In recent years, 3D printed houses, as a new type of housing, have attracted a lot of attention. The news mentioned that this technology can complete the construction of houses in less than 24 hours, and it is more economical and environmentally friendly than traditional construction methods. What is the actual effect of 3D printed houses? This article will analyze the current status of this emerging construction technology and the problems it faces from multiple perspectives.

Source: TODAY.com

1. The construction process of 3D printed houses

The core of 3D printed houses is to build building structures through digital design and automated printing. First, designers use building information modeling software to create a digital model of the house. Then, according to these design drawings, 3D printers extrude building materials (such as concrete, mortar, plastic or mud) layer by layer on site or in the factory, gradually building the main structure of the house. This method is similar to the extrusion process, and the material is precisely deposited onto the building platform through a nozzle to form the desired three-dimensional shape.

2. Construction speed: the gap between reality and publicity

Although many reports mention that 3D printed houses can be built in 24 hours, the actual situation is far from this speed. For example, the Fibonacci House in British Columbia completed the printing of the main structure in 11 days, but this is only the wall part of the house. The complete construction process also includes foundations, roofs, windows, doors, and interior and exterior decoration, which all require additional time. Even with faster printing speeds, the entire construction cycle is not significantly different from traditional construction methods. Media propaganda about 24-hour construction usually only involves the printing time of the wall, not all construction links.

3. Construction cost

Regarding the cost advantage of 3D printed houses, media reports claim that this technology can reduce construction costs by 50%. However, this statement has not been fully fulfilled in actual applications. Although the cost of printing walls may be lower than traditional construction, the overall savings may only be between 10-20%. In addition, the initial investment and maintenance costs of 3D printing technology are high, resulting in cost advantages that are not as obvious as advertised. The company responsible for the pilot project said that there is currently insufficient data to support the expected cost savings and the technology is still in the experimental stage.

Source: Designboom

4. Housing shortage: technology cannot solve it alone

3D printed houses are considered to be an ideal solution to the housing shortage, but in fact, the housing shortage problem is more complicated. The housing problem is not only a technical challenge, but also a problem of social and economic structure. Although 3D printing can reduce the construction cost of a single house, it cannot fundamentally solve the problem of insufficient housing. The real solution may require the development of multi-unit housing and comprehensive measures combined with urban planning, rather than relying on a single technology.

5. Technology maturity and specifications

Although 3D printing technology performs well in small-scale and experimental projects, in large-scale buildings and diversified building types, current building codes and standards have not yet fully adapted to this emerging technology. The construction industry needs to update existing specifications to ensure the safety and reliability of 3D printed buildings. In addition, the high initial investment of large-scale 3D printers needs to be considered, and the performance and long-term stability of printing materials still need to be further verified to ensure its reliability in practical applications.

Summary

3D printing housing technology is undoubtedly attractive in terms of innovation and potential, but before it is widely used, we need to be cautious about its current status and challenges. In other words, are you willing to live in a house built by 3D printing now? Whether in terms of construction speed, cost-effectiveness, housing shortage or environmental impact, this technology faces many challenges. As an emerging technology, 3D printed houses may play an important role in the future, but there are still many technical and practical issues that need to be solved.