Comments on: MIT research on "printing" buildings http://boingboing.net/2011/09/14/mit-research-on-printing-buildings.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sun, 26 May 2013 04:58:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Benjamin Sherman http://boingboing.net/2011/09/14/mit-research-on-printing-buildings.html#comment-1214452 Benjamin Sherman Fri, 16 Sep 2011 07:42:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/2011/09/14/mit-research-on-printing-buildings.html#comment-1214452 I think the point being made is that the materials themselves are not manufactured with variable density.  Structural Insulated Panel design for homes and small buildings on a small scale and tubular design of modern skyscrapers on a large scale operate on the same principal, sure, but they are still using consistent-density wood, foam, steel, or concrete. I think the point being made is that the materials themselves are not manufactured with variable density.  Structural Insulated Panel design for homes and small buildings on a small scale and tubular design of modern skyscrapers on a large scale operate on the same principal, sure, but they are still using consistent-density wood, foam, steel, or concrete.

]]> By: Peter Turba http://boingboing.net/2011/09/14/mit-research-on-printing-buildings.html#comment-1214445 Peter Turba Fri, 16 Sep 2011 07:25:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/2011/09/14/mit-research-on-printing-buildings.html#comment-1214445 Definitely agree that it is expensive and complex, and yeah building structures from plywood sheets might take longer than wood frame construction. But every new process and technological development is time consuming and expensive in the beginning. Think about when telephone lines were proposed across the US. Everyone said it was too expensive and pointless of an endeavor because the telegraph worked just fine and was cheaper. The design of a building in CAD happens regardless of the construction methods so if you can build it in two days with a machine and a couple technicians as opposed to weeks or months with an entire crew of people its incomparable. It's just going to take time to get to that point. Definitely agree that it is expensive and complex, and yeah building structures from plywood sheets might take longer than wood frame construction. But every new process and technological development is time consuming and expensive in the beginning. Think about when telephone lines were proposed across the US. Everyone said it was too expensive and pointless of an endeavor because the telegraph worked just fine and was cheaper.
The design of a building in CAD happens regardless of the construction methods so if you can build it in two days with a machine and a couple technicians as opposed to weeks or months with an entire crew of people its incomparable.
It’s just going to take time to get to that point.

]]> By: Patrick Haggood http://boingboing.net/2011/09/14/mit-research-on-printing-buildings.html#comment-1213781 Patrick Haggood Thu, 15 Sep 2011 19:23:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/2011/09/14/mit-research-on-printing-buildings.html#comment-1213781 Still waiting for the company Contour Crafting to finish their 'house building robot' as shown in this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOlRI_Hm1Po Still waiting for the company Contour Crafting to finish their ‘house building robot’ as shown in this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOlRI_Hm1Po

]]> By: Matt Pearson http://boingboing.net/2011/09/14/mit-research-on-printing-buildings.html#comment-1213425 Matt Pearson Thu, 15 Sep 2011 15:49:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/2011/09/14/mit-research-on-printing-buildings.html#comment-1213425 Checkout the link from musiccountry24 above.  Concrete is cheap and available almost everywhere.  Steel is much more expensive and more resources are needed to construct with it.   Checkout the link from musiccountry24 above.  Concrete is cheap and available almost everywhere.  Steel is much more expensive and more resources are needed to construct with it.  

]]> By: Matt Pearson http://boingboing.net/2011/09/14/mit-research-on-printing-buildings.html#comment-1213418 Matt Pearson Thu, 15 Sep 2011 15:47:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/2011/09/14/mit-research-on-printing-buildings.html#comment-1213418 Isn't variable density concrete (VDA) a uniform less dense product in its internal structure whereas this technique allows for varying the density as needed?  In bone structure you do not have a solid outer shell with uniform less dense interior.  There are gradations from the outside shell to the inside center. Isn’t variable density concrete (VDA) a uniform less dense product in its internal structure whereas this technique allows for varying the density as needed?  In bone structure you do not have a solid outer shell with uniform less dense interior.  There are gradations from the outside shell to the inside center.

