Augmented Reality in Carpentry

– Thoughts by András Mészáros

We recently came across an intriguing article online—under the name “Augmented Carpentry,” a new augmented reality technology has been developed that can make woodworking even more precise and cost-effective. You’ll find more on the workings of this system at the end of our article; here, I’d like to share my thoughts and experiences on new technologies, such as AI, online systems, and anything else our industry may be moving toward.

At MW design, we’ve always been strong supporters of innovation and are constantly seeking out digital tools and technological advances that can contribute to our efficiency. The past year has brought immense changes for us in this area. One major leap was the adoption of Trello across the entire company last year. Yes, even our workshop team uses it now :) As our company continues to grow, I’ve had to realize that issues which could once be managed by a single leader now require systems and frameworks. Trello supports this growth perfectly—here, all our internal operations as well as collaborative workflows with clients or interior designers are always up to date and visible. In addition, we use Asana for projects and tasks that aren’t related to manufacturing.

Another major change has been the adoption of AI systems. Whether it’s inspiration for design, research, or marketing-related tasks, several of our colleagues now actively use these platforms. We’re already testing how a Hungarian-language video can, with just a few clicks, be turned into a multilingual asset.

It's unwise today to fear that AI could take our jobs and refuse to take advantage of the huge opportunities it can offer for our work. However, it’s important to remember the value of the human element. It’s not about handing everything over to AI and using whatever it produces. My advice is to use AI as a foundation—something you’d only reach after long hours of research on your own—and adapt it into something unique, adding that extra touch only MW design can bring, something AI cannot.
 
This past year has also been about IT development in our company. We launched our webshop, and likewise developed our own online attendance tracking program. After testing and fine-tuning, our goal is to make administration easier and more efficient with the latter.
 
I feel we’ve accomplished a lot in just over a year, and I know there’s much more ahead. Augmented reality is one area where we see tremendous potential—whether in this open-source development or in the new solutions that will follow. Whenever we find something worth trying for ourselves, we’ll be sure to report on it.
András Mészáros
Founder and Owner of MW design

We’ve prepared a summary of the system, and you’ll also find a usage demonstration at the link at the end of this article.

Augmented Reality and What Lies Behind

Production efficiency is determined not just by material selection, but by effective, adaptable manufacturing processes suited to local needs. Harnessing digital production enhances the ecological advantages of wood, but widespread reliance on centralized, high-tech manufacturing infrastructure remains a limitation.
 
Leading companies offer advanced CNC machining centers for straight and smooth elements with automated cutting, drilling, milling, and profiling functions, greatly improving production speed and precision. Despite their capabilities, such systems usually favor large-scale, standardized manufacturing, making customization and small-batch production more difficult. High investment costs, significant maintenance demands, and technical complexity further limit their use. Popularizing accessible and flexible digital manufacturing technologies could empower both SMEs and larger firms by expanding the economic and ecological benefits of sustainable woodworking. Democratizing digital production could more evenly distribute knowledge, skills, and manufacturing capacity—boosting industry agility, optimizing logistics, and encouraging shared digital know-how.
 
All these considerations led to the development of the Augmented Carpentry system—a digital production framework aimed at improving manual woodworking processes through real-time feedback and assistance for professionals. The system is user-friendly, cost-effective, and adaptable to various woodworking tasks, making it suitable for both small and large-scale applications in timber construction. This is achieved by equipping traditional tools with sensors, and replacing 2D execution drawings, manual markings, and physical templates with a digital visual control system for the entire design-to-production workflow. Using an inexpensive monocular camera, familiar interfaces, and a single 3D execution model, the system is designed for integration with standard woodworking power tools, enabling operators to perform manual tasks with digital assistance.
The resulting augmented technology is called “Augmented Carpentry.” Its release follows four years of research, producing a working prototype that has been tested both in the lab and in practice, and is now publicly available. The system is designed for compatibility with various power tools, such as chainsaws, circular saws, and routers. Its aim is for use by carpenters, builders, and other construction professionals, and to serve as a foundation for future open-source digital manufacturing research and development in augmented reality.
 
You can find a demonstration of the system at the link below:

https://ibois-epfl.github.io/augmented-carpentry/augmented-woodworking/cut-circularsaw/

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