The Foundry
Location
Hook Park
Role
Computational Design & Fabrication
Workshop
AA Robotic Fabrications
Intro
Bandsaw Manoeuvres combines traditional timber craftsmanship with robotic fabrication to create a ring-beam structure for a foundry at Hooke Park. The project explores precision, scale, and complexity in timber construction by adapting a KUKA KR150 robot to operate a bandsaw.
Process
Complex connection details inspired by Japanese joinery were prototyped through multi-axis robotic machining. Photogrammetry assessed fabrication accuracy and informed iterative refinements. This process combined digital precision with tactile craft qualities, translating choreographed toolpaths into large-scale, glue-laminated cedar components.
Goal
To explore how robotic control could enhance traditional woodworking capabilities, enabling precise fabrication of large, complex timber elements while preserving craft integrity. Multi-axis robotic machining tested the bandsaw's limits through complex entry and exit angles for intricate forms and joinery.
Result
The final ring beam forms a sculptural yet load-bearing frame, with its knurled cedar components locked together using bespoke lap and dovetail joints. The result showcases the precision of robotic machining alongside the warmth of handcrafted timber, demonstrating how industrial tools can produce bespoke, site-specific structures.