3D Printed Dwellings

[Snook]

I came across this on YT and thought it would provoke a conversation here..



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPf5ZhGqEN4


If I were younger, I'd be all over this..

 

[f-e]

The crane positioning blocks with some auto feed kinda setup is interesting. But putting blocks in the thing, is about as hard as putting blocks on the wall. With no need to build your machine decent foundations.

The machines that crawl along walls putting an even layer of mortar down are interesting to.

The next progression we can use, is a machine that simply puts mortar on a brick for you to lay. But still.. we put it on so quick that a pumping and dosing machine is just a complication.

Prefabricated slipped in there as it always has. Big cast parts, made in a more controlled environment. Not controlling the weather is a huge bonus. Warm workers get a lot more done than cold ones.

 

[I'mback]

Igloo made me feel right at home

 

[moose eater]

As Miley Cyrus would say, "Pretty cool."

Wondered about consistency in quality control, and how many trades-persons are out of work? Though it seemed as though the factory scene with folks constructing what looked like panels kept folks employed still.

Edit: My wife said, "Mine Craft!!"

 

[GOT_BUD?]

Is it weird I want to build a replica Death Star out of 2 of the foam igloos?

 

[GOT_BUD?]

The real issue I see with these printed structures is most of them will require exposed conduit or or worse, wiremold, for electrical to be run anywhere. (Though the first structure shown solved this issue with hollow walls and a rotary hammer with coring bit.)

Though I suppose with today's technology, you could use electrically conductive paint to provide DC throughout the house, and use low voltage for everything. Though finding most of your standard household appliances that are compatible would be a bit problematic. I suppose the marine world might have an answer, though most of the time they are standard commercial units running off of generators onboard the boats.

Plumbing would be the other issue to solve.

Now 3d printed with traditional stick framing on the inside? That seems like the best of both worlds for today.

 

[moose eater]

The real issue I see with these printed structures is most of them will require exposed conduit or or worse, wiremold, for electrical to be run anywhere. (Though the first structure shown solved this issue with hollow walls and a rotary hammer with coring bit.)

Though I suppose with today's technology, you could use electrically conductive paint to provide DC throughout the house, and use low voltage for everything. Though finding most of your standard household appliances that are compatible would be a bit problematic. I suppose the marine world might have an answer, though most of the time they are standard commercial units running off of generators onboard the boats.

Plumbing would be the other issue to solve.

Now 3d printed with traditional stick framing on the inside? That seems like the best of both worlds for today.

Where I am, when we have a wall that's sub-standard for the R-value needed, we sub-wall.

In your sub-wall (secondary internal wall, often spaced inside the main exterior wall with room between for insulation), we can mount firring on the inside or middle of the sub-wall, and mount wiring, conduit, or plumbing on that wall.

Makes a log home much warmer, as well as stick-built or similar homes.

We modified tha plan a bit, and mounted 1-1/2" foil-back Celotex polyurethane sheeting (4'x8' sheets), running horizontal, across the interior of the 2"x6" exterior studs, then horizontal 2"x4" firring over the vapor barrier that was to the inside of the Celotex, held in place with 6" self-tapping screws through the firring and foam, into the exterior studs, piloted, and mounted electrical boxes, conduit, etc. to that firring.

With 2500 sq. ft in the sub-arctic, my oil use via this approach is (last year, 12 mos to the day, for heat and hot water for that period) 521 gallons of #1 home heating oil.

My initial blower door test more or less said I was living in a zip-lock baggie for air-tightness.

Same principle could be applied to these structures, and -should- be done anywhere folks once built to minimum standard. If done correctly (as an example) in the desert (Mojave, or ??), with an HRV in place to compensate for the nearly-air-tight environ (HRVs function much better in warmer climates than severe cold climates) folks could cut down -remarkably- on air conditioning costs, and in the North, heating costs. Same difference, just opposite ends of the continuum. Both amount to lots of energy use if not well-insulated or with tight vapor-barrier.

 

[St. Phatty]

I sold some tools to a guy who helped develop one of the 3D printing building machines.

He took about an hour and talked shop, very interesting.

However, the "technology will save us" theme, where 3D printing is often cited, like "3D printing will help US manufacturing" ...

if technology was going to save us, why is there so much sh-t on the sidewalks of the city that embraces technology the most ?