Photo credit: OFFSITEK
Traditional stick framing methods for constructing walls can be labor-intensive, slow and materially wasteful. Fortunately, advancements in automation are transforming how some buildings are being designed and built.
By automating construction operations, such as by using robotic tools to fabricate wall panels and assemblies, the architecture, engineering and construction industry is achieving greater efficiency and precision on projects, and cold-formed steel (CFS) is playing a key role in that success.
OFFSITEK merges robotic assembly and cutting-edge software in its operations.
5 Ways Automation Is Changing CFS Construction
“In the world of CFS, automation through robots plays a vital role in every step of the manufacturing process,” says the article, “Robots in Cold-Formed Steel Projects,” in STRUCTURE Magazine.
Automating the framing processes by using robots and CFS studs, transforms the construction of wall panels and assemblies in five ways:
1. Automated Roll Forming
Traditional stick-framing requires manually cutting studs on-site, while automated roll forming uses digital BIM models to produce studs and tracks cut precisely to spec, reducing waste and errors.
2. Robotic Arms for Framing and Sheathing
Robotic arms, with multiple degrees of freedom, are primarily used for welding sub-assemblies and entire panels in CFS construction. The arms, guided by precise 3D BIM software and CAD simulations, can handle complex welds and gauge deviations by using laser profile scanners before welding to ensure accuracy within fabrication tolerances.
3. Automated Rasping
Computer Numerical Control rasping machines offer a safer and more efficient alternative to hand rasping for finishing expanded polystyrene panels, minimizing health risks by reducing exposure to harmful particles. These machines use larger bits for precise rasping. Next-generation models can cut reveals and add slopes with high precision.
4. Robotic Spraying and Sanding
Robots may be used on construction sites and in off-site facilities for tasks like spraying drywall mud, sanding and painting, enhancing productivity and safety by automating finishing processes.
5. Robotic Field Measuring and Marking
Robots can mark wall panels and pod layouts on slabs, improving accuracy and reducing human error by following 2D layout drawings that include MEP penetration details. While current field printers need human assistance for navigation and setup, future models could integrate LiDAR (light detection and ranging) technology to autonomously navigate obstacles and define slab boundaries.
SFIA member Daley’s Drywall & Taping is a Canvas partner and is testing drywall finishing automation.
The Steel Framing Advantage
Cold-formed steel (CFS) leads the way as the preferred framing material for prefabricated structures for multiple reasons. CFS is:
- A pre-engineered material that can be cut to exact lengths
- Dimensionally stable and does not expand or contract with changes in moisture content
- Lightweight compared to wood and concrete
- Resilient and will not warp, split, crack or creep when exposed to the elements
- Sustainable and 100% recyclable
- Durable and has a high tensile strength
- Non-combustible and is a safeguard against fire accidents
CFS: Shaping the AEC Industry
The integration of robotic automation in CFS framing construction processes marks a significant leap forward in efficiency, precision and safety throughout the AEC industry. As such technologies continue to advance, they promise to further solidify CFS as the leading choice for construction productivity and innovation.
Read the full STRUCTURE Magazine article.
Additional Resources:
- Canvas Signs Long-Term Leases for Its Finishing Robots with Daley’s Drywall and Nevell Group
- SFIA’s Williams Sees Robots Being a Staple in Future Steel Framing
- A Century of Impact: The Evolution and Revolution of Cold-Formed Steel Framing