Curvy wood floors use CAD/CAM to minimize wastage

Cory Doctorow 12:34 am Tue Mar 15, 2011

Bolefloor makes hardwood floors that eschew the wastefulness of straight lines. Instead, they use computerized analysis to calculate puzzle-fit lengths that follow the curves and irregularities of the uncut logs, producing an organic, irregular mosaic that I find much preferable to the straight lines of traditional wood floors.

Bolefloor technology combines wood scanning systems, tailor-made CAD/CAM developments and innovative optimization algorithms for placement software developed by a Finnish engineering automation company and three software companies in cooperation with the Institute of Cybernetics at Tallinn University of Technology.

Bolefloor scanners' natural-edge visual identification technology evaluates "imperfections" such as knots and sapwood near the edges or ends so that floors are both beautiful and durable.

(Thanks, Error27, via Submitterator)

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