Imagine living in a world where building a house doesn’t take months or require a lot of material and labour. A future where the process of building a house is completed in a matter of days, without the noise of heavy machinery and the waste of time. Is this possible?
Now you might be thinking that this is a scene from a movie or a fictional story. But no, this is reality, and 3D printing technology is making this dream come true!
3D Printing – The Future of Construction
3D printing technology is revolutionising the construction sector. It is completely different from traditional methods that require bricks, mortar, and heavy machinery. Instead, a 3D printer uses a digital design and prints it layer by layer, creating a structure. It is a cheaper, faster, and more efficient method that not only saves time and money in construction, but also causes less harm to the environment.
What is made of it?
Homes, offices, bridges, and even structures of big cities can be built with 3D printing. Designs that are difficult to make with traditional methods can be easily made by 3D printers. It also makes it easy to create unique and complex designs.
How does it work?
The 3D printer receives instructions from a computer-designed file and lays layers of plastic, concrete or other material. This process continues layer by layer until the entire structure is ready. There is less material wastage, and the construction process is highly automated, which also reduces the need for human labour.
Lots of benefits
• Time saving: Compared to traditional construction techniques, months of work can be done in just a few days in 3D printing.
• Cost reduction: It reduces the cost of labor and materials, making it easier to build affordable housing.
• Environmentally friendly: It produces less waste, and construction has less impact on the environment.
• Ease of complex designs: Unique and complex designs can also be created with great ease with this technology.
With the increasing use of 3D printing, this technology will completely change the construction sector in the coming times. Some companies are already working towards affordable housing and faster construction using this technology.
Construction of houses with 3D printing is a rapidly emerging technology in recent years, which is more efficient, faster, and economical than traditional construction processes. Many major companies are working in this field, and some are already using this technology successfully.
Construction of houses with 3D printing
In 3D printing, walls, floors, and other structural parts of houses are made by printing concrete or other materials layer by layer. Houses made with this technology are cheap and are ready in less time. This technology is proving to be very useful especially for developing countries and emergency housing. This technology is also considered environmentally friendly, as it reduces the wastage of construction material and also reduces the carbon footprint.
Major companies that are using 3D printing
1. ICON
ICON is a major American company that is building houses using 3D printing technology. They claim to build houses in 24 hours, and have successfully built 3D printed houses in Texas. This company is considered to be a pioneer in the field of affordable housing construction, especially in developing countries where people need affordable homes.
2. Apis Cor
Apis Cor has adopted a very unique approach. This company uses a mobile 3D printer, which prints houses right on the construction site. Apis Cor built the first 3D printed house in Russia in 2017, which was completed in 24 hours. This company is known for automating the construction process and reducing costs.
3. WASP (World’s Advanced Saving Project)
WASP is an Italian company that is a pioneer in the construction of houses using 3D printing. The company builds houses using natural materials such as clay and biomass, which causes minimal damage to the environment. WASP has worked extensively on the development of 3D printing technology and has made a major contribution to sustainable housing.
4. SQ4D
SQ4D is another company that builds houses using 3D printing. The company has completed several projects in the US and focuses on building homes at a low cost. They claim that their 3D printed home construction process costs 70% less than traditional methods.
5. Lennar & ICON Partnership
Lennar, a leading US real estate company, is building large-scale housing projects using 3D printing in partnership with ICON. This partnership shows that even big companies are looking at this technology as a future construction solution.
The future of 3D printing
Building homes using 3D printing will become even more common in the future. This technology not only makes construction faster, but it can also prove to be very helpful in providing emergency housing after natural disasters. In addition, due to environmental sustainability and low cost, it is becoming very popular in countries where there is a great need for affordable housing. This is a future where building a house will be as easy as ordering a small item online.
