News

3d-printing-technology

3D Printing Technology and Construction: Creating New Frontiers in Building Technology

Recently, 3D printing technology has been able to create many unusual devices such as limb replacements, medical devices, and three-dimensional items such as light fixtures or iPad stands. 3D printing has been embraced by several innovative industries already, is construction next?

3D Printing Technology and Construction: Creating New Frontiers in Building Technology

Previously, those in the construction industry interested in harnessing the power of 3D printing technology were hampered by scale. 3D printers typically work in a small space to print projects that fit into the printer’s small box. With the development of free-standing 3D printers, larger projects are becoming a reality.

This summer, a Chinese 3D printing company printed an entire house. ZhouDa Group’s printing project may make construction difficulties a problem of the past. Chinese contractors typically utilize bricks or reinforced concrete to build homes. Since concrete cannot cure in wet weather, rainy days create major scheduling delays. By printing the structure in the lab and assembling on site, the home was produced faster than any traditional method possible. From printing to assembling, the entire structure was completed in a single week with assembly taking only three hours on-site. The home is earthquake and termite proof, as well as fire and flood resistant.

As 3D printing techniques advance, the materials they use become more advanced and present new opportunity. Typical metal 3D printers use laser sintering which uses a high-powered laser to fuse layers of metallic powder together, layer by layer. New technology that uses robotic arms fitted with specialized welding heads allows designers to create metal structures essentially one drop of metal weld at a time. The arms build the structure additively drop by drop and drawing out longer rods of steel. A Dutch company is working to build an intricately detailed bridge as a trial project.

 

ball-597523_1920_1024

 

Implications of 3D Printing for Green Building Design

With the construction industry’s focus on cost-saving designs that are also environmentally sound, 3D printing may open the door for revolutionary building techniques to become commonplace. Future buildings may be constructed with 3D printed matrices for a building’s walls that are then outfitted with traditional construction materials such as concrete exteriors and drywalled interiors. The result would be a building that looks like any other from the outside but ultimately would be less expensive to construct without sacrificing strength. 3D printing can create walls that are stronger than those constructed by wood and comparable to those comprised of concrete yet they use less material and waste far fewer resources.

With over 37 years experience, South Bay Construction is an industry leader in Northern California construction. We employ cutting-edge construction methods to add value at every stage of the construction process. From pre-construction through the final stages of the project, we are your trusted partner in the construction industry.

Recent Posts

Clearing the Air: An Update on Title 24 CBSC Changes for 2023

If you didn’t live in San Francisco in the 1970s, it’s hard to imagine the smog. Check out some episodes of the hit crime drama Streets of San Francisco. In the city panorama shots, you can see smog conditions similar to the photo above.   Pretty awful, right? Los Angeles was even worse. Fast forward to ...

read more
The Biotech Boom: How the Life Sciences Industry is Driving Innovation in Northern California Construction

Biotechnology is a rapidly growing field that is transforming many industries, including the construction industry in Northern California. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the use of biotechnology in the construction of commercial buildings and infrastructure projects, with companies using biotech innovations to improve the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of their ...

read more
Top 10 Construction Trends to Watch in 2023

The San Francisco Bay Area has seen significant growth in construction projects over the years, reflecting many opportunities and challenges. Looking ahead, the industry continues to adapt to everything from long material lead times to rising costs and the impact of climate change. Let’s look at the top 10 trends for 2023 San Francisco Bay ...

read more
Get a quote

Get a Quote

Our team of design-build experts has over 40 years of experience in the construction industry — and therefore understands the ins and outs of the estimate process. We strongly believe in customer satisfaction and know that your time is important, so we provide accurate quotes in a timely fashion. If you're interested in getting a quote, contact us today.

Cost reference guide

Cost Reference Guide

Our Bay Area Cost Reference Guide provides up-to-date construction pricing and market data; it's a critical budgeting tool that can deliver conceptual estimates and that can save you both time and money.