3D-Printed Homes: A Game-Changer for Global Housing?

 

3D-Printed Homes: Make Your Housing Smart And Affordable 

 

From the start of human civilisation, homes and houses have played a significant role. Initially, people used to live in caves, but slowly, they developed new techniques and ideas for building their houses. With every new housing technique and innovation, there are some additional features installed in the house that fulfil the newly emerged desire of that generation of humans and reduce the cost of manufacturing a house. However, the current available housing construction, price, and labour shortage make it unlikely that all humans will soon get their own houses. So, what is the solution for that? What About 3d-Printed Homes? Yes, 3D-printed homes can do it. But do you know about these kinds of homes and their scope? If not, let's find out about it with the following article. 

 

What are 3d-Printed Homes?

The idea of 3d printing homes was first proposed in 2019 by Enrico Dini, where a house created through 3d printing uses large robotic printers to deposit layers of concrete, cement, or various composite substances to construct walls and structural components. In contrast to traditional building methods, which require bricklaying, significant manual labour, and considerable resource consumption, 3d printing streamlines most of the construction process, enhancing efficiency and reducing costs. 

 

How Do 3D-Printed Homes Work?

3D-printed homes are created through a distinctive and innovative process that involves several key steps. This method utilises advanced technology to layer materials and construct a residence, making it both efficient and sustainable. The entire procedure can be outlined as follows:

• Designing method—In 3D-printed homes, architects and engineers generate a digital blueprint of the house using 3d modelling software. 
• Preparation of the material—After designing a 3d model, a sustainable or cement-like construction material must be prepared for printing. 
• Printing technique- A gantry-style 3d printer or a robotic arm has been created that helps to unload the material from layer to layer, enabling the creation of walls and structural elements.
• Finish the construction—Once the printing work has been completed, the remaining work on the house, including installing doors, windows, electrical, and plumbing systems, has been done manually.

 

Features of 3D-Printed Homes?

• Minimal labour cost—Most of the house's construction work has been done via automation, reducing the requirement for labour and thus minimising the price. 
• Less material waste —The traditional house construction method requires much effort and also produces heavy waste, around 20 to 30 per cent of the materials. However, with the new 3D-printed homes, the exact amount of material is produced, making the production of extra material zero.
• Speed up the construction process- Completing the house with this new 3d printing home takes 24 to 48 hours, which is way less than the time required to be completed with the traditional method, which is at least a month.
• Ability to design flexible accommodation for different climates- 3d printing homes can adjust and amend the style according to your specific desire, including making the style of your house unique, from curved walls to any other personalised layouts, without requiring you to pay any additional cost, which is not possible in traditional housing construction.

 

Conclusion: Future of 3D-Printed Homes

Both hurdles and achievements have marked the path from the initial enthusiasm of 2019 to now. Although 3d printing of homes hasn’t revolutionised the construction sector as quickly as some anticipated, the ongoing advancements provide many reasons for optimism. The technology continues to evolve, more projects are being finalised, and regulations are catching up. While we may not witness an entire city constructed through 3d printing, we are moving positively. The future looks promising for a construction industry that is more affordable, sustainable, and innovative, where 3D-printed homes could potentially become commonplace.