Towards a Digital Repertoire: Design and Fabrication of a Robotically-Milled Brass Chandelier

The paper described the design and fabrication of a robotically-milled brass chandelier using a bespoke vertical axial revolving material holder as a robotic fixture. While the technique described is for a chandelier design, it has potential architectural applications, as demonstrated by architects such as Barkow Leibinger. The significance of this research lies in the increased flexibility of the technique performed using a robotic arm compared to the current industrial method using tubematic laser cutter. In addition, the paper outlined the design of the robotic fixture and the computational workflow to create an integrated design-to-fabrication workflow. The research highlighted robotic systems as a potential design environment through reflection on Material Engagement Theory (MET) framework. Critically, the workflow constructed design feedback as robotic agencies that provide affordances through the fabrication setup. Such affordances contribute to the designing process and refine craftsmanship by creating transactional relationships between tools and material as a digital repertoire. This emerging design environment extends robotic research into design practice.