TU eindhoven helps builders pioneer recyclable concrete constructions with giant 3D printer

TU eindhoven helps builders pioneer recyclable concrete constructions with giant 3D printer

to help push concrete construction into the future, TU eindhoven have began using an apparatus that enables objects of up to 11 meters long, five meters wide and four meters high to be created in a 3D printed format. the university will be working with the building industry to develop knowledge over the course of a number of years to print pioneering and easily recyclable concrete products and pavilions.

video courtesy of TU eindhoven

dutch company ROHACO built the 3D concrete printer, which looks a bit like an overhead hoisting crane in a production hall. first of its kind and size in the netherlands, the attached swivel head is connected to a hose that continues to a concrete mixer and pump unit.

the layered printed done by the machine

in traditional concrete pouring, the formwork determines the ultimate shape of the concrete and that is quite unwieldy. free-form printing will enable builders to make details as small as a pea. another new possibility is to print all kinds, qualities and colors of concrete, all in a single product. for example, a complete wall can be printed with fiber-reinforced concrete to make it strong paired with an active insulation layer to retain heat and covered with a dirt-repelling concrete on the outside to keep it clean. it also means savings in terms of the internal and external outlet pipes of watertight concrete. TU eindhoven plan to help builders easily incorporate the individual requirements of users in the production process for years to come. 

a sample pavilion 3D printed at the university 

a bathtub made completely from concrete 

the technique can guarantee a watertight seal 

with free-form maneuverabilit, curves can be easily created  

structures can be as tall as four meters high

walls printed can be curved in great detail 

the attached swivel head that pours the concrete

the concrete 3D printer can create homes unsupervised   

each layer can be mixed for a different purpose 

patterns can be printed for specific structural needs