DiffCheck: a Scan-CAD Evaluation Tool for Digital Manufacturing and Assembly Processes in Timber Construction

TL;DR

diffCheck is a software tool that compares scanned timber structures with CAD models to evaluate accuracy, aiding digital timber fabrication processes and ensuring quality in assembly and prototyping.

Contribution

It introduces a novel point cloud analysis tool integrated into Grasshopper for precision evaluation in digital timber fabrication, filling a gap in accuracy checking methods.

Findings

Successfully tested on various timber elements and fabrication methods.

Provides a user-friendly benchmark framework for digital timber fabrication.

Open-source code and data shared with the community.

Abstract

In digital timber construction, scanning technologies and point cloud data are widely used due to the accessibility of affordable 3D sensors, photogrammetry, and user-friendly CAD tools. While typically not employed for accuracy checks in timber fabrication due to the precision of standard machinery, experimental research and prototyping with joinery and assembly can benefit from precision and accuracy evaluation tools. We introduce diffCheck, a C++/Python software integrated into Grasshopper to address this need. It uses advanced point cloud analysis to compare scans of fabricated timber structures with their respective CAD models, helping to identify discrepancies. Tested on various timber elements and digital fabrication methods like robotic assembly, AR-assisted woodworking, and CNC machining, diffCheck aims to establish a user-friendly benchmark framework for digital fabrication systems using timber components, with the potential to find applications in other materials. Its source code and the analyzed data are openly shared with the digital fabrication community under a permissive license.