A production system for design and construction with digital fabrication

A system that guides the physical production of building construction with one digital fabrication device is presented. It is a rule based system for wood frame construction that generates construction information for the production of design artifacts; as design models or full scale buildings. The goal of the research was preparation for an automated system that supports generative design production. Examples of the system are presented in the form of models and as a full scale building. Introduction Many countries in non-western, developing worlds are in desperate need of housing for population growth and housing upgrades (Figure 1a). One country in need of rapid deployment of housing is South Africa where a mandate has been pasted stating that the country must provide over 350,000 homes per annum or 1000 homes per day [1]. Two research questions follow this mandate; how should the houses be designed and delivered? Also how can design variation be considered as a variable in manufacturing? One prototypical house will not meet the needs of millions of individuals, large and small families or villages. House design will need to vary by town, by family or purpose. Needed is an automated system for rapid design generation and house manufacture. The system must allow for flexibility in design and manufacturing such that houses can vary in function and shape for the same relative the same cost per square foot of construction. Figure 1 Typical house (a) and a Fab Lab (b) both within the town ship of Soshanguva, South Africa, students designing and constructing with a laser