Finished product:
Posted on 08/04/2019 2:07:08 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Cobod is ready to ship the world’s largest 3D construction printer to Elite for Construction & Development Co in Saudi Arabia – ordered as part of the kingdom’s Vision 2030 mandate to build 1.5 million private-sector homes over the next 10 years – after completing the dry and full testing of the printer, a machine that offers a print area of 300m2 per floor and can print three-floor tall buildings, with its Bod 2 configuration marking the largest that Cobod has produced to date.
After a private house in Riyadh was 3D-printed last year, multiple public and private organisations have shown interest in 3D printing for Saudi Arabia’s construction projects.
Following the latest Bod 2 delivery to the Technical University of Denmark in early-July, Cobod is now ready to ship the next to Saudi Arabia, and is able to print buildings of 12x27x9m.
Cobod’s Bod 2 printers have a possible speed of up to to 100cm per second.
So far, the concrete pumping equipment and concrete materials limitations have hindered full utilisation of this speed. Other Bod 2 customers have regularly been able to go up to 30 cm/second, Cobod said in a statement, adding that while the speed was three times faster than previous standards, it was still “somewhat below the capacity of the printer”.
Commenting on the development, Cobod’s chief executive officer, Henrik Lund-Nielsen, said: “We are excited to have completed the manufacturing and testing of this enormous 3D construction printer.
“The Saudis’ wishes for such a size of the printer once again proved our choice of creating the Bod 2 printer via a modular system.
“No other company would be able to deliver a printer with the same capabilities, and we are very proud to provide our Saudi partners with a printer capable of constructing buildings of a size not seen before in the market.”
Michael Holm, head of research and development at Cobod, said the 3D printer was the company’s “most impressive” machine produced to date, adding that it featured a “special designed steel structure, weather sealed electronics, high level of control, and safety features”. Cobod’s head of technology, Jakob Jørgensen, added: “After developing a modular 3D construction printer like Bod 2, we didn’t expect to produce a model as big as this one so soon after releasing it to the industry.
“But we have been fortunate to have Elite for Construction & Development Co believe in our system, and I’m looking forward to travel to Saudi Arabia, setup their Bod 2, and start the training of their operators.”
BFL
Cartridge refills by dump truck.
Ugly buildings, mass produced. I guess it’s at least as good as living in a tent. And if you’re a layabout Saudi citizen living large off of government welfare checks from unearned oil money, it’s free!
Guess all the plumbing and electrical and HVAC systems are an after thought based upon their designs. None of the projects on display indicate where or how the FF&E (fixtures, furniture and equipment) would be integrated.
Precast? Do they make sections and then put them together?
The article leaves out a lot of details. You can't just keep stacking wet concrete on top of wet concrete until the first course deforms.
Doubtful. You can expect world-class structures to be built with attention to every detail. The greatest contraction engineering projects in the world are taking place in Arabia. I've seen them. We build nothing here that even comes close.
I don’t get it. I thought you wanted to use rebar in structural concrete, but is that 3D printed into the concrete too?
Whoa, hang on there boy get up off your knees to the Arabs. They don’t design, build, or operate anything on their own. It’s all our petrodollars buying the knowledge, skill, innovation, and effort developed in WESTERN countries. When the oil dries up in the ME, watch that whole region collapse back into the dark ages.
I never said they did. They do, however, allow talented people from other countries to build things in Arabia.
"If you build it, they will come"
This does not always work... just ask even over-populated China about that. Sparsely populated Saudi Arabia is even less likely to draw in 6+ million people (4.5 per household) within just 10 years.
Their population is 34m, and their annual growth rate is 1.34%. That's about 5 million... so basically the idea is to have a new home pre-built for everyone coming in and being born. Interesting.
Planned economies do not go well... ever.
OK...
...that's large.
Concrete can be fiber reinforced as well.
Why do the dirty work when you have the money to hire workers?
A precast house ...
Writers are not that smart. If they knew anything about the process they would have a higher paying job.
I checked two square meter to square feet converters.
300 square meters = 3229 square feet. That's a good sized house, typically bigger than the American 3BR, 1/5BA house. Wonder what the houses will sell for?
Example: Dubai airport. There’s a series of YouTube videos about the construction.
as part of the kingdom’s Vision 2030 mandate to build 1.5 million private-sector homes over the next 10 years – after completing the dry and full testing of the printer, a machine that offers a print area of 300m2 per floor and can print three-floor tall buildings
I’m not doubting other structures, just the 3D printed ones.
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