3D printing construction company builds entire neighborhood

[x65943]

3D printing construction company, ICON, has nearly completed its first neighborhood of 100 homes in a new Texas housing development

The technology allows for rapid build speed and resilient concrete construction that is more resistant to severe weather, and allows for better insulation in hot Texan summers

The company has also been contracted by NASA for exploratory studies regarding 3D printing components for a future moon base

Is 3D printing the future of home development?

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/wo...ighborhood-nears-completion-texas-2024-08-08/

 

[KingVamp]

Seems to be the same group that did that Mars project.

 

[supermist]

This might be a solution for people looking to get tiny homes or efficiency apartments. A lot of builders don't want to construct these because "they're not profitable enough" yet at least in my area these new luxury apartments aren't getting filled up.

 

[impeeza]

humm thankfully they do not run out of ink at middle job..

 

[x65943]

This might be a solution for people looking to get tiny homes or efficiency apartments. A lot of builders don't want to construct these because "they're not profitable enough" yet at least in my area these new luxury apartments aren't getting filled up.

Tech like this could be huge in parts of Europe where home building is extremely expensive due to lack of labor and expensive material costs

Of course it would have to get more efficient

 

[Hanafuda]

I think that's amazing. Like it says in the article, they probably will be relatively resistant to tornados, too (compared to wood-frame houses, anyway). The question is the quality of the concrete mix they're using, and its durability over time. Those walls might stand up to incredible force i.e. a tornado, but they also might start crumbling away after 30-40 years if they cheap out on the concrete. Time will tell.

 

[eternal]

I think that's amazing. Like it says in the article, they probably will be relatively resistant to tornados, too (compared to wood-frame houses, anyway). The question is the quality of the concrete mix they're using, and its durability over time. Those walls might stand up to incredible force i.e. a tornado, but they also might start crumbling away after 30-40 years if they cheap out on the concrete. Time will tell.

I thought this was awesome too till you said that. I wonder if theres some research that can be done on that, or if its in the fine print when you ask the company Icon to build it for you. Id much rather have a 3d printed house that last 100 years like the old houses that were built vs spending over 400,000$ on one that crumbled in 30 years

 

[Jayro]

Gross, visible layer lines in 2024... No thanks.

 

[x65943]

Gross, visible layer lines in 2024... No thanks.

They could put up siding or a whole host of solutions to hide that easily

They keep it this way on purpose to make it obvious the homes were 3d printed

I agree it's ugly, but there appears to be a market for it - my understanding is right now these homes actually cost more than conventional ones (like all examples of early buy in)

 

[BigOnYa]

They are building one right now in my town. I went few weeks ago to go see and watch in action, and ended up meeting the homeowner. He claimed it will save him over $40,000 on a $250,000 house. Was neat to see printing out concrete.

 

[x65943]

They are building one right now in my town. I went few weeks ago to go see and watch in action, and ended up meeting the homeowner. He claimed it will save him over $40,000 on a $250,000 house. Was neat to see printing out concrete.

Supposed to be well insulated too saving on heating and cooling - plus that material looks super sturdy and definitely not flammable