News

Assignment – Joints

During this assignment we had to make design choices to optimise the strength of carpentry joints. Groups of students each designed a tripod within set dimensions.
Five wooden tripod joints standing on the floor of the engineering department hydraulic lab.

We researched wooden joints, then carefully designed and fabricated all the pieces in the wood workshop. Some groups focused on geometry, others on innovative ways of processing the wood. After completion, we subjected the tripods to a strength test under the hydraulic press of the Department of Engineering to see which team achieved the best strength/weight ratio.

    Wooden joint

    Jalustaa, Juri Kikuchi, Dimitris Kalogridis and Keitaro Tsubata

    An exploration of laminated components and Japanese dowel joinery. Made with ash and spruce.

    Wooden joint

    Jalustaa, Juri Kikuchi, Dimitris Kalogridis and Keitaro Tsubata

    An exploration of laminated components and Japanese dowel joinery. Made with ash and spruce.

      Wooden tripod joint

      Kolmijalka, Kota Kawakami, Darya Belaya, Nao Fujimoto and Matej Požega

      Interlocking geometry to create a reciprocal joint that supports itself. Made with spruce and birch plywood reinforcements.

      Wooden joint

      Kolmijalka, Kota Kawakami, Darya Belaya, Nao Fujimoto and Matej Požega

      Interlocking geometry to create a reciprocal joint that supports itself. Made with spruce and birch plywood reinforcements.

        Wooden joint made of bent wooden pieces

        Tricorne, Ayato Hokkyo, Meina Kobayashi and Simón Herrera Arévalo

        An experiment into steam bending of wood.

        Wooden joint

        Tricorne, Ayato Hokkyo, Meina Kobayashi and Simón Herrera Arévalo

        An experiment into steam bending of wood.

          Wooden joint of laminated components

          Jointti, Wakana Ito, Ville Mujunen and Daniel Sars

          Dowel connections and laminated components, made with spruce, ash and birch plywood.

          Wooden joint

          Jointti, Wakana Ito, Ville Mujunen and Daniel Sars

          Dowel connections and laminated components, made with spruce, ash and birch plywood.

            Wooden joint made of laminated laser cut plywood

            Smoked salmon sandwich, Yume Suzuki, Olle Björkebaum and Ishrat Tabassum

            This joint consists of three legs that 'hook' into a hexagonal core. They are then locked in place with oak pieces. The legs and core are made with spruce, both sawn and laser-cut.

            Wooden joint

            Smoked salmon sandwich, Yume Suzuki, Olle Björkebaum and Ishrat Tabassum

            This joint consists of three legs that 'hook' into a hexagonal core. They are then locked in place with oak pieces. The legs and core are made with spruce, both sawn and laser-cut.

              Students analysing the breaking point of one of the joints
              Wooden joints on the floor of the testing lab
              One team posing with their joint
              Students posing with their wooden joint
              Students discussing break point of wooden joint
              Students posing with their wooden joint
              students posing with wooden joint
              • Updated:
              • Published:
              Share
              URL copied!

              Read more news

              Kaksi ihmistä seisoo portaikon yläpäässä keskittyneenä katsomaan jotain toisen henkilön matkapuhelimesta.
              Cooperation, Studies, University Published:

              FITech Network University’s ICT project ends in summer 2026 – collaboration within the network continues in other FITech projects

              As FITech Network University's ICT project ends in July, there will be changes to FITech’s course offering.
              Person in white jacket and cream trousers stands by a riverside fence with a cityscape and bridge in the background.
              Studies Published:

              Alum Kati Vilhelmsson: ‘One of the most important things I have taken from Aalto was a truly global mindset’

              School of Business, International Business Programme alum Kati Vilhelmsson encourages current students to actively seek international opportunities and trust the power of their networks.
              Two persons holding doctor's hats
              Cooperation, Studies, University Published:

              Thinking of doing a doctorate? Join us on 21 April

              Join us on 21 April 2026 to hear firsthand experiences from researchers across Europe and explore what a career in research at Aalto could look like.


              yrittäjyyden lehtori Antti Lähtevänoja
              Studies Published: