Medium-sized timber construction companies often use a timber panel construction method for multi-storey buildings, which is based on a high degree of prefabrication. In principle, large (automated) production facilities and machinery are not necessary for this. However, there are companies on the market that can generate strong price pressure by automating production with portal processing systems. Such large-scale equipment generates considerable investment costs that SMEs cannot afford. For manual production, however, the complex requirements (statics, thermal insulation, sound insulation, etc.) of timber panel construction require considerable effort, which must be realised in a reliable production process.

OptiPaRef aimed to increase production efficiency and process reliability in the manual production of timber frame construction elements. The core idea of the project was to provide the carpenters with the already generated, three-dimensional planning data directly in the workshop in a step-by-step and context-sensitive manner. FLEX developed a methodology for the holographic visualisation of complex production information for individual components. Augmented reality glasses form the tool for extending the digital information chain from factory planning to production. The assistance system to be developed projects the necessary production information directly into the carpenter's field of vision without any additional effort. At the same time, quality assurance in production is significantly simplified.

In this research project,FLEX analysed the working methods of the project partner Holzbau Lepski and developed tools that can be used to extend the digital information chain into the production process. The Hololens 2 used for this provided the basis for the development of AR tools to make the digital data directly and intuitively available to the carpenters during the production of the panels, as well as measuring tools that can determine distances and angles at the touch of a finger and an interface that enables efficient, paperless logging of production. At the same time, methods have been developed to ensure the dimensional accuracy, orientation and localisation of the worker and their surroundings.

Keywords:timber construction, manual production, augmented reality, CAD-CAM, quality management, parametrics, HoloLens2, component referencing