Customized digital manufacturing : concept to construction methods across varying product scales

Abstract

Architectural design and construction is rapidly changing through the extensive adoption of digital design, manufacture and assembly tools. Customized assemblies are paired and recombined to create unique spatial enclosures. These assemblies themselves contain of a hierarchy of individual parts, both generic and unique. It is therefore important to realize that if we are to effectively develop systems for customization at the design stage, we need to understand how assembly design works at a systemic level; an understanding of tolerance propagation, part geometry and their dynamic relationships. This in turn allows for smooth data translation from concept shape design [input] to fabrication/manufacturing [output]. These new praxis for managing manufacturing complexity, is rarely accessible to the end user. A need exists to develop methods that encapsulate both past knowledge and contemporary computational practice, applicable in the design and fabrication of customized housing and other complex product assemblies.