]]> By: 666beast1 http://boingboing.net/2011/09/14/mit-research-on-printing-buildings.html#comment-1213290 666beast1 Thu, 15 Sep 2011 14:15:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/2011/09/14/mit-research-on-printing-buildings.html#comment-1213290 The archaic and wasteful construction methods have been developed over a long time and their cost and speed and simple technology (read cheap) is a boon for repairs and additions.  The show of prefabs at the MOMA some years ago mostly demonstrated that while space could be enclosed simply and cheaply by standard wood framing, it could be enclosed expensively with cad equipment cutting structure and skin from plywood. It is appealing to think material savings would be pivotal but the complexity and cost of this technology makes that untrue and it seems unlikely that this would be adopted broadly enough to make it work. The archaic and wasteful construction methods have been developed over a long time and their cost and speed and simple technology (read cheap) is a boon for repairs and additions.  The show of prefabs at the MOMA some years ago mostly demonstrated that while space could be enclosed simply and cheaply by standard wood framing, it could be enclosed expensively with cad equipment cutting structure and skin from plywood.
It is appealing to think material savings would be pivotal but the complexity and cost of this technology makes that untrue and it seems unlikely that this would be adopted broadly enough to make it work.

]]> By: Maureen Geoghegan http://boingboing.net/2011/09/14/mit-research-on-printing-buildings.html#comment-1213170 Maureen Geoghegan Thu, 15 Sep 2011 12:03:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/2011/09/14/mit-research-on-printing-buildings.html#comment-1213170 but concrete fresh off the truck has a certain slump to it... how would that even work without forms? but concrete fresh off the truck has a certain slump to it… how would that even work without forms?

]]> By: Lord Byte http://boingboing.net/2011/09/14/mit-research-on-printing-buildings.html#comment-1213077 Lord Byte Thu, 15 Sep 2011 07:48:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/2011/09/14/mit-research-on-printing-buildings.html#comment-1213077 Scary-eye woman is scary! Scary-eye woman is scary!

]]> By: Peter Turba http://boingboing.net/2011/09/14/mit-research-on-printing-buildings.html#comment-1212975 Peter Turba Thu, 15 Sep 2011 03:46:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/2011/09/14/mit-research-on-printing-buildings.html#comment-1212975 This is an idea that can hopefully begin to change the archaic and wasteful construction methods that we use. There is a guy in Los Angeles that has been working on a similar concept for years, specifically developing the nozzle and applications beyond basic concrete. He has actually been printing buildings and walls for a while now http://www.contourcrafting.org/ Just have to look past the graphics This is an idea that can hopefully begin to change the archaic and wasteful construction methods that we use. There is a guy in Los Angeles that has been working on a similar concept for years, specifically developing the nozzle and applications beyond basic concrete.
He has actually been printing buildings and walls for a while now
http://www.contourcrafting.org/
Just have to look past the graphics

]]> By: Angry Chief http://boingboing.net/2011/09/14/mit-research-on-printing-buildings.html#comment-1212813 Angry Chief Thu, 15 Sep 2011 00:08:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/2011/09/14/mit-research-on-printing-buildings.html#comment-1212813 This is probably off topic, but man, is Neri Oxman cute. I'm in wuv. This is probably off topic, but man, is Neri Oxman cute. I’m in wuv.

]]> By: jimkirk http://boingboing.net/2011/09/14/mit-research-on-printing-buildings.html#comment-1212649 jimkirk Wed, 14 Sep 2011 21:32:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/2011/09/14/mit-research-on-printing-buildings.html#comment-1212649 If you're ever near Bucks County Pennsylvania, check out Fonthill and the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works. "Fonthill, built between 1908 and 1910, is a testament to Henry Mercer's vivid imagination. He designed it, "room by room, from the interior, the exterior not being considered until all the rooms had been imagined and sketched," Mercer wrote. The result was spectacular. The structure is distinctly etched in the historically significant architecture of Doylestown, Pennsylvania and the collective memory of generations of visitors. Built entirely of hand mixed concrete, Fonthill has 44 rooms, 18 fireplaces, 32 stairwells and more than 200 windows of varying size and shape. The National Historic Landmark contains more than 900 prints and other objects that Mercer gathered throughout the world, creating an intensely personal statement of his genius. The lavishly embellished interior surfaces show an incredible array of Mercer's original decorative tiles. Mercer dubbed Fonthill a "concrete castle for the New World," which he left as "a museum of decorative tiles and prints." Guided tours provide educational opportunities for visitors of all ages and add insight to the world class collection that surrounded Mercer during his life." http://www.tiles.org/pages/mptw/mercer.htm#mptw If you’re ever near Bucks County Pennsylvania, check out Fonthill and the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works.

