Robot Builds Structure from Rock & String
A research group at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich and the Self-Assembly Lab at MIT have created a four meter tall structure, aptly called Rock Print, which was built by a robotic arm and is made from nothing but gravel and thread.
During what is described as the “rock printing” process, the robotic arm placed a layer of filament, and then people placed a layer of aerated glass pebbles. This was repeated until the sculpture reached its desired height. The robotic arm was guided by a custom algorithm created by the design team.
3D Printer Can Build Home in 24 Hours
3D printing houses is not a new concept. However, designing a printer small enough to be moved easily around has remained an obstacle.
To solve this issue, Nikita Chen-yun-tai, a Russian engineer, is claiming that his Apis Cor 3D printer is powerful enough to print an entire building in 24 hours, yet small enough to be transported with relatively low transportation and preparation costs.
The 16.4 foot by 5 foot printer weighs 2.5 tons and can be assembled within 30 minutes. Its size eliminates the need for special transportation and simplifies the process of delivering the printer to the construction site. It also requires no site preparation and no testing before use.