A Chinese construction company claims to have 3D-printed an entire two-storey home in one go, taking just 45 days to do so.
We’ve been looking out for 3D-printed houses for a while now, with a start-up last year claiming it could 3D print a house in just 24 hours, though no prototype emerged as proof.
Elsewhere, companies have 3D printed parts of houses and pieced them together, though never has an entire structure been erected in one go – until now.
Chinese construction company HuaShang Tengda has reported that a two-storey villa (below) was built in one go. A team of builders put together the frame, support and plumbing before a big 3D printer rocked in to do everything else.
The 3D-printed house, via Huashang Tenda
According to a report on 3dprint.com, the house is even earthquake-proof, marking another landmark in the 3D-printing landscape.
The printer is made up of different parts. The first is an electronic batching system to mix the chosen substance (concrete), before a parallel delivery system pours the concrete either side of the frame.
The 3D printer in action, via Huashang Tenda
In the past there have been examples of 3D printing stem cells onto injured knees to speed up, and simplify, recovery times from injuries. NASA’s trying to build an entire rocket using 3D-printed materials, which isn’t as far away as you may have thought.
The production of glass is about to be revolutionised according to some, though house building is clearly where plenty of interest rests.
For example, in China in 2014, an entire block of houses was 3D-printed in just a day, with separate parts created then placed together.
Now that it can all be done on site, production could speed up even more.
“(This technology) will have immeasurable social benefits,” HuaShang Tengda is quoted as saying on 3dprint.com. “Particularly the use of the new rural construction can now improve farmers’ living conditions.”
Construction image, via Shutterstock
