Since its inception, 3D printing is on a steady path forward, and as more people are adapting to the technology, additive manufacturing will witness an upward trend. In 2015, it was China, which discovered the potential use of printing in the construction industry. Since then there is no looking back, and the technology is reshaping the future of the capital-intensive construction industry. With the help of the 3D technology, the construction sector is changing into a responsive and lean production. Smart computers and printing technology are revolutionizing the industry, and the promising technology has many benefits. Even though the construction industry is very conservative, but it’s adapting rapidly to the changing additive manufacturing. In the coming years, it will be used in the fabrication process and the design process.
Here 3D printing is reshaping the construction industry.
1) Possibilities of new design and shapes
Today, with innovation touching the sky, customers are looking for out-of-the-box construction design and shapes. 3D printing allows flexibility regarding shape and design. It provides a lethal tool to build curvilinear structures with ease. Building such structures was impossible earlier. The technology offers the most reliable structural design, which imparts strength to the structure. The new imaginative designs are shaping the future of the industry and allowing the real-estate sector to construct buildings, which are innovative and unique in every sense. Apart from providing new designs, the technology is reducing the cost of producing the structures. In the coming years, it will lower the labor and material cost, which is essential for the capital-intensive real-estate sector. Today, companies are building houses for less than $5000, which is bringing a change in the way of living.
2) Assists in remote location construction
The penetration and success of 3D printing have made the European Space Agency use the technology to build a lunar village using the soil. In the future, constructing buildings and houses in remote locations will no longer be difficult. 3D printing could take the sector anywhere, and no application is too wild when it comes to additive manufacturing. Furthermore, it will advocate greener construction, which is beneficial for both the environment and the construction companies. No other technology currently is as ecological as 3D printing, which is one of the main reasons for its widespread use in the industry.
3) Enhances project planning
A crucial aspect of a construction project plan is the design because the structure depends upon it. Using the 3D technology can inexpensively create models, which provides insight and visual representation. The representation helps in locating errors before they become disasters. It also reduces the delay in the project, which has always been a headache for this sector. Furthermore, the technology is allowing faster and better communication among the customers. Using the visual 3D model, the customer can request changes in the initial phase, instead of waiting for the completion of the project.
The construction industry is leveraging the power of 3D printing to remove human errors and come out with projects which are innovative.