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Jan. 19, 2012 9:06 a.m. Giant Purple Snorklewacker SuperDork

Coolness alert: 3D Printing concrete.
Jan. 19, 2012 9:11 a.m. MG Bryan HalfDork

That is extremely cool.
Jan. 19, 2012 9:15 a.m. petegossett SuperDork

Ok, as soon as one of you guys figures out how to modify the Makebot 3D printer to do this stuff the me know!

But seriously, can you imagine the day when you could possibly go from Google Sketchup, to moving in, within a single day!?!??
Jan. 19, 2012 9:22 a.m. failboat HalfDork

really cool to see this 3d plotting used for something big.

just add some self healing concrete! http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100524143421.htm
Jan. 19, 2012 9:22 a.m. GameboyRMH SuperDork

It wouldn't be very strong though. You need to get some rebar in there. I find container-based modular structures more interesting.
Jan. 19, 2012 2:27 p.m. Hasbro Dork

Cool magazine, failboat, thanks.
Jan. 19, 2012 2:33 p.m. MG Bryan HalfDork

GameboyRMH wrote:

It wouldn't be very strong though. You need to get some rebar in there. I find container-based modular structures more interesting.

I've read about steel fiber and polymer impregnated concrete. I should think you could build a house sized structure with them without any need for rebar.
Jan. 19, 2012 3:01 p.m. iadr New Reader

One of the local home improvement stores (it might be the Depot, but I'm not 100% sure) has bits of corrugated steel showing in the sealed concrete floor. Anyone know if that metal eliminates the need for rebar?
Jan. 19, 2012 10:52 p.m. Mitchell SuperDork

I envision prefabricated houses gaining some respect and market share as they look less and less like trailers. Surely it has to be more efficient to build a house in a warehouse than on-site, where construction can be isolated from weather conditions.

I would definitely live in one of these.
Jan. 19, 2012 11:30 p.m. z31maniac SuperDork

^Same here, especially with our land costs.
Jan. 20, 2012 7:23 a.m. neon4891 SuperDork

MG Bryan wrote:

GameboyRMH wrote:

It wouldn't be very strong though. You need to get some rebar in there. I find container-based modular structures more interesting.

I've read about steel fiber and polymer impregnated concrete. I should think you could build a house sized structure with them without any need for rebar.

Also, If looking at things like disaster relief, It should last long enough.
Jan. 20, 2012 7:34 a.m. MG Bryan HalfDork

neon4891 wrote:

MG Bryan wrote:

GameboyRMH wrote:

It wouldn't be very strong though. You need to get some rebar in there. I find container-based modular structures more interesting.

I've read about steel fiber and polymer impregnated concrete. I should think you could build a house sized structure with them without any need for rebar.

Also, If looking at things like disaster relief, It should last long enough.

Yeah, probably, but wouldn't you rather have a tent collapse on you?
Jan. 20, 2012 7:56 a.m. Curmudgeon SuperDork

The Japanese have used lightweight building materials for a long time due to earthquakes. It's only in the last 100 years or so that concrete and building techniques have progressed to the point that buildings made with them have a chance of surviving an earthquake.

I think it's the Transamerica Pyramid? that's on giant cushions and ball bearings to allow it to be 'decoupled' from the ground in an earthquake.
Jan. 20, 2012 8:47 a.m. Conquest351 HalfDork

My house has probably 50 pieces of rebar inthe whole foundation. We have 1/2" steel cables running throughout the foundation that were tensioned to over 7500psi once the concrete hardened.

Reading the article, they were talking about other robotic armatures that would insert wiring, metal structural supports, etc. as the home was "made". The steel/polymer inpregnated concrete is super strong also. Check this out...

http://www.pensmore.com/

As for prefab homes, check out http://www.discoverycustomhomes.com/. My buddy in Austin is a builder for them. They're not your ordinary modular home. We strongly considered this option before building our home.