B1 - Egla Qori

Introduction

     In simple terms, 3D Printing is the process of making a three-dimensional solid object from a digital file. This is a process done through creating successive layers of the material until the object is formed. 3D Printing was first invented in the 1980s and has been used ever since fro rapid prototyping. [1]
     However, the the last few decades, 3D Printing use has started to evolve into a next-generation manufacturing technology that has allowed on-demand production of a final product. 

Range of Applications

     The 3D printing industry already serves four quite distinct market segments, all of which are at different stages of maturation. This is displayed in the chart below, courtesy of Christopher Barnatt.

[1]

The Range of Technologies [1]

• Material Extrusion - uses a nozzle to extrude a semi-liquid material to create successive object layers.
• Vat Photopolymerization - uses a laser or other light source to solidify successive object layers on the surface or base of a vat of liquid photopolymer. 
• Material Jetting -  uses a print head to spray liquid layers that are usually then solidified by exposure to UV light. This offers very high resolution 3D printing, and is even capable of producing multi-color and multi-material output.
• Binder Jetting - uses a print head to selectively spray a binder (glue) onto successive layers of power. 
• Powder Bed Fusion - uses a laser, electron beam or other heat source to selectively fuse successive powder layers.
• Directed Energy Deposition - uses a laser or other heat source to fuse a powdered build material as it is being deposited.
• Sheet Lamination - sticks together sheets of cut paper, plastic or metal.

3D Printing in the Construction Industry and Structures

   In the last decade, engineering research teams have been experimenting with using 3D Printing to build components of buildings and entire homes. The printing is done with what is called a "super-sized printer" which use a special concrete and composite mixture. This mixture is thicker than regular concrete, allowing it to be self-supporting as it sets. [2]

     This opens a whole new reals of possibilities for architects because of the ability to use curvilinear forms, like the egg-shaped form, which has proved to be one of the strongest and efficient structures in nature. 

Interesting 3D Printed Construction Innovations [3]

     3D Printing has the capacity to provide housing for the poor, extravagant houses/mansions for the rich and everything in between. Some of the major and most amazing creations in the last decade are listed below. 

Resources

[1] http://explainingthefuture.com/3dprinting.html

[2] https://www.viatechnik.com/blog/3d-printing-and-looming-changes-in-the-construction-industry/

[3] https://3dprintingindustry.com/news/top-10-3d-printed-construction-innovations-83578/

Comments

Maria Raggousis:

The idea of using BIM for very detailed components of a project is fascinating to me. The technology of creating a BIM model and "virtually walking through it" is here already, and I know it is widely used in architecture design. However, I am hopeful that more complex virtual 3D models will be used in engineering, especially structural engineering in the next decade or so. Although BIM models are detailed enough, in the real engineering world they still stay on paper. I think it would be a lot more descriptive, useful and just flat out COOL, if you could "virtually walk through" your building, inspect the steel connections plates, be able to see the gusset plates, the welding components etc. This would be a great way to make sure everything fits together and no problems are encountered during the assembly in the field. 
PS: I really enjoyed your post, you clearly put a lot of work into it.

Peter Dannemann:

I've come across a similar technology that actually does a job humans don't prefer to do. Little robots were inserted inside sewer systems to inspect the condition of pipes and suggest possible improvements. There robots were equipped with a videocamera, that allowed the engineer on the ground to see the footage and steer the robot in the right direction, maybe snap some close-up picture of problematic pipe sections, etc. The size and flexibility of this robot allowed it to be inserted in pipes that could possibly not fit a human being.
In my opinion, Quicabot seems like a very exciting technology that effectively assesses building conditions. It seems effective in the way of really being able to detect faulty installments correctly; it could be doing a better job than the human eye in that aspect. I think it's a great idea that it works alongside a human, at least for the first few years while the technology isn't perfected and able to make decisions on its own about conditions it hasn't encountered before.

Brandon Mengel:

3D Printing is clearly the future, and has been for a few decades now. My Blog Post focuses heavily on the application of 3D Printing in the construction industry, including 3D-printed clay, a small 3D-printed bridge, an entirely 3D-printed mansion, etc. The only issue with it right now is the need of super-sized printers in order to manufacture larger parts, therefore it's not very practical to have that technology on site or use it for mass production. However, big and oversized and impractical is how everything started, including computers and telephones, so I see the future as really exciting in the sense of improving the 3D Printing technology. I think it will take the engineers of the future very far, in many many fields.