3D Printing in the construction industry
It is a natural instinct for humans to always search for an easier, quicker, cost effective means of doing things. As a result, in the construction industry, 3d printing is the new exciting phenomenon that is developing and transforming the industry rapidly. 3d printing is the ability to print 3d objects from a digital file using a chosen material. Traditional construction methods will soon be replaced and a large construction reform will take place before we know it. 3d printing has many benefits and it's impacts can improve the lives of many throughout the world. However, as it is still in the beginning stages, there are still challenges to be overcome and issues to be resolved before 3d printing
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Firstly, the ability to print 3d objects for construction straight from a computer gives the designer great design flexibility that would have been otherwise near impossible. For example, structurally strong curvilinear shapes can be now made in contrast to the rectilinear shapes that have been mainly built in the past. Furthermore, recycled plastic materials can be used in addition to other typical raw materials such as concrete and sand. New materials have also been invented for 3d printing such as a composite material that is thicker than concrete. The amount of waste created from construction is reduced immensely(by 50-60%). As a result, the cost of materials is much less as there are no scrap material and recycled materials can be used instead sometimes. The amount of workers required to design and erect the building is also reduced as the printed parts only need assembling on site. As a result, labour costs, construction costs and production times are reduced as the printer does much of the work and the parts are quick and easy to assemble with little waste. For instance, in China, 10 houses were printed in just 24 hours. Furthermore, the building, if designed correctly with the correct materials, will have no errors as it was created with great accuracy. It's clear from 3d printing, the construction process will be done with ease and the finished product will not …show more content…
I believe that 3d printing definitely will be incorporated into construction in the near future as it improves the construction process making it faster and cheaper. However, before this can happen, I feel more research should be done to develop the process further. For example, the number of materials that can be used are limited and this clearly showed in the buildings built in China as the finishes could've been more appealing. Also printers can't print using more than two materials and the sizes of the printed objects are limited to the size of the printer. In my opinion this reduces the flexibility that the printer is supposed to provide the designer. Lastly, I do not agree with allowing the printers to replace jobs. If we allow machines to take over the future, I believe we will eventually all be out of jobs. Overall, 3d printer still has a long way to go and I look forward to where it takes the construction industry in the
3D printing has the potential to revolutionize the way we make almost everything. 3D printing was invented in the mid 1980s and was initially known as additive manufacturing. It consists of the fabrication of products through the use of printers which either employ lasers to burn materials (sintering) or place layer upon layer of material (known as stereolithography), eventually resulting in a finished item. Unlike the traditional manufacturing process, which involves milling, drilling, grinding or forging molded items to make the final product, 3D printing “forms” the product layer by layer. There are many different technological variants but almost every existing, 3D printing machine functions in a similar way: a 3D computer-aided engineering
With the massive rise in the quality, lower prices and availability 3d printers anybody anywhere in the world now has the ability to produce almost anything they like. Websites like https://www.thingiverse.com/ offer millions of models for almost anything someone needs to produce. Websites like https://www.upwork.com offer online consulting for 3d modelers that will design anything you need. Prior to the availability of 3d printers anything that was designed had to be manufactured at professional production facilities at huge costs relative to 3d printing it. 3d Printing lowers the barriers of entry into a market that was previously dominated by a few people because of the cost of prototyping.
It is somewhat by accident that I find myself drawn towards the field of Construction Science. I have always enjoyed building with an incorporation of moving parts. When I was young, I started building toy cars, airplanes, dinosaurs, and everything an eight-year-old boy would imagine. It was like striking gold! I could build tracks, and cars with wheels to go on the tracks. I could even build towers with moving parts that reached the living room ceiling. Needless to say this unassuming box of used gadgets fostered a growing excitement towards construction and architecture. As my knowledge of the field grew, so did my curiosity about the assembly and preparation it takes to build useful assets like houses, hotels, even parking garages. I am pursuing a degree in Construction Science, which encompasses not only creating new spheres of urban development, but also a supporting a structure that helps a community grow. After attending Blinn College, I feel the need to expand my knowledge in the field of architecture by attending the highly credited University of Texas A&M.
We often focus on the many different materials and products needed to make that special architectural structure. We tend to undermine and dilute the cost and time it takes to be able to follow through and complete such a task. However, the most important thing when
In additive manufacturing, parts are produced by slicing a CAD model into thin layers and then depositing material one layer at a time to create the 3D part. While current methods are very precise and have high resolutions, I have identified 3 main limitations of additive manufacturing.
