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American engineers from the University of Maine entered the Guinness Book of Records with the largest 3D printer for the first time on October 10, 2019. At the time, they did not provide the exact dimensions, but according to the encyclopedia’s entry, the total volume was 343.6 cubic meters. That’s about one-seventh the size of an Olympic-size 50 x 25 x 2 meter swimming pool. And on the same day, they took two more firsts – they also showed a boat with a length of 7.6 meters and a weight of 2.2 tons, which immediately registered as the largest complete object and at the same time a boat made on a 3D printer. It was ready in 72 hours.
But this Tuesday at the University of Maine, they unveiled a new 3D printer called the Factory of the Future 1.0, which, according to engineers, is up to four times larger than its predecessor, so it can produce larger objects – and faster. It will be able to print objects over 29 meters long, 9.75 meters wide and almost 5.5 meters high, at a speed of 0.22 tons per hour.
The world’s largest 3D printer lures the government
The record holder from 2019 managed to print objects of the same length, but only half the width and height. Even then, however, it was considered whether it would speed up the construction of wind farms, bridges or entire houses. Its successor, especially in the area of housing, expands this possibility even more, in addition more ecologically and cheaper.
According to the Americans, the new generation of the largest polymer 3D printer in the world could accelerate the arrival of sustainable production in many fields. Its unveiling was attended on Tuesday by representatives of the Ministry of Defense, as well as from energy and housing in the USA. And Deputy Chief of Defense for Research and Engineering Heidi Shyu herself called the facility a “beacon of innovation.”
Housing for the middle class and the homeless
Her smaller predecessor already made a family house from bioresin and wood waste, which is plentiful in Maine. According to the scientists, the larger model will push this ecological technology even further, and the printed buildings can also be recycled and the material used again, which is unique compared to current construction.
“Maine needs an estimated 80,000 new homes by 2030. Most for middle- and lower-income households. And we don’t have enough people to build them even if we had the money. So the administration here is going to use this technology to really build a homeless neighborhood here in Bangor in the next few years,” said Mark Wiesendanger, director of research at the University of Maine.
According to him, the project of a giant 3D printer will help with the construction of quality and affordable housing, while using excess waste wood from local sawmills. American engineers also want to prove with the largest 3D printer in the world that houses can be built with a lower carbon footprint. According to the United Nations Environment Agency, the construction industry accounts for roughly 37 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, mainly due to the production and consumption of cement, steel and aluminum.
The record-breaking predecessor from October 2019 will be used simultaneously with the new one, and the University of Maine plans to involve other pieces in the future.
