This post
discusses the progress and intertwining of BIM, 3D printing, structures, and
the overall future of all these topics. None too surprising, the future of all
these topics come together into something straight out of a science-fiction
novel.
3D printing is the process of multiple
layers of a material being laid upon each other, in small amounts, until an
object is formed. Many materials can now be used to complete this process,
including: plastics, rubbers, and even metals. The field of metal 3D printing
is new and still growing, with one viable method being direct metal laser
sintering (DMLS). This technique spreads metal powder across a build platform
and is then melted, which is slightly different than the extrusion process of
general 3D printing. The future of 3D printing is the increased use of more
useful materials (i.e. metals) and finding even stronger materials, such as
graphene, to incorporate into all fields.
Building
Information Modeling (BIM) becomes more used in companies every year. However,
the problem in the current years has been how to incorporate 3D modeling
programs, such as Revit, with 3D printing. Full integration is still an area of
ongoing research and development, generally Autodesk’s 3ds Max is currently
used to bridge the gap. The concept is tantalizing, especially once a house was
built by Danish architects Frederik Agdrup and Nicholas Bjorndal using only a
computer, a printer, and plywood. The 3D model was transformed into a
manufactured template which was sent to the printer, a computerized milling
machine (CNC machined). The benefit of using this type of technology was clear:
little waste from the CNC-machine, no concrete was used, wood and glass were
the only wall materials used, and the structure only interfaces with the ground
at its screw pile foundations. This creates a structure with minimal
environmental impact.
An even
more recent example of 3D printing’s incorporation with structures is currently
occurring in Amsterdam. MX3D (the company heading the project) has the
ambitious goal of building a bridge over a canal in the center of the city,
with only a 3D printer. This 3D printer has some revolutionary new tricks
though, including a welder that has the ability to “draw” fast-setting metal
structures (the MX3D-Metal). The bridge will be printed out of steel by welding
small increments of molten metal to the structure, resulting in lines of steel.
This project is definitely revolutionary in the field of 3D printing structures.
The
future of using BIM modeling, and then 3D printing in order to create
structures is endless. With 3D modeling shapes do not have to be rectilinear,
as generally seen in construction. With 3D printing curvilinear shapes, similar
to eggs, can be created. These shapes are stronger and less material can be
used to create them. Along this same line of thinking, hollow shapes can be
created for buildings that would leave room for utilities. The most futuristic
line of thinking for this technology is the use of 3D modeling and printing for
future colonization on Mars; it would be the ideal set-up. Robots could be sent
to the surface before human space-crafts arrive, and they could have the
structures built before the craft even touches down.
[5] http://www.viatechnik.com/3d-printing-and-looming-changes-in-the-construction-industry/
Comments:
[1] http://ae-510-ay15-16.blogspot.com/2016/01/group-b-week-2-bryan-cummings.html
Bryan,
We studied a couple of the same articles, so I enjoyed your point of view on the topics. However, I did not see the article about the ‘Bloom’ structure created by the research team at Berkeley. I do believe that their method, where the dry cement powder is laid for each layer first and then sprayed with water to harden, is the more precise method. This would work really well to build complex cement structures, especially if the 3D printing machine is mobile. Furthermore, I saw that you also read the article about the future 3D printed steel bridge in Amsterdam. It is fascinating how the 3D printing machine will build its own supports as its builds the bridge. This technology will be revolutionary in the field of construction, especially with the atrocious shape some bridges are in around the United States. Finally, I did not see the research in creating a cement like substance, using the local material on the moon, for 3D printing structures. I will look forward to looking at the final design for the structures, in order to see how they will take in to account all the risks from the atmosphere.
[2] http://ae-510-ay15-16.blogspot.com/2016/01/b1-group-b-alex-palma.html?showComment=1452465323644#c7056173898726598249
Comments:
[1] http://ae-510-ay15-16.blogspot.com/2016/01/group-b-week-2-bryan-cummings.html
Bryan,
We studied a couple of the same articles, so I enjoyed your point of view on the topics. However, I did not see the article about the ‘Bloom’ structure created by the research team at Berkeley. I do believe that their method, where the dry cement powder is laid for each layer first and then sprayed with water to harden, is the more precise method. This would work really well to build complex cement structures, especially if the 3D printing machine is mobile. Furthermore, I saw that you also read the article about the future 3D printed steel bridge in Amsterdam. It is fascinating how the 3D printing machine will build its own supports as its builds the bridge. This technology will be revolutionary in the field of construction, especially with the atrocious shape some bridges are in around the United States. Finally, I did not see the research in creating a cement like substance, using the local material on the moon, for 3D printing structures. I will look forward to looking at the final design for the structures, in order to see how they will take in to account all the risks from the atmosphere.
[2] http://ae-510-ay15-16.blogspot.com/2016/01/b1-group-b-alex-palma.html?showComment=1452465323644#c7056173898726598249
Alex,
You 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.
Dianna: We came to similar conclusions about most topics here. It was interesting reading about the house in Amsterdam milled out of plywood. Also, so often reduced cost is discussed with relation to 3D printing, but I like how you mentioned a reduced environmental impact as well. I’d be really interested in doing a life cycle assessment on 3D printed construction compared to conventional construction. Transportation of materials would probably have a lower ecological footprint as they would be in a more compact form compared to how finished steel beams are often transported one or few beam(s) per truck. Printing’s ability to create stronger structures with less material will also contribute to a reduced impact. I’m interested, though, about the plywood house in Amsterdam, since that is milled, not printed, what happens to the plywood that gets cut and not used? Can it be reused or recycled?
ReplyDeleteDianna: I enjoyed reading what you've posted about 3D printing in particular. The benefits of using this technology for structural applications are great; as you've said, not only can more desirable shapes and structures be achieved, but the material and space saved can be used elsewhere. I also was interested in what you've mentioned about using this technologies for structures on Mars. Bryan Cummings posted a similar section, where he discussed an article about a feasibility study for this on the moon. I'd be interested to see Mars applications, and to see the material choices made there. I can imagine it would be a similar concept of using some native source (at least partly), as long as this type of combination proves stable on the moon.
ReplyDeleteDianna,
ReplyDeleteYou were assigned different topics than me, so it was beneficial for me to learn how 3D printing, BIM, structures, and the future are interconnected from your post. It has always been a passion of mine to use BIM for construction projects, so I enjoyed reading about the house built by Frederik Agdrup and Nicholas Bjorndal. What made this BIM project even more impressive was the fact that the necessary parts were made from a form of 3D printing. Before reading this, I had never realized how advanced technology has become in the world of design and construction; that all aspects of a BIM model can be printed electronically and constructed from there. Another thing that I learned was that strong, durable materials can be created from 3D printing. With these phenomenal advancements, I can only imagine what design and construction will be like in the years to come.
Dianna,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed how well your articles linked together. I also would be interested in reading more about the feasibility of using 3D printing to fabricate structures on the moon, and what materials and processes are possible in this environment. For example, the atmosphere on Mars has very little oxygen, so the metal welding and concrete hydration processes would no doubt change quite a bit from those which can be used on Earth. However, this would be an incredibly interesting application for 3D printing and its ability to work autonomously and form complex shapes with varying materials.