3D printing was once considered a luxury tool for crafting a few custom parts. But not anymore.
The 3D printer is changing the way we think about manufacturing.
3D printers are now available for printing practical objects for everyday use to commercial products and parts used in manufacturing. Experts predict that a 3D printer will be a common feature in homes in coming years.
Forget machine parts and iPhone cases. Staying one step ahead, the Dutch are planning to use a 6-meter (20-foot) tall 3D printer to fabricate pieces of house that can be assembled together into customized houses like oversized Lego blocks.
World’s first 3D-printed house breaks ground in Amsterdam
Dutch architectural firm Dus has started building the “3D Print Canal House” in Amsterdam using a super-sized version of the popular in-home 3D printer made by Ultimaker. The house is projected to be the “first” 3D printed house.
The printer is called “KamerMaker”, which means “room builder.” That’s exactly what this aptly-named printer does – building a series of rooms to form an entire house.
So far, the printer has printed a corner of the house and part of a staircase. The piece weighs around 180 kilograms (400 lbs).
To see the printer in action, the construction site is currently open to the public for a small fee of €2.50 (about $3.50). The entire house will take about three years to complete. Once completed, it will open up as a design museum.
