Concrete 3D Printing

Concrete is one of the most widely used materials for building construction. As concrete brings many advantages and serviceability, concrete is the core material of a structure for most construction cases. In recent years, researches had brought a discovery to the construction world, namely the Concrete 3D Printing.

Concrete 3D printing uses the similar mechanism as a plastic 3D printer, however, uses concrete instead of plastic. The 3D printer is controlled by a machine language that works by directing the print head of the 3D printer until the desired 3D model is produced. Some advantages of using concrete 3D printing technology are faster construction, lower labor costs, and environmentally friendly because less waste is produced.

Early construction 3D printing development and research have been under way since 1995. Two methods were invented, one by Joseph Pegna who focused on a sand/cement forming technique which utilized steam to selectively bond the material in layers or solid parts, though this technique was never demonstrated. The second technique, Contour Crafting by Behrohk Khoshnevis, initially began as a novel ceramic extrusion and shaping method, as an alternative to the emerging polymer and metal 3D printing techniques and was patented in 1995.

For now, concrete 3D printing might not be a perfect tool to build large constructions, but it is suitable for small to medium structures at low prices. The high level of cost and time consumed of a construction project is two of the main reasons why concrete 3D printing is an appealing tool for constructors and architects.

Written By: M. Rafi Putranto

References:

https://all3dp.com/2/concrete-3d-printing-how-to-do-it-and-application/

Gregurić, L. (2018, August 23). Concrete 3D Printing: How it Works & Applications. Retrieved from https://all3dp.com/2/concrete-3d-printing-how-to-do-it-and-application/