Print a house: 3D printer for construction-future or hype?

Imagine a time in the future when houses are printed instead of constructed piece by piece. Thanks to developments in 3D printing technology, this vision is starting to come to pass. A highly anticipated application that holds great promise for transforming the housing industry is the 3D printer for construction. Rather than relying on labor-intensive manual construction techniques and long lead times, these printers employ specialized materials to build entire structures layer by layer.

These 3D printers function by precisely extruding materials in patterns determined by computer-generated designs, such as concrete, polymers, or even recycled materials. The method is similar to large-scale robotic assembly in that each layer cures or solidifies before the next is applied. This approach may be more sustainable than traditional building methods because it minimizes material waste and lowers the need for human intervention.

Proponents of 3D printing in the building industry point out a number of important benefits. One important consideration is speed: these printers can build a small house in a few days or weeks as opposed to months using conventional techniques. Another benefit is cost-effectiveness, as fewer man hours and material waste may result in lower overall costs. Furthermore, the design’s flexibility makes it possible to create complex and unique structures that would be difficult or expensive to build using conventional building methods.

Notwithstanding its potential, there are obstacles and doubters surrounding 3D printing in the building industry. Larger building scalability issues are brought up by critics, who also highlight the need for improved material durability and building code compliance. Furthermore, the technology is still in its infancy and necessitates large research and development expenditures. Ongoing advancements and experimental initiatives globally indicate that the use of 3D printers in construction may be more than a fad; rather, it may represent the way homes are built in the future.

What is a 3D printer for the construction of houses and how it works

A construction 3D printer is not all that different from the household 3D printers kids use to print plastic toys. However, there are three key distinctions: price, consumables, and size.

In actuality, the CNC is an industrial 3D printer used in home construction. It merely applies a thin layer of consumables along a predetermined trajectory in place of boring holes or using a laser to cut metal. Subsequently, an additional layer is layered on top of the initial layer, and so on – layer by layer – until the printer "prints" the extensive model that is stored in its memory.

To do this, a CAD program is used to create a 3D model, such as a garden bench. After that, it is "cut" into thin layers, which are then sent to "print" starting from the bottom and moving up.

The end effect is a pattern that kind of looks like a layer pie. only with large internal voids.

Methods for building houses using a 3D printer

A 3D printer used to build a house always works on the same principle:

• put a thin layer;
• gave him to dry or gain the necessary strength;
• applied the next layer;
• And so in a circle.

However, the composition and application method of this layer are distinct. similar to the printer’s design, but more about that separately and a little bit below.

Therefore, when constructing with a 3D printer, one of three methods is typically used to apply the consumable material: extrusion, powder method, or multi-strut modeling.

Extrusion

In this instance, a unique print head with three planes of motion squeezes the completed building mixture out of the hopper. The most popular printing technique for 3D printers used in construction.

Powder method

Two-step 3D printing technology: a construction mixture in powder form is applied initially, followed by a specific glue. This enables the creation of walls with a flatter surface. Furthermore, the powder method is more suitable for field conditions; in the event of a work malfunction, there is no risk of solving the construction mixture.

Because the technology is more complex than extrusion devices, construction 3D printers that rely on it are relatively uncommon.

Multi -strut modeling

A very uncommon 3D printing technique found in a small number of gadgets. This process is very similar to a standard jet print in that a construction mixture is squeezed out through several hundred snot. The nozzle is fixed to a carriage that moves slowly to create the desired pattern.

The primary benefit of this kind of apparatus is its operating speed, which is many times or even hundreds of times faster than a printer-exstruder.

Printing on building materials In actuality, 3D printers more. After all, they are employed not only in the building of homes and interior design but also in the construction of intricate metal structures like bridges. However, that is not the subject of this article; instead, we are more interested in private homes.

The idea of building houses with 3D printers has generated both excitement and skepticism in the construction industry. This technology’s proponents contend that it will expedite construction, lower costs, and increase design flexibility. Skeptics, however, question its viability, pointing to issues with scalability, regulatory barriers, and material durability. We must carefully consider the possible advantages as well as the existing drawbacks in order to decide whether 3D printers for construction are the way of the future or just marketing gimmick.

Than print: building mixtures

Modified concrete is most frequently used in construction 3D printers. But not just any ordinary, but unique, containing plasticizers, unique additives, and frequently reinforcing components. As a result, a highly homogeneous plastic mixture is produced that freezes and becomes stronger rapidly.

Additionally, different manufacturers’ 3D printers for concrete use different mixed compositions when building a house. This is because the construction mixture is carefully chosen by the equipment developers to ensure that it does not stick to the nozzle, score it, or release an untidy, uniform mass devoid of bubbles or other flaws. Additionally, this influences the mixtures because each manufacturer has a different nozzle and a different style of extruder overall.

