instead. The resulting product is 20 jars of limited edition, hand- and robot-crafted butter. We call it robutter.

Industrial robots are traditionally intended for repetitive work and mass production at the assembly line. Robutter is a project that explores how these machines could be helpful in our homes.
In this way, the idyllic and artisanal loving craft of churning butter is mechanized.
It comes in five different flavors: Sea Salt, Lemon+Pepper, Garlic, Arugula and (RG)Blue.

Making robutter

We attached a container full of cream to the robot using a piece of wood and a tension belt. Then we programmed a custom-made motion sequence to shake the container for 10 to 15 minutes.
By finding the right amount of horizontal rotation and vertical movement to separate the buttermilk from the butter, we were able to make the butter creamy and delicate.
Robutter is now wrung out, nicely packaged and ready to be enjoyed.

But why?

Robutter is not intended as a commercial product. It was a two-day experiment which explores the line between handcraft and industrial production. Does the fact that we used a robot to automate a certain task take away or add value to the product? Can you take a machine intended for mass production and use it to make a limited-edition product? Plus, we needed christmas presents anyway.

Credits

Idea & Production: Stephan Bogner, Philipp Schmitt, Jonas Voigt, Moritz Wagner
Packaging: Jonas Voigt
Video: Jonas Voigt
Robot Programming: Moritz Wagner
Butter Whipping: Fanuc 200iC/5H