Innovation
Watch: Live 3D Printing of a Residential House
The technology is likely to shake up the construction industry.
Copenhagen-based developer of 3D construction printers, COBOD, stunned the world in February 2020 when it provided a live demonstration of its technology by 3D printing the walls of four small houses at the Bautec construction expo in Berlin, Germany.
The show was done using the BOD2 3D construction printer, placed at the stand of PERI, a producer of formwork and scaffolding, and the German supplier of COBOD’s 3D printers.
The demonstration was aimed to help COBOD provide a real-life example of its construction 3D printing technology for the benefit of the visitors to the exhibition.
Henrik Lund-Nielsen, head of COBOD, said the live show would give viewers the real picture of what happens on the ground – away from manipulated content available online.
“It is so easy to video film a 3D construction printer in action and then edit out anything unplanned occurring during the printing to produce a nice video,” Nielsen said, adding that many videos out there contain “edited and manipulated content” that is far from reality.
The BOD2 3D printer was launched in 2018 as an upgrade to the BOD, which produced the first 3D-printed building in Europe in 2017. The printer can print buildings with measurements of 12m in width, 27m in length and 9m in height.
RELATED: How 3D Printing of Concrete is Revolutionising Construction
The size of the apparatus can be extended with modules in width, length and height of 2.5 meters. Its maximum capacity can handle 6 modules for width equalling 15 meters, and 4 modules in height, coming up to 10 meters, whereas there are no limitations for length.
Although the 3D printer can achieve a maximum speed of 100 cm/second, limitations caused by materials and pumping equipment have so far condemned the device to a maximum speed of 40 cm/second.
COBOD, which has sold seven of its BOD2 construction 3D printers, says the device can produce three-storey buildings in one go, with each storey capable of being more than 300 square meters in length.
Caterpillar Foresees Major AI Disruption in Construction
The equipment maker sees AI as vital for enhancing business outcomes.
7 Powerful Construction Trends to Watch in 2024
Notable tech trends in the construction industry at the moment.
The A to Z of Modular Construction
The first instance of modular construction came in the 1830s.
Work Begins on Sh11.6bn Geothermal Plant in Nakuru
The Chinese-funded Orpower 22 power plant will take 17 months to complete.
Mukuru Affordable Housing Handover Set for December
Bedsitters will rent for Sh3,200 per month on a 30-year rent-to-own plan.
Turkish Firm Inks $3bn Deal for Uganda Electric Railway
Yapı Merkezi is expected to complete the 272-kilometre railway in 48 months.