Computational fabrication of 3D shapes: Enabling makers through novel geometric algorithms

Abstract

We are witnessing a new revolution in the area of fabrication and manufacturing. The most recent generation of digital fabrication devices like 3D printers, laser cutters and 4-axis desktop milling machines, make it considerably easier for non-professionals to fabricate their own custom designed tools and objects at a reasonable price. This evolution will eventually liberate many from having to buy pre-built products and already allows a high level of individualized object design and customization. Over the past few years, an active community of makers has evolved, that constantly pushes the development of digital fabrication devices in the direction of smaller, more affordable tabletop and lab-sized machines. With this, there comes the need for user-friendly software and methods to create and work with their input data, since many of the devices' users do not have any special technical knowledge. Depending on the fabrication method, a designed shape needs to satisfy certain constraints and be physically feasible, especially if one wishes to replicate or approximate highly complex digital models. In this thesis, we explore and develop novel computational design methods that extend the capabilities of traditional crafting and manufacturing techniques to create 3D shapes. Specifically, we are interested in identifying instances of design processes that can be simplified and improved algorithmically and made readily accessible to the maker community through the use of digital fabrication techniques. We show how these approaches allow the creation of objects with a new level of quality and complexity, and think that this work will enable novel applications not just for the maker community but also potentially for industrial manufacturing.