{"id":1313,"date":"2021-03-24T10:00:53","date_gmt":"2021-03-24T14:00:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.deeds.com\/articles\/?p=1313"},"modified":"2024-04-25T23:20:02","modified_gmt":"2024-04-26T03:20:02","slug":"rising-stars-in-construction-tech-3d-printed-houses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.deeds.com\/articles\/rising-stars-in-construction-tech-3d-printed-houses\/","title":{"rendered":"Rising Stars in Construction Tech: 3D Printed Houses"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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3D printing technology, which applies robotic automation to\nmaterials, is making some notable inroads. Let\u2019s take a brief tour of what\u2019s\nout there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From the East Coast\u2026<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Recently, a 3D printed house in New York was listed for about\n$300,000 on Zillow<\/a>. The home is advertised as \u201ca piece of\nhistory.\u201d Yet its price is competitive with \u2014 actually, a bit lower than \u2014\nhomes with comparable floor plans in the area. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The home\u2019s manufacturer, the Long Island company SQ4D Inc., used\nan Autonomous Robotic Construction System, or ARCS \u2014 a very large 3D printer.\nThe ARCS system laid the concrete foundation, created walls, and built the base\nof the carport one layer at a time. It additionally set up the basic systems\nand utility lines for the 1,900-square-foot home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this process, concrete is extruded through the printer. Then it must quickly strengthen, to receive the load of all higher layers. Each layer must rapidly bond to the next. The printing phase spans just eight days, constructing about 40% of the building. Then, the human construction workers come onto the scene to complete the work. You can watch the printing in action here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To the West Coast\u2026<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Oakland\u2019s Mighty Buildings company offers modular dwelling units, or studios, made with a proprietary form of synthetic stone. The 350-square-foot buildings are totally 3D printed and connected to utilities. Joined-up multiple units (\u201cduo\u201d or \u201cquatro\u201d options) form larger structures. Still larger home designs involve bringing whole 3D-printed panels to the worksite. Here\u2019s how it works<\/a>, from zoning and permitting to moving in. The company also works with lenders and enables financing for the studios.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The goal of Mighty Buildings is to work collaboratively with\nother builders worldwide, starting in southern California. The company\u2019s\nleadership believes 3D printing could transform mass residential construction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

A Leaner and Greener Construction<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are high investment costs to start up a 3D printing company.\nOnce that hurdle has been conquered, though, automated construction costs run\nlower than the costs that go into a traditionally built home, because:<\/p>\n\n\n\n