3D Printed Houses Might be Closer Than You Thought

3D printed houses are still going to need some conventional building work -- they need stable foundations, just like any other building, which means some excavation and levelling, and piles in unstable or waterlogged ground. They need utility ducting and pipes laying, they need wiring and pipes installing after construction, and so on. They probably also need cavity wall insulation blowing in. Not to mention windows, doors, and so on. Finally, I notice that this looks to be printing in unreinforced concrete. What about some rebar for the load-bearing elements?

Yes, it's a neat idea and it may save a lot of bricklaying work -- but it's not going to automate house construction 100%: not even close.

Re: 3D Printed Houses Might be Closer Than You Thought

#7

Post by Lambdanaut » Thu, Aug 09, 2012, 1:50 PM UTC

cstross wrote: post #6

3D printed houses are still going to need some conventional building work -- they need stable foundations, just like any other building, which means some excavation and levelling, and piles in unstable or waterlogged ground. They need utility ducting and pipes laying, they need wiring and pipes installing after construction, and so on. They probably also need cavity wall insulation blowing in. Not to mention windows,…

In the TED talk he actually explains that wiring, plumbing and painting can be automated with his planned machine(among other processes).

I think you're selling the idea short.

Re: 3D Printed Houses Might be Closer Than You Thought

#8

Post by RaduTyrsina » Thu, Aug 09, 2012, 1:59 PM UTC

alexhawdon wrote: post #5

Interesting stuff to think about but very poorly written and light on content and analysis.

That's because it's still an emerging piece of tech ;)

Re: 3D Printed Houses Might be Closer Than You Thought

#9

Post by RaduTyrsina » Thu, Aug 09, 2012, 2:00 PM UTC

hardwear wrote: post #2

NY Times has a good article on this. http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/11/garden/robots-that-build-b...

Sure, that's NY Times after all!

Re: 3D Printed Houses Might be Closer Than You Thought

#10

Post by willyt » Thu, Aug 09, 2012, 2:01 PM UTC

http://www.rsh-p.com/render.aspx?siteID=1&navIDs=1,6,12,... If you exclude the plumbing, electrics and foundations, houses can already easily be built in a day.