One of the biggest benefits 3D printers offer to construction workers is a reduction in injuries in the field. Considering that building with concrete is difficult, even dangerous, this is a welcome improvement. Not only do workers have an easier time doing their job, but employers have less worker’s compensation paperwork to wade through due to injury.
Another improvement is considerable reduction in material waste. 3D printers use the exact amount of concrete needed for the wall, floor, or whatever needs to be built. Builders and contractors need not order in bulk because they know exactly how much material they need. Not only is this a more sustainable, environment-friendly way to build, but it also results in reduced costs for the contractor and eliminates pile up of concrete waste.
This is where concrete 3D printing truly offers a clear advantage over traditional construction methods. Where a project may sometimes take weeks—or months—to complete, 3D printers can often finish the job in a matter of hours or days. This allows contractors to move on to other projects sooner and more orders filled means more revenue for the contractor.
Besides low costs, reduced labor, and faster construction, another upside of 3D printing technology is that it offers unique building opportunities that would otherwise be expensive with traditional building methods. It leverages innovation and creativity by effortlessly allowing the creation of complex shapes and forms. For instance, a 3D printer can produce an intricately curved wall as easily as it creates a straight one.
Using a 3D printer also allows construction companies to work in markets that might have been otherwise inaccessible. For new construction companies in particular, having a 3D printer could set them apart from companies that have been around for a few decades & are resistant to change. Similarly, traditional and established construction companies could utilize 3D printers to make sure they remain relevant in the market. Essentially, 3D printers can be used both as a means to enter a new market and to give an established company competitive edge.
Overall, using 3D printers costs less than traditional construction techniques & processes. With reduction in injuries, time, and material cost, companies will see a dramatic increase in their profits. A 3D-printed house requires a handful of laborers on-site as much of the construction is automated. For instance, constructing a 2,000-square-foot house would require less than five people, replacing the over 20 manual laborers needed in traditional construction.
While testing concrete during the early stages of construction will continue to be necessary, 3D printers have been found to contribute to the durability of structural elements. This is due in part to how the materials are made the manner in which they are assembled. More durable buildings mean fewer repairs need to be made, so construction companies can focus their efforts elsewhere to drive profit. For clients, too, preferences certainly tilt toward a building that will last longer.
3D printing is emerging as an energy-efficient technology that can provide environmental efficiencies in terms of the manufacturing process, utilizing up to 90% of standard materials and, therefore, creating less waste. Also, its lighter and stronger design entails a reduced carbon footprint compared with traditionally manufactured products. More important, 3D printing is showing great promise in terms of realizing a local manufacturing model, whereby products are produced on demand in the place where they are needed— eliminating huge inventories and unsustainable logistics for shipping high volumes of products around the world. Recycled products can be used to produce the construction materials used in 3D printers.
Perhaps the biggest challenge to the widespread adoption of 3D printing technology on construction sites is the high cost of purchasing or renting the equipment and the logistics involved in getting the large 3D printers to the work site. 3D printers are costly, & that upfront purchase cost doesn’t include materials or maintenance. Right now, it is difficult for construction professionals to justify 3D printing’s prohibitive cost with the technology’s benefits.
Adopting 3D printing technology requires skilled labor. On the one hand, high technical expertise is required to operate & maintain printers, which requires trained or upskilled labor. On the other hand, in developing countries, existing labor will face unemployment as the 3D printer will do most of the work.
Weather already has the potential to slow construction progress, but issues with Mother Nature may be amplified with 3D printing. The weather, environmental factors, and more are all conditions that could make 3D printing in commercial construction more of a bust than a boom. Furthermore, quality control in construction is already a tricky matter. If not constantly monitored by humans, quality in 3D printing could suffer, and the products could end up being an expensive mess.
One drawback that might not immediately come to mind is the regulation of 3D printing. While regulation in 3D printing has made news recently, it has yet to fully impact the construction industry. Using printers rather than humans to perform certain construction tasks may become a liability in future. Currently, there’s much uncertainty around this aspect of 3D printing in construction. Until laws and regulations are clearly defined, it is unlikely that 3D printing will make strides in the construction sector.
Getting printers for large in situ components to and from the site is a challenge. Current 3D printing technology cannot build tall structures. Printing cantilever parts poses a challenge for and is a limitation of this technology.
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