The Types of 3D Printing in Construction

Chapel Hill, NC, resident Ted Vitale has been in the area’s creative construction industry for over 15 years. He is the construction executive at a leading construction organization in the same area. In his capacity, he brings the client’s ideas and needs to fruition and conceptualizes the vision. One of the areas that Ted Vitale is passionate about is the application and types of 3D printing in construction.

Three types of 3D printing in construction exist. The most common, the robotic arm extruders, also known as contour crafting, use an arm-like extension that releases materials and creates layers. The arm gradually builds structures based on preloaded templates by moving back and forth.

Construction companies usually include spacers to install rails to enable arm transfer as the construction progresses. The method, however, is only partially autonomous. Depending on the materials, additional labor, such as concrete pouring, is necessary to prevent premature hardening.

The second type deposits layers of sand based on the preloaded design. Once the desired layer is attained, the printer releases biding droplets that harden the sand. This method suffices for small structures and materials during construction. Lastly, you can combine 3D printing with other technology. Standard accompanying building technology includes welding after the printer deposits the metal.