World's largest 3D printer was created in USL It prints 29 meter-long structures

Engineers from the University of Maine in the USA have unveiled the giant 3D printer Fabrica Futuri 1.0, which is four times larger than the previous record holder among polymer 3D printers and can print structures the size of a house.

According to the developers, Fabrica Futuri 1.0 (FoF 1.0) can print objects up to 29 meters long and is capable of addressing not only the problem of housing shortages but also being used for printing bridges, boats, and wind turbine parts. Its productivity reaches 500 kg of material per hour, and the materials used are resistant to environmental impact, explains the BBC agency.

However, an expert in additive technologies, Dr. Eujin Pei, believes that such 3D printers are currently more suitable for manufacturing individual elements of buildings and structures rather than printing entire houses.

Nevertheless, FoF 1.0 truly opens up new possibilities. Its high productivity and the ability to use environmentally resistant materials, despite the low strength properties of these materials, allow for resource and time savings, as only necessary and waste-free materials are used. Additionally, developers hope to use more eco-friendly materials, including wood waste from local sawmills.

Even considering that the 3D printing process itself carries a certain environmental burden due to pollution from the polymers used, 3D printers like FoF 1.0 are opening up new horizons in construction and manufacturing. Already, additive technologies are actively used in the creation of space rockets, medical implants, and in the future, there will be the possibility of printing entire buildings and bridges.