Workpiece Coordinate System Measurement for a Robotic Timber Joinery Workflow

Robotic timber joinery demands integrated, adaptive methods to compensate for the inherent dimensional variability of wood. We introduce a seamless robotic workflow to enhance the measurement accuracy of the Workpiece Coordinate System (WCS). The approach leverages a Zivid 3D camera mounted in an ey...

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Main Authors: Francisco Quitral-Zapata, Rodrigo García-Alvarado, Alejandro Martínez-Rocamora, Luis Felipe González-Böhme
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Buildings
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/15/2712
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author Francisco Quitral-Zapata
Rodrigo García-Alvarado
Alejandro Martínez-Rocamora
Luis Felipe González-Böhme
author_facet Francisco Quitral-Zapata
Rodrigo García-Alvarado
Alejandro Martínez-Rocamora
Luis Felipe González-Böhme
author_sort Francisco Quitral-Zapata
collection DOAJ
description Robotic timber joinery demands integrated, adaptive methods to compensate for the inherent dimensional variability of wood. We introduce a seamless robotic workflow to enhance the measurement accuracy of the Workpiece Coordinate System (WCS). The approach leverages a Zivid 3D camera mounted in an eye-in-hand configuration on a KUKA industrial robot. The proposed algorithm applies a geometric method that strategically crops the point cloud and fits planes to the workpiece surfaces to define a reference frame, calculate the corresponding transformation between coordinate systems, and measure the cross-section of the workpiece. This enables reliable toolpath generation by dynamically updating WCS and effectively accommodating real-world geometric deviations in timber components. The workflow includes camera-to-robot calibration, point cloud acquisition, robust detection of workpiece features, and precise alignment of the WCS. Experimental validation confirms that the proposed method is efficient and improves milling accuracy. By dynamically identifying the workpiece geometry, the system successfully addresses challenges posed by irregular timber shapes, resulting in higher accuracy for timber joints. This method contributes to advanced manufacturing strategies in robotic timber construction and supports the processing of diverse workpiece geometries, with potential applications in civil engineering for building construction through the precise fabrication of structural timber components.
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spelling doaj-art-5ed0045ef56a41528ae7770af9ca12c02025-08-20T03:02:58ZengMDPI AGBuildings2075-53092025-07-011515271210.3390/buildings15152712Workpiece Coordinate System Measurement for a Robotic Timber Joinery WorkflowFrancisco Quitral-Zapata0Rodrigo García-Alvarado1Alejandro Martínez-Rocamora2Luis Felipe González-Böhme3Department of Architecture, Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María, San Joaquín 8940897, ChileDepartment of Design and Theory of Architecture, Universidad del Bío-Bío, Concepción 4051381, ChileIUACC, ArDiTec Research Group, Department of Architectural Constructions II, Higher Technical School of Building Engineering, University of Seville, Av. Reina Mercedes 4-a, 41012 Seville, SpainDepartment of Architecture, Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María, Valparaíso 2390123, ChileRobotic timber joinery demands integrated, adaptive methods to compensate for the inherent dimensional variability of wood. We introduce a seamless robotic workflow to enhance the measurement accuracy of the Workpiece Coordinate System (WCS). The approach leverages a Zivid 3D camera mounted in an eye-in-hand configuration on a KUKA industrial robot. The proposed algorithm applies a geometric method that strategically crops the point cloud and fits planes to the workpiece surfaces to define a reference frame, calculate the corresponding transformation between coordinate systems, and measure the cross-section of the workpiece. This enables reliable toolpath generation by dynamically updating WCS and effectively accommodating real-world geometric deviations in timber components. The workflow includes camera-to-robot calibration, point cloud acquisition, robust detection of workpiece features, and precise alignment of the WCS. Experimental validation confirms that the proposed method is efficient and improves milling accuracy. By dynamically identifying the workpiece geometry, the system successfully addresses challenges posed by irregular timber shapes, resulting in higher accuracy for timber joints. This method contributes to advanced manufacturing strategies in robotic timber construction and supports the processing of diverse workpiece geometries, with potential applications in civil engineering for building construction through the precise fabrication of structural timber components.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/15/2712robotic timber joineryrobotic timber constructionworkpiece coordinate systemcomputer visionpoint cloud processingadaptive toolpath generation
spellingShingle Francisco Quitral-Zapata
Rodrigo García-Alvarado
Alejandro Martínez-Rocamora
Luis Felipe González-Böhme
Workpiece Coordinate System Measurement for a Robotic Timber Joinery Workflow
Buildings
robotic timber joinery
robotic timber construction
workpiece coordinate system
computer vision
point cloud processing
adaptive toolpath generation
title Workpiece Coordinate System Measurement for a Robotic Timber Joinery Workflow
title_full Workpiece Coordinate System Measurement for a Robotic Timber Joinery Workflow
title_fullStr Workpiece Coordinate System Measurement for a Robotic Timber Joinery Workflow
title_full_unstemmed Workpiece Coordinate System Measurement for a Robotic Timber Joinery Workflow
title_short Workpiece Coordinate System Measurement for a Robotic Timber Joinery Workflow
title_sort workpiece coordinate system measurement for a robotic timber joinery workflow
topic robotic timber joinery
robotic timber construction
workpiece coordinate system
computer vision
point cloud processing
adaptive toolpath generation
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/15/2712
work_keys_str_mv AT franciscoquitralzapata workpiececoordinatesystemmeasurementforarobotictimberjoineryworkflow
AT rodrigogarciaalvarado workpiececoordinatesystemmeasurementforarobotictimberjoineryworkflow
AT alejandromartinezrocamora workpiececoordinatesystemmeasurementforarobotictimberjoineryworkflow
AT luisfelipegonzalezbohme workpiececoordinatesystemmeasurementforarobotictimberjoineryworkflow