Robotic milling and design for subtractive manufacturing workflows
This seminar will serve as an introduction as to how subtractive manufacturing methods, such as 3-axis CNC machines and 6-axis industrial robots, equipped with various wood cutting, and computational design tools can be used to translate digital designs to physical prototypes.
CNC milling is widely applied in manufacturing for precision parts, furniture production, prototyping, and standardized workflows where speed and accuracy are prioritized.
Similarly, robotic milling offers higher precision, repeatability, and the ability to produce complex geometries that would be time-intensive or impossible by hand. However, it lacks the intuitive, adaptive knowledge of a craftsperson and requires upfront digital planning.
It is most effective for large-scale components, non-standard geometries, and processes requiring flexibility in tool orientation. Designing for robotic milling involves anticipating material behavior, tool accessibility, and integrating robotic constraints into the design from the start.
To address these challenges and opportunities, this workshop will explore a hybrid workflow combining 3-axis CNC milling and 6-axis robotic milling. Participants will first employ a 3-axis CNC machine to produce the rough contours of a geometry through the stacking of plywood layers, approximating the desired form. This stage focuses on understanding toolpath generation, material efficiency, and geometric translation from digital to physical form.
In the second phase, the 6-axis robotic milling process will be used to perform finishing operations on the assembled piece. By taking advantage of the robot’s full kinematic range, including its external rotary axis, participants will refine the surface geometry and achieve smooth, continuous forms that would be difficult to produce with conventional methods. This phase will emphasize robotic toolpath planning, calibration, and adaptive machining strategies.
Through this two-step workflow, students will gain an understanding of how different subtractive manufacturing processes can be combined to balance speed, precision, and material expression in digital fabrication.
The Nidra Chair was developed within the framework of Workshop 1.1, where we explored robotic milling using the KUKA robotic arm. The design process was guided by a set of conceptual ideas—texture, nest, wings, and storage—which shaped the formal and tactile language of the piece. Inspired by notions of protection, warmth, and well-being, Nidra seeks … Read more
The massage chair is an experiment in digital fabrication and hybrid workflows, using computational design, CNC milling, 6-axis robotic milling, and human assembly and finishing, to understand how different subtractive manufacturing processes can be combined to balance speed, precision, and material expression in digital fabrication. Materials Tools Used Early Designs Early explorations of designs in … Read more
So basically, these are the iterations we made with the first day at the workshop. These are the many iterations of the different topologies and chairs we made using SubDs. In the end, we decided to go with a simple shape, yet with a complex textile texture. For these diagrams, we conducted a draft angle … Read more
The Nidra Chair was developed within the framework of Workshop 1.1, where we explored robotic milling using the KUKA robotic arm. The design process was guided by a set of conceptual ideas—texture, nest, wings, and storage—which shaped the formal and tactile language of the piece. Inspired by notions of protection, warmth, and well-being, Nidra seeks … Read more
Abstract: The Elephant Chair project was developed during the workshop “Robotic Milling and Design for Subtractive Manufacturing Workflows.”This workshop explored hybrid fabrication methods combining 3-axis CNC milling and 6-axis robotic milling to translate digital geometries into precise wooden prototypes. Our team designed and fabricated a furniture piece inspired by organic anatomy, robust yet flexible, mirroring the mechanical elegance of the machines used … Read more
Lessons from Workshop 1.1 – Robotic milling and design for subtractive manufacturing This workshop focused on advanced subtractive manufacturing techniques, exploring the integration of 2-axis CNC milling and 6-axis robotic milling within a hybrid digital fabrication workflow. The process emphasized computational design-to-production strategies, including toolpath generation, material optimization, and robotic calibration. Through sequential stages of … Read more
