3D concrete printer - GIFs

[Altair]

3D concrete printer.












Previously:

World's largest 3D printer prints a boat - video
New Dan Gelbart video and Rapidia 3D metal printing - video
Mini Arduino 3D printer - video
Analog 3D printer - GIF
3D concrete printing

[Ralphxyz]

Strange, no channels/place for insulation.

Ralph

[Floradawg]

I can't imagine what the structures are used for. In the second video I thought that maybe they were making trusses of some sort and just storing them by stacking. It seems a strange way of doing something without knowing more about the process.

[Elizabeth Greene]

Strange, no channels/place for insulation.

For the walls with the "wavy" infill or the re-bar reinforcement it wouldn't be difficult to do a long-nozzle expanding foam insulation to fill the cavities from the bottom of the wall to the top. That said, you're right. I'd guess that they have, as-built ignoring any funny business with e.g. styrofoam balls in the concrete mix, an R value of about 1.

I can't imagine what the structures are used for. In the second video I thought that maybe they were making trusses of some sort and just storing them by stacking. It seems a strange way of doing something without knowing more about the process.

These look like test pieces to me. I don't think they are meant for a practical use.

[Toolmaker51]

My first thought was different, that the age-old W form successful in trusses was used.
Seen videos about physical construction, but seem pointless generating items that a simple and reusable mold already does. Thus far, I doubt weight or material saving justifies the increased time spent on a $300,000 cake decorator.

[Elizabeth Greene]

My first thought was different, that the age-old W form successful in trusses was used.
Seen videos about physical construction, but seem pointless generating items that a simple and reusable mold already does. Thus far, I doubt weight or material saving justifies the increased time spent on a $300,000 cake decorator.

That's a valid criticism. This is a developing technology that isn't mature yet. It would be a mistake to write it off though; it's developing fast. It'd be pretty cool if you could rent a house-o-matic and print a new workshop in a weekend. Bricklaying robots are the same way. The tech for those is well developed now, and the delay is getting the cost down enough that it's cheaper than human labor.