3-D Printed Buildings Coming Soon to a Moon Near You

Space.com ^ | 1FEB2013 | Tim Maly

[Jack Hydrazine]

Under the topics section there is no "Space" or "Technology" to choose from on the list.

[Jack Hydrazine]

3D-Printing a Future Moon Base (Gallery)
http://www.space.com/19600-moon-base-concept-3d-printing-photos.html

[JRandomFreeper]

Ping.

/johnny

[JRandomFreeper]

There are currently concrete printers here on earth. They aren't small, and are still in development. But youtube has videos of them operating.

/johnny

[The Louiswu]

Lets put a man in orbit, then we’ll see if we can or will get back to the moon

[JRandomFreeper]

Here's a link to some prototype concrete printing, which includes walls.

/johnny

[zagger]

So we can print GUNS from moon dust?? And 30 round mags? Lunar gun regulations are obviously needed!

[Little Ray]

So why not here?
What would be relative cost to normal buildings and printed buildings?

[Vince Ferrer]

It can be done: Solar Sinter Project

[bigheadfred]

So why not here?

And put millions of illegals out of work? Are you insane?

Like Davy Crockett said while looking over the wall of the Alamo. "Looks like we're gonna pour some cement".

[Jonty30]

They are working on that very concept. The design is a machine that lays down cement, as it goes around the perimeter, starting from the foundation.

[JRandomFreeper]

Like Davy Crockett said

If I haven't said it before, and I'm fairly sure I have.... You just ain't right. LOL!

/johnny

[coldbluesteel]

Oh no! What will the unions say?

[longtermmemmory]

think about tax collectors.

What happens when improvements can be made without any trace?

No sales taxes?

3d printing needs to out pace the tax man like the internet.

[longtermmemmory]

think about tax collectors.

What happens when improvements can be made without any trace?

No sales taxes?

3d printing needs to out pace the tax man like the internet.

[null and void]

3-D Printer Ping!

[lurk]

I doubt this will ever happen. It takes a city permit and occupancy permit, inspection, planning meetings and connection fees. Then we’re talking about state fees too.

There are just too many obstacles.

[LibWhacker]

Such on-demand fabrication would allow astronauts to repair broken parts, manufacture spare ones and maybe even build structures, all out of the dirt scooped from under their boots.

Why make astronauts dirty their hands -- or boots? Just design robot ships and robot printers that will be sent ahead of the astronauts to mine the regolith and "print" giant luxury resorts for the humans.

Granted, I am not familiar with all the technological issues involved in doing such a thing, and it may be a rather simplistic view of things, but 3D printing already seems like such a gobsmackingly fantastic and futuristic thing (yet, "engineers have shown that the technology is close to becoming reality"), designing robotic factories to mine and process regolith strikes me as child's play in comparison.

[tet68]

I doubt this will ever happen. It takes a city permit and occupancy permit, inspection, planning meetings and connection fees. Then we’re talking about state fees too.

They have those on the moon already?
I tell ya, no place is safe.

It wouldn’t be long before....

Ayep, I’m sorry Mr.Moon Condo owner but
you have an S trap on this sink and it should be
a P trap. Have to change it out, and no occupancy
till you do. oh and here’s a $300 fine just to
make your day.

[Little Ray]

That is so cool!

Or they could have one that builds a plastic form, then you fill it with concrete. Have a friend who built a house out of styrofoam forms, put in rebar and then concrete. The result was amazing.