Modern digital manufacturing techniques, such as 3D printing, CNC milling, and laser cutting, enable producing a physical copy of a given 2D/3D shape precisely and conveniently. However, each of these techniques has its own limitations and constraints, making it impossible or undesirable to manufacture complex and/or large 3D shapes as a single monolithic piece.
Computational assemblies addresses the challenge by representing or approximating a 3D shape with a set of simpler and/or smaller parts that can be fabricated and physically assembled. Additional benefits include reducing material waste, increasing manufacturing efficiency, and facilitating maintenance. In this topic, we develop computational methods to study various aspects of assemblies such as structural stability, assembly planning, fabricability, and reusability.
