If Only Wood Could Speak... Explorations in digital fabrication processes based on timber grain and patterns

If Only Wood Could Speak... Explorations in digital fabrication processes based on timber grain and patterns

Saad, Carla

Article:

This paper presents an exploration following wood patterns applied to traditionalwoodworking techniques such as steam bending and carving. It builds on adigital fabrication process where the patterns that are unique to each wood stripand which constitutes their structural geometry are also used within fabricationprocesses and applied machinery such as the zund machine. The experimentswere done in two series where the earlier set focuses on routing along the woodpatterns of thin wood strips and steam bending the different pieces. The secondset experimented with carving thick wood strips on passes generated from theextracted patterns. An automated technique based in computer vision andspecifically OpenCV was developed using different filters in order to extract thepatterns and transfer the results into CAD software where the lines where furthermanipulated for variable exploration. The results of this study led to a betterunderstanding of wood patterns from a geometrical perspective thus enrichingthe aesthetic composition of a design while being authentic to the unique natureof each piece of wood.

This paper presents an exploration following wood patterns applied to traditionalwoodworking techniques such as steam bending and carving. It builds on adigital fabrication process where the patterns that are unique to each wood stripand which constitutes their structural geometry are also used within fabricationprocesses and applied machinery such as the zund machine. The experimentswere done in two series where the earlier set focuses on routing along the woodpatterns of thin wood strips and steam bending the different pieces. The secondset experimented with carving thick wood strips on passes generated from theextracted patterns. An automated technique based in computer vision andspecifically OpenCV was developed using different filters in order to extract thepatterns and transfer the results into CAD software where the lines where furthermanipulated for variable exploration. The results of this study led to a betterunderstanding of wood patterns from a geometrical perspective thus enrichingthe aesthetic composition of a design while being authentic to the unique natureof each piece of wood.

Palavras-chave:

DOI: 10.5151/proceedings-ecaadesigradi2019_630

Referências bibliográficas

• [1] .

Como citar:

Saad, Carla; "If Only Wood Could Speak... Explorations in digital fabrication processes based on timber grain and patterns", p-227-234. In: Proceedings of 37 eCAADe and XXIII SIGraDi Joint Conference, “Architecture in the Age of the 4Th Industrial Revolution”, Porto 2019, Sousa, José Pedro; Henriques, Gonçalo Castro; Xavier, João Pedro (eds.). São Paulo: Blucher, 2019.
ISSN 23186968, DOI 10.5151/proceedings-ecaadesigradi2019_630