The University of Maine just unveiled the world’s largest polymer 3D printer. The new printer, named “Factory of the Future 1.0” (FoF 1.0), can print objects up to 96 feet long, 32 feet wide and 18 feet high. It’s also relatively fast, capable of printing up to 500 pounds per hour. That’s the equivalent of three people, once an hour.
It can dynamically switch between printing technologies to accommodate different aspects of complex jobs. The printer can switch between large-scale additive manufacturing, subtractive manufacturing, continuous tape placement and robotic arm operation. These technologies make printers particularly suitable for many industries, including housing, infrastructure and military vehicle development.
Dr Habib Dagher, director of the university’s Center for Advanced Structures and Composites, said most of the materials it makes are recyclable, so “you can basically deconstruct it, grind it up if you want” and “do it again “Maine. To this end, the printer prioritizes bio-based materials such as wood residues.
The technology seems like a good way to build large amounts of affordable housing quickly, which is what some proponents think. “By 2030, Maine is expected to need 80,000 additional housing units, many of which will be built specifically for households earning at or below the area median income,” said Mark Wiesendanger, Maine Housing Development Director. “This effort creates another way to produce quality affordable housing while further reducing costs and utilizing abundant wood residues from Maine’s sawmills.” Associated Press It is suggested that the printer “might one day create entire communities.” Specs suggest it should be able to build an average single-story home in about 80 hours.
However, this is America, so people aren’t building this thing to help the homeless. University of Maine researchers received funding from the Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Defense and Department of Energy. These government agencies want a return on investment, so printers may also be used to build lightweight, rapidly deployable vessels such as submarines and other maritime vehicles. Senator Susan Collins called the printer “critical to our national security.”
FoF 1.0 There is a Brother printer on the University of Maine campus that was the previous record holder for the largest 3D printer in the world. It has been used to create a 600-square-foot single-family home made from wood fiber and bioresin materials. However, the new printer is four times the size. Fortunately, these two models are co-located and can handle different aspects of the same project at the same time.
The University of Maine is about to break ground on a new research laboratory called the Green Engineering and Materials (GEM) Factory of the Future. This will be the new home for two printers, with the main goal of “promoting and expanding more sustainable manufacturing practices.” It may also accommodate larger printers in the future. “We’re learning from this to design the next one,” Dr. Dagg told ABC News.
