Carrying forward the momentum of our previous workshop, we continue to investigate the challenging geometric problems that arise during computational fabrication.

Advanced manufacturing is enabling unprecedented complexity in the geometric objects we can fabricate.  High genus topologies can be 3D printed to maximize strength while minimizing weight.  Meanwhile, modern freeform architecture can be constructed out of custom-cut unique panels.  Unfortunately, these technological  advances have outpaced our mathematical understanding of fabricable geometries and our algorithmic ability to help people design such shapes.  The scope of designs and analyses are limited by our patience with difficult-to-use or poor-performance tools rather than our creativity or scientific expertise.  These problems are confounded by poor robustness of core routines for processing geometric data.

Geometric algorithms that enable robust design for fabrication and manufacturing require solving challenges across a wide range of topics, including:

• descriptive geometry (e.g., categorizing space of shapes spanned by a given manufacturing method)
• computational geometry (robust discrete computation),
• physical simulation (virtually validating resulting object properties),
• mechanical engineering and computational mechanics (structural analysis),
• numerical optimization (efficient optimization of the resulting numerical problems), and
• interface design (enabling artists and laymen to easily model envisioned geometries).

The workshop will bring together researchers, inudstry developers and artists whose work addresses the numerous questions posed by computational fabrication including geometry processing, physically based simulation, computational mechanics, computational geometry and descriptive geometry. As robustness of computation has emerged as a major bottleneck in design and prototyping of geometric shapes that ultimately must leave the comfort of the virtual homes and enter the physical world via fabrication and manufacturing.

Structure

The workshop will highlight presentations of state-of-the-art research by leading experts and introductory surveys into trending topics to facilitate cross-pollination across our, too often, disparate communities. 

Alongside research presentations, we will feature introductions to available tools including open source libraries (CGAL, libigl, el topo) and proprietary applications from industry (e.g., from Autodesk,  OnShape, GradientSpace, etc.).

Working toward achieving true democratization of fabrication promised by modern additive manufacturing techniques (e.g., 3D printing), this workshop will highlight topics on the computational side of fabrication, including but not limited to:

• mathematical theories and frameworks to describe physical behaviors of dynamic manufacturable objects,
• robust discretization and mesh surgery operations on surfaces and solids,
• optimization of fabricated shapes to perform high-level functions,
• numerical methods for analysis and simulation of 3D printed shapes,
• collision detection and contact handling during shape design, and
• incorporation of constraints from specific fabrication technologies.

These topics invite the researchers across various disciplines to pool their knowledge and strive together toward more unified and generalizable approaches. We expect that this workshop serves as an initial cross pollination of ideas that will sprout many fruitful collaborations in the years to come. To achieve the desired cross-pollination our participant list includes top experts across a large set of area, some more practical and others more theoretical; we balance academics vs industry participants, and seek a representative demographic balance with respect to seniority and gender.

Following our last year's workshop, the structure of the workshop will consist of long-format sessions to facilitate interactive and meaningful discussions.