It's hard to imagine 3D printers being used to build something as large as a house because most of us have only seen stuff printed by regular commercial 3D printers, which are extremely limited in terms of printing size.
But companies are now creating 3D printers that can print on a much larger scale and print with a wide variety of materials, like Austin, Texas-based company ICON's amazing new custom printer nicknamed "Vulcan" which uses cement as a printing medium.
ICON has teamed up with San Francisco-based non-profit New Story to use Vulcan to print homes for people living in impoverished communities who can't afford safe, sturdy homes, since Vulcan can print a home in 24 hours at the cost of about $4,000:
The 3D-printed home serves as proof-of-concept for sustainable homebuilding that will allow for safer, more affordable homes for more families, faster than ever. The printer, called the Vulcan, is designed to work under the constraints that are common in places like Haiti and rural El Salvador where power can be unpredictable, potable water is not a guarantee and technical assistance is sparse. It’s designed to tackle housing shortages for vulnerable populations instead of building with profit motivation.
It's alive! #stealthmode pic.twitter.com/V6UoQ5WcRa
— ICON (@ICON3DTech) March 10, 2018
These 3D printed homes are not only durable and practical, since Vulcan can print them wherever they're needed, they're also pretty cool looking, like a modernist's take on a hut.
-Via Laughing Squid
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