The use of computers in membrane architecture extends to manufacturing the built structure. We use large scale x-y cutter
plotters for the creation of the cutting patterns, and predominantly laser cut parts for structural steel components, for which the information is generated by our in house specialist software. Fabric structures rely on their geometry to work structurally. The difficulty in manufacturing the membrane is to translate the three dimensional geometry of the finished and installed shape to the flat workshop floor, or in reality the other way round. The workshop is presented with a series of
instructions which are not always clear, which is understandable when you think how difficult it is to represent overlapping layers of cloth in a complex layout. Fabric manufacturers and assemblers tend to use available production materials (apart from special mixes of colour) as the warranties could be an issue with special weaves and finishes.
The making of parts and components (sometimes with the help of robots), is usually considered a subspecialty of mechanical
engineering. Fabric workshops increasingly use automated machinery for the assembly of materials. The knowledge of 3D CAD-CAM, engineering design, fluid mechanics, structural computation, machine design, controls, robotics, operations, maintenance, and logistics are all involved in a project. All parts are designed with the aid of computer graphics. The computer carries out all the technical computations needed to make a part meet performance requirements. This aspect of computer-aided design
(CAD) is frequently coupled with computer-aided manufacture (CAM) to produce parts automatically.
Although many differing computer aided manufacturing techniques are used, two examples can be shown;
1./ Using traditional woodworking practises, laser cutters can be used to create metal parts that not only allow complex shapes not easily attainable, such as slots or compound curves, but to ensure a perfect fit to the co-components. Lugs and grooves are
used to register the parts together, in a way not possible with normal fabrication techniques. These shapes are transmitted to the laser cutter by MODEM or disk to provide geometrical information without traditional paper dimensioning.
2./ The two dimensional co-ordinates of the tents are passed to a large scale X-Y plotter, (some as large as 3 metres by 25 metres, {10 feet by 80 feet}), which draws and marks or cuts by knife-edge or by laser, the fabric panels
for seaming. These are registered by marks down the seams to ensure perfect seam match on every panel. The marks identify the panel, (panel number, orientation, left hand, right hand etc.) to avoid confusion. These panels are obviously easily scaled down to allow the manufacture of a model for wind tunnel analysis, thereby completing the circle from design to manufacture. | 
