This project supported Strong By Form, Inc. in the development of a computational design and robotic fabrication workflow for timber slab elements with customized shell geometry. The computational workflow implemented a custom Grasshopper plugin that translated 3D design geometry and stress vectors into 2D locations for rectangular wood lamellae. The fabrication workflow utilized a Universal Robot and OpenCV to pick up lamellae and place them in a build area according to the determined locations. The resulting lay-ups were layered and pressed in a mould to produce the final shell geometry, which provided exceptional structural performance with minimal weight compared to other timber building products.

Strong By Form

Research Assistant

Universität Stuttgart ITKE

Supervisor: Jorge Christie

Each virtual lamella has several collision points, allowing for overlaps to be controlled by cartesian measurement instead of geometry intersection.

The centerpoint of each lamella repels lamella on the subsequent layer, encouraging vertical overlap.

A robotic pick and place workflow was prototyped that did not require precise initial placement of lamellae.

Finished layers were fixed with a weak adhesive and aggregated in a mould.