“Fonthill, built between 1908 and 1910, is a testament to Henry Mercer’s
vivid imagination. He designed it, “room by room, from
the interior, the exterior not being considered until all the rooms had
been imagined and sketched,” Mercer wrote. The result was
spectacular. The structure is distinctly etched in the historically
significant architecture of Doylestown, Pennsylvania and
the collective memory of generations of visitors.

Built entirely of hand mixed concrete, Fonthill has 44 rooms, 18
fireplaces, 32 stairwells and more than 200 windows of
varying size and shape. The National Historic Landmark contains more
than 900 prints and other objects that Mercer
gathered throughout the world, creating an intensely personal statement
of his genius. The lavishly embellished interior surfaces
show an incredible array of Mercer’s original decorative tiles.

Mercer dubbed Fonthill a “concrete castle for the New World,” which he
left as “a museum of decorative tiles and
prints.” Guided tours provide educational opportunities for visitors of
all ages and add insight to the world class collection that
surrounded Mercer during his life.”

http://www.tiles.org/pages/mptw/mercer.htm#mptw

]]> By: digi_owl http://boingboing.net/2011/09/14/mit-research-on-printing-buildings.html#comment-1212509 digi_owl Wed, 14 Sep 2011 19:49:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/2011/09/14/mit-research-on-printing-buildings.html#comment-1212509 Too bad it takes years of study to even get a chance to work at such a place, as i would love to brainstorm with these kind of people. Too bad it takes years of study to even get a chance to work at such a place, as i would love to brainstorm with these kind of people.

]]> By: jacklecou http://boingboing.net/2011/09/14/mit-research-on-printing-buildings.html#comment-1212487 jacklecou Wed, 14 Sep 2011 19:32:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/2011/09/14/mit-research-on-printing-buildings.html#comment-1212487 A squid beak is a great example of this. Ultra hard point, but it's anchored in soft tissue. There's a really neat progression from hard to soft, and the whole structure is ultimately very strong and resilient. I think that also contrasts with the suggestions from musiccountry24 and Nagurski - there is a difference between simply joining distinct materials or compositions up, and varying the composition of a material in a truly continuous and flexible way.  The patents cited are certainly chasing the same idea, which is by no means new, but (at least the one with the link) still seem to amount to just mixing different batches of concrete and pouring them all into a very complex form one on top of the other. Getting it to work on a large scale using a 3d printing head -- esp. one that can instantly vary the composition right at the nozzle -- is (or would be) definitely an exciting development. A squid beak is a great example of this. Ultra hard point, but it’s anchored in soft tissue. There’s a really neat progression from hard to soft, and the whole structure is ultimately very strong and resilient.

I think that also contrasts with the suggestions from musiccountry24 and Nagurski – there is a difference between simply joining distinct materials or compositions up, and varying the composition of a material in a truly continuous and flexible way. 

The patents cited are certainly chasing the same idea, which is by no means new, but (at least the one with the link) still seem to amount to just mixing different batches of concrete and pouring them all into a very complex form one on top of the other. Getting it to work on a large scale using a 3d printing head — esp. one that can instantly vary the composition right at the nozzle — is (or would be) definitely an exciting development.

]]> By: necoro http://boingboing.net/2011/09/14/mit-research-on-printing-buildings.html#comment-1212480 necoro Wed, 14 Sep 2011 19:30:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/2011/09/14/mit-research-on-printing-buildings.html#comment-1212480 ...“a hard, dense outer shell, and an interior of spongy material. It gives you a high strength-to-weight ratio. You don’t see that in man-made materials.”  *ahem* http://www.sips.org/ MIT Media Lab apparently doesn't do field trips out to actual houses being built... …“a hard, dense outer shell, and an interior of spongy material. It gives you a high strength-to-weight ratio. You don’t see that in man-made materials.” 
*ahem*
http://www.sips.org/

MIT Media Lab apparently doesn’t do field trips out to actual houses being built…

]]> By: Michael Johnson http://boingboing.net/2011/09/14/mit-research-on-printing-buildings.html#comment-1212482 Michael Johnson Wed, 14 Sep 2011 19:30:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/2011/09/14/mit-research-on-printing-buildings.html#comment-1212482 The real amazing idea here is the printable part, especially if you can send a machine to the moon to build stuff without people present. The real amazing idea here is the printable part, especially if you can send a machine to the moon to build stuff without people present.

