An advertisement in Popular Mechanics Sept 1923 depicts a crate joint in which each structural member overlaps the other two, and which uses bolts to secure them to each other as opposed to nails which are more typical in the application.
Modular toys like Lego, Construx, Capcella, Erector, Lincoln Logs, Tinker Toys, Magnetix and Geomag, K'nex, and the Playmat 4 in 1 tool set inspire generations of inventive youth.
Ken Isaacs designs the Matrix building system and from 1956 - 58 uses it to teach students at Cranbrook Academy for the Arts. He writes How to Build Your Own Living Structures in 1974.
A Pattern Language and The Timeless Way of Building are published in 1977 and influence modular design in electronics, computers, and software development, as well as in manufacturing and production.
Erik Hunting wrote an influential 2007 blog post about non-toxic shelter.
Phil and RJ Jergenson and Joy Livingwell compile 30 years of innovation around Ken's framing system into How to Build With Gridbeam published in 2008.
Early open source 3D printers are prototyped using 1 inch square steel perforated tubing as part of the wrench-built machine, RepRap Eiffel, and RepRap Pythagoras. Zach Hoeken writes Pull Yourself Together Bot!". The RepRap Building System is conceived.
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<gallery> 62441445 1382044878631759 5852998538396434432 n 1382044875298426.jpg| 62542698 1382044871965093 4480212525421428736 n 1382044868631760.jpg| Fireballcnc.jpg|Fireball CNC prototype used to print first Darwin and Mendel parts Early RepRap.jpg|RepRap Mendel </gallery>
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Griddome is exhibited at Detroit Maker Faire 2012 and San Francisco Maker Faire 2013. <gallery> Griddome supplies.jpg|Griddome supplies Jig.jpg|Griddome Jig Dome joint v1.jpg|Dome joint v1 Griddome.jpg|Griddome </gallery>