Week 4: Problems with 3D printed buildings

The Oak Ridge National Laboratory has produced 3D printed structure and vehicle as shown in the image above. Building scale printers work the same as normal 3D printers, depositing thin layers of material over previous layers, until the 3D model form is finished. 3D printer able to create flawless model and the technique's flexibility can produce a diversity structures of plastic, concrete or metal.

3D printed office in Dubai

Saltygloo by Emerging Objects

3D printers used more electricity which dominates environmental impacts. In a mass manufacturing scale, 3D printers have a higher impacts to environment compare with traditional constructing a building. Sometimes 3D printers are eco friendly than those machining processes, due to the replacing of blocks of material by the machines. 

Is 3D printing good for the environment? Will it reduce the waste? Will it transform the ecological impacts of making things? Is 3D printing create more problems than it solves?

1. Reduce the transporting products

Massive materials have to ship back and forth when the raw materials are required to gathered, refined, turned into small parts, assembled into products and brought to the site. It is incredibly complex and create huge environmental footprint. 

3D printing able to reduce the transporting due to the product creation local. It only required transport raw materials, instead of ready made products. 

2. No wasted materials

3D printer is building the products layer upon layer. It only need specific amount of raw material like aluminium, plastic or concrete. The excess material can be melted back to usable block and use it for other structures. 

3. Easier for recycling

Traditional construction will produce huge amount of waste every year. It is complicated in recycling the waste and separating it into the raw materials that is was made from. 3D printed products are made from single raw material which is recycling immensely easier. 

There are pros and cons of 3D printing. We have to find a way to print 3D parts in a better way. Choosing good materials can be important to reduce resource use and waste. It also will reduce the toxicity and energy use as well. If the users use 3D printing wisely, it can reduce run time. Developers, architects, engineers and other consultants may work together to create an eye-catching building by using 3D printing, as long as it is done in a eco friendly way and reduce the environmental impact. 

References:

http://icdn2.digitaltrends.com/image/21607596576_04842ae0e9_k-970x647-c.jpg
http://architizer.com/blog/3d-printed-buildings-future-or-gimmick/
http://architizer.com/projects/amie-10/
https://sustainabilityworkshop.autodesk.com/blog/environmental-impacts-3d-printing
http://static.gulfnews.com/polopoly_fs/1.1833461!/image/2800929930.jpg_gen/derivatives/box_460346/2800929930.jpg