3D ARCHITECTURE: EXPLORING PRINTED CONCRETE

In the world of construction and civil engineering, 3D printing has been gaining ground as a promising technology. However, one of the challenges has been the automated fabrication of structural members without the need for molds or forms. Obayashi Corporation, in collaboration with Denka Company Limited, has developed a 3D printer that uses a special cement material as ink, allowing for the automatic creation of building members and structures without the need for traditional forms.

Key Features of the 3D Printer with Cement Material

1.
Special Cement Material: The cement material used in this 3D printer is unique. It was specifically developed to meet the strength and durability requirements necessary for real constructions. Unlike other materials, this cement does not lose its shape immediately after being deposited, making it suitable for the fabrication of structural members without molds.
2.
Thixotropic Technology: The cement used is thixotropic, meaning it does not require molds to maintain its shape. After being printed, it integrates with the lower layer and hardens quickly. This eliminates the need to assemble and disassemble molds, especially when manufacturing members with curved or hollow shapes.
3.
Automation of Complex Shapes: Obayashi Corporation’s 3D printer can manufacture members with various shapes, including curved surfaces and hollows. Previously, the manual fabrication of members with these characteristics was laborious and required a lot of time and effort. Now, thanks to automation, it is possible to print even complex structures.

Practical Achievements

Obayashi Corporation has used this 3D printer to print curved and hollow mortar blocks and has successfully built an arched bridge by combining these blocks. This milestone demonstrates the potential of 3D printing technology with cement material in the construction and civil engineering industry.

If you want to see more details and a video of the mortar block fabrication with our 3D printer, I invite you to visit the original link.

3D printing with cement material is revolutionizing the way we build buildings and structures, and Obayashi Corporation is at the forefront of this innovation. The future of construction is exciting!

If you require more information, please don’t hesitate to contact us: we will be ready to help you.