The University of Maine just unveiled the world’s largest polymer 3D printer. They call it the Factory of the Future 1.0 (FoF 1.0).
The machine can print objects as large as 96 feet long by 32 feet wide by 18 feet high and can dynamically switch between printing techniques to suit different aspects of complex jobs, making the printer uniquely suited for a number of industries.
Better yet, most of the stuff it makes is recyclable, so “you can basically deconstruct it, grind it up if you wish” and “do it again”, according to Dr. Habib Dagher at the University of Maine. To that end, the printer prioritizes bio-based materials, like wood residuals.
The machine looks like a brilliant way to build lots of affordable housing quickly and that’s exactly what some proponents have in mind as Maine needs an estimated 80,000 additional homes by 2030. “This effort creates another means of producing quality affordable housing, while further driving costs down, and using abundant wood residuals from Maine sawmills,” said MaineHousing’s Development Director Mark Wiesendanger. The university says it can make a modest single-story home in around 80 hours.
However, this is America, so it’s not like people built this thing just to help the unhoused. UMaine researchers received funding from the Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy. These governmental institutions are going to want a return on their investment, so the printer will also likely be used to whip up lightweight rapidly deployable vessels and bridges. Indeed, Senator Susan Collins called the printer “invaluable to our national security."
The FoF 1.0 has a sibling printer on the UMaine campus, which was the previous record holder for the world’s largest 3D printer. It’s already been used to manufacture a 600-square-foot, single-family home made of wood fiber and bio-resin materials. The new printer, however, is four times the size.
Want to see what the little sibling can do? Here's a one minute video...