The construction world is yet to see the best applications of 3D printing in construction. The big challenge with 3D printed architecture is the material itself: concrete. Here are 10 innovations that could change the world and the home that we live in. I haven’t given up, though. The idea of 3D printing of structures, although still novel to many, is striding its way towards the root of the construction industry. If you’ve ever worked with concrete before, you’ll know that it can be a complex material. Reduced Construction Time. Navigating the World of Additive Manufacturing Materials Technologists developed the process, known more officially as additive manufacturing, as an alternative to other industrial manufacturing techniques, like extrusion and casting, and it has proven to be an effective, efficient way to make especially complex mechanical parts like wind turbines . The introduction of digital manufacturing techniques, such as 3D printing applied to concrete material, opens up new perspectives on the way in which buildings are designed. 3D printers are costly, and that upfront purchase cost doesn’t include materials or maintenance. Health and safety risks are reduced because many of the dangerous roles in construction can now be performed by the printer.

To try and focus the problem, here are my top five lamentations with the current state of 3D printing. These categorical issues are listed consistently across each industry as well. Cons of 3D Printed Construction… Also, we believe NASA will achieve its goals of using 3D printing technology … The self-supporting characteristic of 3D printing opens up a whole new realm of possibilities that just are not available with traditional construction methods. “The main challenges for concrete 3D printing are related to reinforcement, further understanding of material processing and properties, for example durability, and robustness of the process. Right now, it’s difficult for many construction professionals to justify 3D printing… Getting a house built with 3D technology can be completed in about a month in a half compared to the normal 6 month construction period. It costs no more to design for a single item than it does thousands. Just the thought of an immense reduction in the project span and cost with the use of 3D printing technology has been …

There’s hope that in the coming years, the technology will be applied on a large scale. 3D Printing in Construction. 3D printing has been around since the 1980s. Perhaps the biggest challenge to the widespread adoption of 3D printing technology on construction sites is the high cost of purchasing or renting such equipment and the logistics involved in getting these large 3D printers to the work site. In recent years, 3D printers have moved out of the engineering laboratory, where they’ve been hidden for over 20 years, and are beginning to be used for other things. 1. 1. Research on this theme is thriving and there is a high rate of innovation related to concrete. Output/Quality Problems with 3D Printing.

If the concrete mix is not perfect, the structure will not be as strong as it needs to be and it could fail. Construction 3D printing allows for customized projects and production shapes that are either impossible or too expensive with conventional methods. The printing of buildings has a lot of potential advantages when compared to conventional construction methods. Artists have discovered this new medium, and yes, it’s being looked at for construction as well [10]. In some ways, this is the most basic thing, but there are many quality-related problems with 3D printing today: Fragile, delaminated FDM (fused deposition modeling) parts; Low-resolution output; Materials The construction industry will also need to understand how to best design structures with this new technology and all will have to be reflected in design codes,” he says.

3D printing is changing the construction industry before our eyes. It is similar to the method of precast concrete construction, where factory-made components are transported to the site, lifted into place by cranes, and then connected together. This can be extremely beneficial during an emergency situation where structures need to be built in as little time as possible. 3D printed buildings can easily lay structures using curvilinear forms instead of typical rectilinear forms which makes them a lot more durable. “ Housing is one of the most costly expenses of our lives. This would no doubt, decrease project waiting times, reduce costs significantly and lead to more breakthroughs in 3D printing for the construction industry.

A key aspect of the method is that the 3D printing is done in a factory, not at the site.This differentiates Winsun's approach from other organisations.