The world’s largest 3D printer can print a house in just 80 hours (video)
The University of Maine has just unveiled the world’s largest polymer 3D printer. The new device, called Factory of the Future 1.0 (FoF 1.0), can print objects measuring 29 meters long, 9.7 meters wide, and 5.5 meters high. The 3D printer is relatively fast, using 227 kg of material per hour.
It can dynamically switch between printing techniques for complex jobs. The printer’s versatility makes it suitable for a wide range of industries, including residential and infrastructure construction, as well as military applications. Most of the materials he works with are recyclable. The structures he created can be disassembled and reused if necessary.
First of all, the technology is suitable for the rapid construction of affordable housing. The printer’s specifications indicate that it can be used to make a small one-story house in about 80 hours.
The University of Maine researchers have received funding from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Energy. Government agencies want to recoup their investment, so the printer will likely also be used to create lightweight, rapidly deployable ships such as submarines and other maritime vehicles. Senator Susan Collins called the printer “invaluable to our national security.”
There is another large printer on the university campus that was the previous world’s largest 3D printer. It has already been used to make a 56-square-meter house from wood fiber and bioresins. The new printer is four times larger. If necessary, both devices can work on the same projects, speeding up their execution.
Soon, the University of Maine will begin construction of a new research laboratory called the Green Engineering and Materials (GEM) Factory, which will house both printers. The university says they are considering building an even larger printer.
