Timber › Notes › 2.6 Historical developments

2.6 Historical developments

Hand tools and craft guilds, then water and steam-powered sawmills (Industrial Revolution), then steam bending and standardised parts (Thonet, 1859), then electric motors and power tools (20th century), then plywood, particleboard and MDF (mid-20th century), then flat-pack (IKEA, 1950s), then CNC and CAD/CAM (late 20th century), then engineered mass timber (CLT, glulam) and digital design and online custom manufacture (21st century). For each change, analyse effects on manufacturing processes, materials and work practices, positive and negative.

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