]]> By: Michael Johnson http://boingboing.net/2011/09/14/mit-research-on-printing-buildings.html#comment-1212477 Michael Johnson Wed, 14 Sep 2011 19:29:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/2011/09/14/mit-research-on-printing-buildings.html#comment-1212477 As a guy who has spent a lot of time repointing brick in his basement, bricks are such creatures.  The inside is very soft compared to the hard face.  If you score the face, say by unskilled wielding of an angle grinder, you get something called "spalling" - where the face of the brick shatters under load. Also, the mortar itself isn't really a glue like you think it is, but a buffer to absorb shock and relieve moisture in the wall.  So, new idea - sorta...  I guess the real test is whether it holds together once it is partially damaged. As a guy who has spent a lot of time repointing brick in his basement, bricks are such creatures.  The inside is very soft compared to the hard face.  If you score the face, say by unskilled wielding of an angle grinder, you get something called “spalling” – where the face of the brick shatters under load.

Also, the mortar itself isn’t really a glue like you think it is, but a buffer to absorb shock and relieve moisture in the wall. 

So, new idea – sorta…  I guess the real test is whether it holds together once it is partially damaged.

]]> By: jackbird http://boingboing.net/2011/09/14/mit-research-on-printing-buildings.html#comment-1212460 jackbird Wed, 14 Sep 2011 19:22:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/2011/09/14/mit-research-on-printing-buildings.html#comment-1212460 There was a guy in Italy doing this a year or 2 ago: http://www.timecompression.com/articles/printing-buildings-no-not-drawingsbuildings The total lack of subsequent developments on the company website (d-shape.com) is suspicious, however. There was a guy in Italy doing this a year or 2 ago: http://www.timecompression.com/articles/printing-buildings-no-not-drawingsbuildings

The total lack of subsequent developments on the company website (d-shape.com) is suspicious, however.

]]> By: awjt http://boingboing.net/2011/09/14/mit-research-on-printing-buildings.html#comment-1212444 awjt Wed, 14 Sep 2011 19:11:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/2011/09/14/mit-research-on-printing-buildings.html#comment-1212444 This will be useful for a bunch of applications.  Conduits can be built into structures, rather than retro-fitting them to the frame.  Also, buildings can be built where humans cannot go, such as in space, deep underwater and where there is high radioactivity or temperature. Buildings can be completely pre-specified with all their parts fitted together, in a CAD drawing, to minimize the number of bolts, fasteners, clips, contact surfaces, etc.  A complete structure could be made without ANY nails, screws, adhesives, etc.  It all slides together. In areas where certain materials are scarce, existing designs could be modified to minimize certain types of materials and maximize others and then printed just the same. I could go on... This will be useful for a bunch of applications.  Conduits can be built into structures, rather than retro-fitting them to the frame.  Also, buildings can be built where humans cannot go, such as in space, deep underwater and where there is high radioactivity or temperature.

Buildings can be completely pre-specified with all their parts fitted together, in a CAD drawing, to minimize the number of bolts, fasteners, clips, contact surfaces, etc.  A complete structure could be made without ANY nails, screws, adhesives, etc.  It all slides together.

In areas where certain materials are scarce, existing designs could be modified to minimize certain types of materials and maximize others and then printed just the same.

I could go on…

]]> By: Nagurski http://boingboing.net/2011/09/14/mit-research-on-printing-buildings.html#comment-1212427 Nagurski Wed, 14 Sep 2011 18:59:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/2011/09/14/mit-research-on-printing-buildings.html#comment-1212427 Pipe and tubing has a hard, dense, outer shell and an interior of air. Fill it with foam if you want a spongy center. Not to say this person's approach to materials doesn't have promise, but sheesh. Pipe and tubing has a hard, dense, outer shell and an interior of air. Fill it with foam if you want a spongy center. Not to say this person’s approach to materials doesn’t have promise, but sheesh.

