3D printing in construction is taking the world by storm! Just a month after robotic construction company Apis Cor has built the world’s largest 3D-printed office building in Dubai measuring 9.5 meters high with a floor area of 640 square meters, SQ4D has completed construction of the world’s largest permitted 3D printed home using its Autonomous Robotic Construction System (ARCS).
The home is 1900 square feet and took only forty-eight hours of print time, over eight days. The house was entirely printed and built onsite, using less than $6000 in materials. Future print-time is expected to be cut in half on their next projects, due to ARCS enhancements implemented post-construction.
ARCS is a patent-pending technology that robotically builds foundations, exterior walls, interior walls, utility conduits, and more. This digital-driven system reduces labor to as little as three people, accounting for up to 41% of the total construction of a home. ARCS low-power consumption technology allows homes and buildings to be built using far less energy than needed in traditional construction methods, creating an environmentally friendly impact.
ARCS achieves faster build times by eliminating and consolidating over 20 manual, labor-intensive processes (siding, framing, sheathing, etc.). This revolutionary technology will be replacing and removing more expensive and inferior building materials, causing the printed structures to be stronger and safer. Utilizing concrete will reduce the cost by at least 30%, as well as making the structure more fire-resistant than traditional methods. This home will have the strength to last into the next century.
Construction is well-suited to 3D printing, and the market is anticipated to see an upsurge in the coming years. Reports suggest the market will reach $314 million by 2023, growing at a CAGR of 15.9%. The market for 3D printing in construction was $129.95 million in 2017. The demand for 3D technologies in construction is rising due to reasons such as their cost-effectiveness, less time in construction, reduced human effort, and errors due to human intervention in construction sites.
Compared to traditional construction methods, 3D printers offer nine significant advantages.
- Quicker construction
- Automation and higher productivity
- Easily movable, smaller mechanical system
- Reduced injury rate for construction workers
- Reduced material costs and material waste
- Cheaper construction and more profit
- Ability to create unique architectural designs for clients
- Better durability for structures
- Stable weather parameters