Bone tissue engineering (BTE) plays an important role in treating bone diseases related to osteoporosis and other orthopedic treatments. Although several methods are used in orthopedic surgery, some bone transport methods such as autografting and allografting have a certain number of disadvantages. Both are expensive methods and they can be exposed to infections and diseases. Therefore, in stead of using these potential risky methods, bone tissue engineering process are used to treat in orthopedic treatments. In general, both tissue engineering and bone tissue engineering have major constituents including stem cells, scaffold, bioreactors and growth factors.
Up until a few years ago, one may not have even heard of 3D printing and its capabilities. It has been around awhile, but has just recently made a name for itself. Since the business boomed, the possibilities have seemed almost endless. Are you interested in printing some custom shoes or printing a new ear after damage was done? 3D printing has shown that it can be a major help and lifesaver in the medical field, to fixing part in orbit around the moon, and even providing cheap and quick housing in some parts of the world. Even though there are many positive outcomes with this new technology, there may also be some negative ones as well. The convenience of 3D printing is one of the upsides to this groundbreaking technology.
BIM contains precise geometry and relevant data needed to support the design, procurement, fabrication, and construction required to recognize the building (Eastman et al. 2008). Basically, the purpose of BIM is to simulate the construction environment in a virtual database that can be used during the physical construction as well as a virtual model for operations and maintenance after construction is finished. In the beginning, you have access all areas of the project and can determine whether certain areas will need more time in design, where various clashes may happen, or what could be changed for a lower cost. or to speed up the building phase. In his article, Salaman Azhar said, “It is important to note that BIM is not just software, it is a process and software. BIM means not only using three-dimensional intelligent models but also making sig...
The process starts with a concept or idea.(Mashable) The first stage of 3D printing is planning out this concept with either computer aided design or animation modeling software. There are tons of programs out there today with these capabilities. Google SketchUp for example is known for being easy to use.(3ders) Using some easy tools that can be learned quickly, edges and faces can come together to make very intricate models. It can even be used with Google Earth. All those models of the world in that software are made in what is basically the same process digitally. Blender is the free 3D creation program that exists for the needs of major operating systems.(3ders) It is a high end software containing features that are much more capable than Google SketchUp. Tinkercad is a newer way of creating designs for 3D printers and works slightly faster than the others.(3ders) Containing only three simple tools, it’s effectiveness for creating models is among the best..
I have conducted my research through interview with someone familiar with construction and development as how geometry is used in these fields.
Like all engineers, architectural engineers apply the theories and principles of science and mathematics to research and develop economical solutions to technical problems. Their work is the link between scientific discoveries and commercial applications. Engineers design products, machinery to build those products, factories in which those products are made, and the systems that ensure the quality of the product and efficiency of the workforce and manufacturing process. Engineers design, plan, and supervise the construction of buildings, highways, and transit systems. They develop new materials that both improve the performance of products and help implement advances in technology. Engineering knowledge is applied to improving many things, including the quality of health care, the safety of food products, and the efficient operation of financial systems.
Furthermore, there is good price certainty at the award of the contract because of full set information. However, there are some disadvantages to the process. First, it is very consume time in the pre-contract process due to the strategy is sequential and construction cannot be started before the completion of design. Also, the contractor is not appointed at the design stage, so the contractor and supply chain have no input into the design or planning of the project. Moreover, there are divided responsibility of design and construction, so it is easy to cause disputes in the post-contract processes.
Sustainable buildings are becoming somewhat of a necessity in the world today. As the demand for green building develops, so does the demand for green building materials. Just as the old techniques and building materials seem to disappear in the assembly of things, they are now making a come back. Green building focuses on the efficiency of major resources like water and energy. As the cost for sustainable materials and products are on the decline, building green seems to be the most cost effective kind of design and construction. Looking specifically at green materials and their impact on the production of structures, it is evident that they are a prime choice for building material. The use of green materials should be promoted because they are better for the environment, more healthful for the consumer, and better for the economy.
Buildings consume a variety of materials in their construction. Green design reduces the dependence on resource intensive products and materials. Today, there are an increasing number of products available made from efficient, earth-friendly, or recycled materials. In a green building, consideration is also given to the construction process itself. Materials that minimize waste or can be recycled, help contribute to an efficient and environmentally sensitive construction process.
The topic I have selected for my essay will be on 3D printing in education, I chose this emerging technology because of my place of work and how 3D printing may be involved their within the next few years. This would require me to research how 3D printers work and how to operate them. I also believe that having 3D printers in schools will generate a new wave of creative children in the future. In this essay I will be showing how a 3D printer works and how the machines operate. I will be providing example on why I think 3D printing is important for education, as well as showing what hurdles 3D printing has to overcome in regards to Intellectual property rights and the legality of what you can and cannot print. In this essay I am going to point out the advantages of what a 3D printer can achieve for the future and how it can possibly shape the way we educate our children.