How 3D printing is disrupting the architecture and design industry
What is 3D printing? The technology of 3D printing was invented by Chuck Hull, an American engineer. He initially called the new process stereolithography and patented it in 1986. The technique links molecules using laser light to form polymers into solid shapes. Initially, industries such as automotive manufacturing used the technology for what became known as rapid prototyping.
From article, (The technology of 3D printing was invented by Chuck Hull, an American engineer. He initially called the new process stereolithography and patented it in 1986. The technique links molecules using laser light to form polymers into solid shapes.
Initially, industries such as automotive manufacturing used the technology for what became known as rapid prototyping. The advantage was that no molds were required and there was no waste, unlike in milling, where a shape is cut and the material around it is discarded. In 3D printing, objects are constructed layer by layer. The idea stems from printing with ink; in that process, the ink lies on top of the paper. If the process was repeated time and again, but with more solid materials and a slight shift to create movements in the layers, a 3D printing effect would occur.
Materials used in 3D printing range from the more common synthetic resins and plastics to steel and concrete. Some are experimenting with natural materials such as bamboo, wood and natural stone waste. Small versions of 3D printers are finding their way into designers' studios, schools and private homes.
In Amsterdam, though, DUS Architects is in the process of printing a canal house, layer by layer, using bioplastics made from 80 percent vegetable oil. The project, which aims to be renewable and sustainable, is slated for completion in 2017.
"There are also houses being printed in China," says Jane Burry, associate professor at the Spatial Information Architecture Laboratory at RMIT in Melbourne, Australia, "though [they are] relatively crude at this stage." She is referring to a project by Chinese company Winsun, which has printed houses made from concrete and recycled construction materials in China. It's one of the most cited examples of the technology in this context. The manufacturer reports considerable savings: 60 percent less material, 70 percent less time and 80 percent less labor compared with average house construction. The printer is set up in a factory and has gigantic proportions: 20 feet (6.1 meters) tall, 33 feet (10.1 meters) wide and 132 feet (40.2 meters) long.
"The question is how you define 3D printing," says Benedikt Hotze, media and communications consultant for the Bund Deutscher Architekten (Association of German Architects). When it comes to 3D printing in architecture, he is less than euphoric. "The idea to print houses all in one go is a childish fantasy; it's not going to happen," he says. "What will happen, however, is that we will have digitally controlled manufacturing of building components in a factory that will then be transported to the construction site.
British architecture firm Foster + Partners, together with the European Space Agency, might disagree with Hotze about [building structures, especially, on the moon]: It's developing ideas for 3D-printing a lunar base station for a project called Lunar Habitation, which could be completed as early as 2024.
In a collaboration between the University of Naples and cutting-edge technology company WASP (World's Advanced Saving Project), the beauty of Italian architecture is meeting modular building techniques.
WASP, founded in 2012 by Italian entrepreneur Massimo Moretti, pushes sustainable construction methods and in-house fabrication processes. With the University of Naples, it has developed a concrete support that could be made on a 3D printer and used in building projects.
"The beam is printed in individual pieces," Asprone says. "Once the concrete pieces are hardened, reinforcing steel bars [rebar] are externally installed to strengthen the beam and lock the pieces into a monolithic element."
The WASP experts have already printed a reinforced concrete beam about 10 feet (3 meters) long. For this purpose, they used a lower-viscosity concrete. "We are standing on the shoulders of more than one century of concrete technology history," Asprone says. "We are merely adapting this technology to 3D printing. We use cement and other binders, such as eco-friendly, clay-based versions or geopolymers that are waterproof and can be used for wastewater systems."
Russian manufacturer Specavia likewise uses 3D concrete printers in the construction industry, with most of its clients building contractors. Chief Executive Alexander Maslov describes the complex components his printers are already able to create.
"The 06044 series printers can print individual building components with a length of up to [40 feet, or 12.2 meters]. It's quite sufficient for printing complex shapes for all kinds of towers, arches, dwarf partitions and other decorative elements for a house. We've been printing various decorative landscaping elements, even a small pond and a children's town. The printer can be used for printing stoves, fireplaces, barbecue sets and other fireproof products using kaolin mixes.")
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