For the Week 1 discussion post, I researched articles about
BIM, 3D printing, structures, and how they relate to the future. I’ve included
3 articles here, and how I believe the technologies discussed in each could (or
could not) be used more in the future.
The first article I found is entitled, “Designer Frank
Kolkman hacks 3D printer components to build DIY surgical robot”. This article
talks about implementing “hacked”, as Kolkman names it, technology from a 3D
printer along with other parts to create a device capable of performing keyhole
surgery. This is not something Kolkman attempts; however, he suggests it has
the functionality. The device cost approximately $5000 dollars to create, and
in order to put this in perspective, Kolkman states that a typical appendectomy
(which is a type of keyhole surgery) is around $10000. The idea of using 3D
printing technology to create a new form of accessible health care is not one
I’ve heard of before, but is certainly interesting. I can’t imagine seeing a
semi-autonomous or remote controlled device being the start of an at-home
health care revolution; although the article is written suggesting at-home
uses, the lack of a professional in a surgical environment is likely not one
that will be popular. The device operates on one’s own body; the risk is high,
and unlike other do-it-yourself projects, almost all people would be inclined
to let a professional handle it, even if cost is a factor. That being said, I
can’t understate the ability of 3D printing technology, having worked with it
before. A 3D printer’s ability to quickly and easily manufacture parts or
pieces in complex shapes is useful in many applications; here, the technology
in devices such as this may certainly be seen in conjunction with current
health care practices and technology in the future.
Next, I took a look into BIM discussions on Evernote, and
came across a bit of a rant. A blog entitled “BIM WIP: Why AECOsim?” discussed
the “introduction” of AECOsim as a BIM software. However, I was more interested
in the history of BIM software that was provided. AECOsim is a Bentley product,
which is the same company who created Microstations, competitor of AutoCAD.
However, AECOsim was functional back in 1986, named “Brickworks” at the time.
BIM may be “emerging”, but it is certainly not a new technology. AECOsim is
designed using Microstations, and incorporates needs for architecture,
engineering, construction, and owner/operators. I feel this is the most
important factor; the strength of BIM is the ability to coordinate information
about the building itself, not just the drawing, to aid in design. As such,
programs such as AECOsim, which not only include structural information, but
intelligence about owner’s concerns or architectural details, are extremely
powerful. With the amount of collaboration between disciplines, I believe that
in the future, many software packages will begin to move toward integrating as
many aspects of the creation and operation of a building as possible.
Finally, I looked at an article about the concept of 3D
printing buildings, entitled “Buildings Made with a Printer”. The short piece
discusses how using 3D printing capabilities to develop complex structures is
actually a feasible option, as printing capabilities advance in order to use
newer materials. Written almost 5 years ago, advanced 3D printers at the time
were just being able to use some metals. Now, it is likely that more progress
has been made. Oxman, the architect and professor discussed in the article,
mentions how due to the freedom of a 3D printer, complex structures can be
created with much more ease. This technology would allow for the inexpensive
creation of the shapes and designs that are most suitable to handle a
particular load. Because of the printer’s ability to adjust its’ location and
output, it can easily strengthen areas by adding material, while saving
materials in areas with low stress concentrations. I feel the issue in going
forward with this technology in the future is scale; smaller designs, or even
small structures may be available for this technology, but large scale
industrial use seems costly and most likely very slow and cumbersome. That
being said, if used for smaller applications, 3D printing of structural
components could lead to extremely complex and efficient designs.
Works Cited
Alex,
ReplyDeleteYou chose very different articles than I did, which makes reading your post very interesting. I particularly liked the section on the BIM software AECOism. I have never heard of this software, and with all the integration properties I agree it sounds like a very powerful tool. I am curious if it will become a major competitor of Revit shortly. This would be especially true if AECOism was able to adapt to the 3D printing craze faster than Revit has been able to, thus far. Furthermore, you uncovered another 3D printer benefit that I had not heard of before, the ability to adjust in areas of high and low stress concentrations in order to save material. This would be very useful in a building, as long as the appropriate variety of load calculations were done before hand. Truthfully, in the future BIM type software will most likely be able to take an inputted design and parameters, and then automatically determine area that could use less, or more, material.
Alex,
ReplyDeleteInteresting article predicting the 3D printing of buildings. As this technology develops, it will become common for large sections of the building envelope to be prefabricated with simple piping and electrical connections. Digital fabrication will depend on comprehensive 3D models to print layers of the building skin and structure with varying densities of concrete. I agree with you that the industry is not ready to adopt this kind of construction for commercial applications. Most building design firms today use BIM just for producing plans and sections. The software is used for clash detection between systems, and not modeled with the additional parameters needed for those calculations like material density, required daylighting, or heat flux. That design process would require many more iterations and assumptions to create load bearing walls that correspond to the exact stresses the wall could experience due to lateral wind or earthquake loads.
Alex,
ReplyDeleteI agree that at the moment 3D printing large projects seems rather unrealistic, though the idea that it could be used for small pieces or small projects seems to be repeated again and again. In my opinion, one option that would be very interesting is using 3D printing to form complex connections, perhaps in conjunction with BIM software. For example, members in structures with facades with complex curves may require special connections that could be manufactured based on the angles formed by BIM layouts.
Alex,
ReplyDeleteI read articles on several different topics than you, so I found the topics that you cover very interesting. Similar to you how you felt about a 3D printer used for surgery, I found the development of a privacy network that prevented invasion of privacy while monitoring, only to a slight extent, content, unlikely. While I find both ideas at this point unlikely they are spectacular ideas that development of technology can make plausible. I also found it very interesting how far the idea of 3D printers and what we one day may be able to do with them has come.
Alex, I agree with you when it comes to 3D printing of complex buildings. Different materials can be tested on a specific section or member in order to find which is the most appropriate and cost effective with to use of external software, and then printed. This process will not only save time, but it will also incredibly lower labor costs. Less waste will also be produced, also reducing disposal costs. The construction process will also be quicker, especially since members used more than once, can be printed repetitively and taken into site. Newer technologies have allowed for 3D printing to incorporate larger scale sections, which are best suited for extraterrestrial structures. Life on Mars is a new modality, and the best way to have superstructures there is by printing them as a hole or sections and easily installing them there. Once again, human interaction and human labor is starting to reduce with the introduction of these new technologies.
ReplyDeleteAlex,
ReplyDelete3D printing technology has evolved over the years to an extent that it is now capable of producing bigger structures/objects of varying complexity. My concentration is structural engineering and therefore I am interested in how 3D printing technology can be used in the construction industry. In 2014, A Chinese Company “Winsun Decoration Design Engineering Co” printed 10 houses in 24 hours using a 3D printer with a mixture of recycled construction waste and quick-drying cement. In 2015, the same company demonstrated exceptional capabilities of the 3D printing technology as they built the world’s tallest 3D printed building i.e. a five-story apartment building. Overall building with 3D printing, saves between 30 – 60% of construction waste, decrease production times by 50 – 70% depending on the complexity of the structure, reduce cost of labor by 50 – 80% hence resulting in a construction method which is environmental friendly and cost effective. However, there is no code for building with 3D printing and therefore it is difficult to assess the durability of the structure.