April 8, 2024
Technology, People, Diversity, Respect
Cornerstone’s roots run deep in the traditions of timber framing. Since the company’s founding in 1991, the Peters brothers maintained a clear focus on technical excellence, quality, and respect for craft. From the beginning, traditional skills and methods were never viewed as static — they were seen as a foundation on which to build.
That philosophy naturally led to an ongoing search for better tools. New materials, digital design, and advanced fabrication equipment were embraced not as threats to craftsmanship, but as ways to extend its potential and precision.
By the time Cornerstone began its expansion into mass timber construction in 2017, the company was well positioned to automate key aspects of fabrication. Under new ownership, Tanya Peters and her husband Nevin Bachmeier invested in the company’s first Hundegger K2 CNC machine. Though purchased used, it quickly demonstrated the value of precision automation.
Within three years, the limitations of that machine were reached. To support larger and more complex mass timber projects, a new Hundegger K2 Industry with Robot Drive was commissioned and installed in mid-2022.
The capabilities of modern CNC timber fabrication are substantial. A single system integrates a 24” flangeless saw, a 5-axis universal milling unit, slot cutting tools, precision drilling, and a 6-axis robotic arm with access to more than twenty specialized tools. All operations are driven directly from a coordinated 3D mass timber model verified against the architect’s BIM design.
A common criticism of advanced woodworking technology is that it replaces people and diminishes craftsmanship. Our experience shows the opposite. We employ the same number of carpenters as before automation, while reducing injuries, repetitive strain, and manual handling.
Modern timber framers are fluent in digital modelling, comfortable with a wide range of tools, and better equipped to understand how each component contributes to the overall structure.
Cornerstone Timberframes will always pursue better tools — guided by our people, respect for craft, and a love of wood. The mass timber evolution continues to shape our work, strengthening what we do without losing what matters most.