Mixtures based on different types of clay are the second most popular type of construction composition. They are utilized for two reasons: first, they are more economical, and second, they are thought to be more ecologically friendly.

Whether the house is built inside or close to a city boundary is not very important. However, the use of concrete mixtures severely restricts the use of 3D printers in the construction of buildings that are located outside of major cities, as tons of consumables will be needed in addition to the equipment. This causes extra costs and is at the very least inconvenient. Not to mention that the majority of construction 3D printers can only knead concrete in a factory or lab setting—in the field, not at all.

Most of the time, this issue can be resolved by using "Print" from clay; in this instance, you only need to bring the modifiers. For instance, this enables the building of homes in Russia’s far-flung regions using 3D printers.

Mixtures containing ground, ash, and straw are used in addition to clay for printing, enabling the construction of actual houses out of waste and materials found on the site.

The least popular type of 3D printers are the building ones, which use inverted technology and polyurethane foam insulating foam for building houses. That is, an insulation layer is printed on the walls by the 3D printer instead of the walls themselves. Concurrently, the device halts its operation at intervals of one to one and a half meters in height, and a concrete mixture is poured into the walls utilizing thermal insulation as an immovable formwork.

These 3D printers for construction are particularly useful in Russia because they enable prompt resolution of insulation issues in homes. Furthermore, polyurethane foams are the most efficient heat-insulating material used in private construction.

Types of construction 3D printers

There are four primary types of 3D printers for construction:

1. Portal. Such 3D printers consist of at least two vertical racks and two horizontal guides between them. A carriage with an extruder mounted on it moves along the resulting frame. This is a very reliable design, but only objects that are placed inside the frame can be “printed” with its help.

1. Circular. Such a construction 3D printer is designed for the construction of large houses and structures at a distance from cities. It is a carriage that is worn for a capable of 360 ° C.

1. With manipulators. This is just a robotic "hand" that was adapted to 3D printing. The most difficult in management, but also the most flexible models.

1. Delta-type. In this case, the extruder is suspended on three levers that are fixed on the racks. As a result, his position is determined by the position of levers.

Circular models are used less frequently than portal models when building tiny homes with a 3D printer. Large or tall homes benefit from delta devices, while small parts require precise extruder positioning, which is best achieved with manipulators.

Pros and cons of construction using a 3D printer

While relatively new, 3D printing technology has great potential for the construction industry. "Printed" homes:

1. Cheap – "box" costs several thousand dollars.
2. Can be built quickly – small houses can be ready in less than a day.
3. Durable, because actually monolithic.
4. There can be almost any form – the fantasy of the architect is limited only by the strength of the structure.
5. Such as in the picture – any CNC works with high accuracy, so door and window openings will be exactly the same width as the project.

However, 3D printing is not a magic bullet. Among the many drawbacks of this technology is that it is not feasible to construct a 3D printer in Russia. Not just in it, either.

Standardization is this negative. Technology and specifications for building structures are tightly standardized in many nations across the world. And among the winners in this is Russia. The renowned Zaha Hadid was once obliged to alter her Dominion Tower project in Moscow due to the flights of concrete slabs failing to meet the required specifications. It is a rhetorical question to ask whether it will be possible to operate a house printed on a construction 3D printer but not yet built in Russia.

The remaining drawbacks are equally important:

• extremely expensive equipment;
• the finishes and other internal work, including the device of engineering networks, still need to be done using traditional technologies;
• We need very qualified workers to control quality;
• a specific appearance that not everyone will like.

The construction industry is very excited about 3D printing technology because it promises quicker and more affordable building processes. Proponents emphasize how it could transform the housing industry by providing customizable designs and lowering labor costs. Proponents contend that 3D printing can help with the global housing crisis, especially in underprivileged areas where conventional building techniques are too expensive or impractical.

But despite the optimism, there are still difficulties. Opponents highlight scalability constraints and regulatory barriers that impede broad adoption. Although it has been possible to print prototype houses, scaling up to larger structures continues to be a logistical and technical challenge. Furthermore, there are obstacles to the widespread implementation of building codes and regulatory frameworks because they frequently lag behind technological advancements.

Despite these obstacles, continuous research and development keep improving construction 3D printing methods. In order to meet building standards, innovators are investigating new materials that improve thermal efficiency and structural integrity. Robotics and automation advances could expedite printing, cutting costs and timeframes associated with construction.

In conclusion, 3D printing has enormous potential for the building industry, but realizing this potential will require overcoming logistical, legal, and technological obstacles. 3D printing has the potential to completely change the construction industry going forward by providing effective, environmentally friendly solutions to the world’s housing needs as technology advances and industry standards change.

Video on the topic

The construction of the first two -storey building in Russia with an area of 180m2 using a 3D printer. Smartbuild

How durable and warm house printed on a 3D printer?

Printing houses on a 3D printer in Anapa!