3D – Printer scaled up to build starter homes and affordable housing. Is it for you?

**Lake X Kid** · 05-24-2021, 04:52 PM

A new technology that will compete with the older manpower dependent way of building structures.

**Lake X Kid** · 05-24-2021, 04:56 PM

ICON building 3D Printed Homes in Austin Texas.

A software program and a cement mix, and the building starts rising.

**CDave** · 05-27-2021, 11:44 AM

Time will tell how these hold up.

**CUDA** · 05-27-2021, 06:09 PM

We have 170 MPH wind code here I don't see the steel in the concrete?

**25two.stroke** · 05-27-2021, 06:17 PM

Originally Posted by CUDA

We have 170 MPH wind code here I don't see the steel in the concrete?

There was reinforcing steel in the concrete but what it seemed they did not show is a liquid injection that was required to bond the reinforcing steel to the putty-like cement that was being printed. You see the printer made cavities around the reinforcing steel but did not fill that...OBVIOUSLY it gets filled at the end of the printing process before the roof goes on. Basically its a 3d printed integral form for a reinforced column that supports the structure/roof, but the majority of the walls carry no load. Moreover, the thin walls, as you noted, have no reinforcing steel so there is no lateral force resistance in the walls. They would fail in a high seismic environment like Cali but are likely to last a long time where there is little seismic activity.

They could have had separate cast-in place shearwalls not shown, but I am assuming they did not.

**Stoker boy** · 05-30-2021, 08:39 AM

Setting up the printer looks costly and time-consuming as well.

**Lake X Kid** · 05-31-2021, 06:02 PM

Originally Posted by Stoker boy

Setting up the printer looks costly and time-consuming as well.

The advantage about automation (applies to CNC machines too) once you do the setup, the human operator is basically an observer, and the machine does the labor and just keeps on truckin. Or as on this construction job site, laying down the mud.

**Lake X Kid** · 05-31-2021, 06:10 PM

Originally Posted by 25two.stroke

There was reinforcing steel in the concrete but what it seemed they did not show is a liquid injection that was required to bond the reinforcing steel to the putty-like cement that was being printed. You see the printer made cavities around the reinforcing steel but did not fill that...OBVIOUSLY it gets filled at the end of the printing process before the roof goes on. Basically its a 3d printed integral form for a reinforced column that supports the structure/roof, but the majority of the walls carry no load. Moreover, the thin walls, as you noted, have no reinforcing steel so there is no lateral force resistance in the walls. They would fail in a high seismic environment like Cali but are likely to last a long time where there is little seismic activity.

They could have had separate cast-in place shearwalls not shown, but I am assuming they did not.

Putting extra steel in the walls, and laying down thicker walls, is something that I do not see to be a problem for these contractors. I would think they will do whatever it takes to meet local building codes.

The deciding factor that I think is, will this technology be financially competitive in the housing business. If yes, then it will be on a growth curve.

**Forkin' Crazy** · 05-31-2021, 08:24 PM

Originally Posted by Stoker boy

Setting up the printer looks costly and time-consuming as well.

Yea, no kidding! Especially that first video complete with crane and all.

I thought I saw some rebar sticking out on that second video?

They aren't much to look at though.

As far as labor, he have an entire workforce sitting on the couch drawing a gov check!

**CDave** · 06-01-2021, 12:03 AM

Here's the tent that goes with the house. j/k

**FUJIMO** · 06-01-2021, 07:31 AM

...and the rebar used could be made from basalt. not steel. more better...

**FUJIMO** · 06-01-2021, 07:32 AM

...basement build? foundation build?...

**Stoker boy** · 06-03-2021, 03:10 PM

Originally Posted by Lake X Kid

The advantage about automation (applies to CNC machines too) once you do the setup, the human operator is basically an observer, and the machine does the labor and just keeps on truckin. Or as on this construction job site, laying down the mud.

There are pros and cons. Once you incurred the time and the cost to set up the machine how many buildings can you erect from one set up. I can see it being cost-effective if you can erect multiple structures. Maybe a large plotter that drives itself Caterpillar type tracks. And utilizes XYZ movements.

**Stoker boy** · 06-03-2021, 03:16 PM

Originally Posted by Forkin' Crazy

Yea, no kidding! Especially that first video complete with crane and all.

I thought I saw some rebar sticking out on that second video?

They aren't much to look at though.

As far as labor, he have an entire workforce sitting on the couch drawing a gov check!

I’m not sure if it’s concrete or some type of composite material. If it’s concrete I’ve never seen a large concrete building erected without rebar, I don’t know if a machine does something instead of rebar or what.