3D Printing a Building

3D printing a building

GS-Paper-3 3D Printing (PT-MAINS)

L&T, the construction major, prints out a 700 sq.ft building which looks like a concrete shell structure. It was prepared using only a 3D printer and a special concrete mix.

Additive Manufacturing (3D printing)

Additive manufacturing (AM) is the industrial production name for 3D printing and a computer-controlled process that creates three-dimensional objects by depositing materials, usually in layers.
Using digitally controlled and operated material laying tools, additive manufacturing can make ‘objects’ from a digital ‘model’ by depositing the constituent material/s. Use of plastic and photosensitive materials.
There are 4 main components of Additive Manufacturing:

A digital model of the object,
Material/s that are consolidated from the smallest possible form. Eg liquid droplets, wire, powder to make the object,
A tool for laying materials and
A digital control system for the tool to lay the material/s layer-by-layer to build the shape of the object.

Additive Manufacturing Society of India (AMSI): AMSI promote 3D printing & Additive Manufacturing Technologies in India. It is helps the design, R&D organisations, manufacturing professionals and academics in 3D Printing.
Applications: Helmets, Dental meds, Jet Engine parts, Cars and Hearing aid. And now even a house.

Advantages of additive manufacturing:

It reduces waste and cost (when Economy of Scale) compared to machinery.
It reduces capital, space required, and carbon footprint and improves customisation.
Present of a robust IT sector and increased connectivity will boost Digital India Campaign.
It is suitable for products in harsh Environmental conditions.
India has the tradition of "use and throw". Parts can be manufactured as needed and product life cycles can be extended.
It is easy to maintain uniform product quality.
Without any tooling complex, 3D geometries with internal features can be printed.
Different materials can be mixed during the printing process to create a unique alloy.
Prototypes can be made quicker allowing designers to check different iterations resulting in a quicker design cycle phases.

Concerns

It reduces the reliance on Assembly workers.
It bypasses the global supply chain.

Conclusion:

For all this to happen we need Govt support: incentives for the distribution of manufacturing in smaller towns and for the IT industry to work on creating platforms and demands.

Source: TH

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