]]> By: Morgon Mae Schultz http://boingboing.net/2011/09/14/mit-research-on-printing-buildings.html#comment-1212407 Morgon Mae Schultz Wed, 14 Sep 2011 18:40:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/2011/09/14/mit-research-on-printing-buildings.html#comment-1212407 Yikes! Rude much? It's also in the Pantheon (which I believe predates 1988)--heavy, strong rings near the bottom and lighter rings on top incorporating pumice--but that doesn't make it less interesting. Yikes! Rude much? It’s also in the Pantheon (which I believe predates 1988)–heavy, strong rings near the bottom and lighter rings on top incorporating pumice–but that doesn’t make it less interesting.

]]> By: schadenfreudisch http://boingboing.net/2011/09/14/mit-research-on-printing-buildings.html#comment-1212406 schadenfreudisch Wed, 14 Sep 2011 18:37:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/2011/09/14/mit-research-on-printing-buildings.html#comment-1212406 cool. and fun. but as an actual tool, seems to be solving a problem that doesn't exist.  even standard building materials today are VERY efficient with their strength-to-weight ratios.  W-shapes (i-beams) have been designed specifically to get the steel to the top and bottom while leaving the middle relatively lightweight.  more efficient than a tube shape. but, as with everything, i hope they surprise and delight me. cool.
and fun.
but as an actual tool, seems to be solving a problem that doesn’t exist.  even standard building materials today are VERY efficient with their strength-to-weight ratios.  W-shapes (i-beams) have been designed specifically to get the steel to the top and bottom while leaving the middle relatively lightweight.  more efficient than a tube shape.
but, as with everything, i hope they surprise and delight me.

]]> By: musiccountry24 http://boingboing.net/2011/09/14/mit-research-on-printing-buildings.html#comment-1212401 musiccountry24 Wed, 14 Sep 2011 18:34:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/2011/09/14/mit-research-on-printing-buildings.html#comment-1212401 Do your research before re-inventing the wheel: 1. (1977) Variable density concrete information can be found here: http://www.villageforum.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=216%3Abuilding-materials&catid=1&Itemid=110 2. European Patent EP0380493 (1988) covers "METHOD FOR PRODUCING OF CONCRETE WITH VARIABLE DENSITY" Do your research before re-inventing the wheel:

1. (1977) Variable density concrete information can be found here: http://www.villageforum.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=216%3Abuilding-materials&catid=1&Itemid=110

2. European Patent EP0380493 (1988) covers “METHOD FOR PRODUCING OF CONCRETE WITH VARIABLE DENSITY”

]]> By: David Forbes http://boingboing.net/2011/09/14/mit-research-on-printing-buildings.html#comment-1212399 David Forbes Wed, 14 Sep 2011 18:31:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/2011/09/14/mit-research-on-printing-buildings.html#comment-1212399 I know a fellow who's working on this at the U of Arizona. I hear that one of his special ingredients is playa dust. I know a fellow who’s working on this at the U of Arizona. I hear that one of his special ingredients is playa dust.

]]> By: Bauart http://boingboing.net/2011/09/14/mit-research-on-printing-buildings.html#comment-1212386 Bauart Wed, 14 Sep 2011 18:22:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/2011/09/14/mit-research-on-printing-buildings.html#comment-1212386 I watched this the first time to learn more about the amazing possibilities of 3-D printing technology. But, I watched it the second and third time just to stare at Neri Oxman. I watched this the first time to learn more about the amazing possibilities of 3-D printing technology. But, I watched it the second and third time just to stare at Neri Oxman.

]]> By: Vahid Friedrich http://boingboing.net/2011/09/14/mit-research-on-printing-buildings.html#comment-1212383 Vahid Friedrich Wed, 14 Sep 2011 18:19:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/2011/09/14/mit-research-on-printing-buildings.html#comment-1212383 Cinderblocks? Cinderblocks?

]]> By: Lobster http://boingboing.net/2011/09/14/mit-research-on-printing-buildings.html#comment-1212354 Lobster Wed, 14 Sep 2011 17:52:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/2011/09/14/mit-research-on-printing-buildings.html#comment-1212354 Don't even ask the price of a new ink cartridge. Don’t even ask the price of a new ink cartridge.

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