3D printing has the capability to change the world in many different ways, in particular the construction industry. From 3D printed homes and bridges 3D printing can do just about anything. In this article we’ll explore the top 3 of the most innovative uses of 3D printers being used in the construction industry today.
3D Printed Soil
The IAAC institute in Barcelona Spain has found a way to use the soil in the ground from the construction site of new projects and make a building out of it. The soil is combine with a handful of additives which makes it turn into a building material with a strength three times higher than industrial clay. Once the site is excavated the construction workers can feel the soil into the Minibuilders to begin the mixing process.
The only downside is the cost of transporting filament, or raw materials, to building sites can sometimes be expensive but the upsides greatly outweigh the downsides. With the ability to turn soil into in actual usable building material many poor or remote areas will be able to construct structures they need like schools, homes, or even hospitals.
Emergency Houses – The INNOprint
The INNOprint is a 3D printed home designed by the University of Nantes in Nantes France to give the thousands of people left without basic shelter after a natural disaster a place to feel safe and get in from the weather. Though it doesn’t make the most aesthetically appealing houses, they help victims of earthquakes, hurricanes, and tsunamis though one of the toughest times in their lives.
INNOprint is made from polyurethane and constructed using a robotic arm that’s connected to the 3D printer head at the end of it. Not only are the shelters printed in a short amount of time but the machine can be easily transported, widening the impact of this incredible invention.
This could be the end of tent cities, which are exactly what they sound like, cities of tents that pop up for the people who lost their homes after a natural disaster. INNOprint doesn’t have to be for natural disaster victims, though it seems the most practical use with the short printing time, but can also be used as a cheap housing solution for the poor or homeless population.
Concrete Print Stock made from converted Carbon Dioxide Emissions
In Los Angeles California in the United States a company named Co2ncrete is showing us just how far 3D printing can take us by capturing carbon dioxide emissions from power plants and turning it into print stock, which can be used as a replacement for cement.
This will help solve two major problems that the US faces, in particular Los Angeles. By using 3D printed stocks as concrete it could help reduce the heavy carbon footprint of the construction and power industries. It could also help lower the impact of manufacturing as a whole industry.