via Youtube
3D printing technology faces major issues when it is required to leave the shelter of a warehouse and step foot on a construction job site. 3D printers are extremely large, heavy, and rely on precise calibration for accuracy. Even the first 3D printed office building in Dubai, which was completed last year, had to actually have its components printed off site and assembled on site. But, Apis Cor, a 3D printing company, believes it has created the technology to print a full structure completely on site.
In the video below, you’ll see footage of a 409 square foot (38m²) concrete house being printed in Moscow, Russia in December of 2016. According to the company, the machine they used has a maximum elevation of nearly 11 feet (3300mm) and can print up to 1,076 square feet (100 m²) per day. The machine also has a built-in automatic horizon alignment and stabilization system, which makes setting up the printer much easier.
Although the machine is able to operate in temperatures as low as -31°F (-35°C), the material used, which is a concrete mixture, is only able to be placed at temperatures higher than 41°F (5°C). Therefore, a tenting system had to be brought on site to raise the temperature inside.
The total cost of the building amounted to $10,134, which included all exterior and interior finish work. Noticeably missing from the cost breakdown on the company’s website was the price of the 3D printing technology. It’s an interesting take on the technology, but does show that human labor is still necessary to actually finish the building. Human labor was required for insulation, glazing, painting, and all interior work. The company believes this technology can be used for affordable housing projects, due to its lower costs.
Check out the video below and let us know what you think!
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