Georgetown, Texas, is building a residential community built with giant 3D printers - "Wolf Ranch". The project, developed in partnership with ICON and Lennar, uses a giant 3D printer called Vulcan, and its scale is breathtaking. The project starts in November 2022 and is expected to complete the construction of 100 homes by the end of the summer. More than a quarter of the homes have been sold and occupied by owners. These houses are built using unique 3D printing technology, with prices ranging from US$450,000 to US$600,000. Their design and construction processes are full of technology and innovation, which makes people look forward to their future development.
In Georgetown, Texas, a residential community built with giant 3D printers is taking shape. The project is nearly two years old and more than a quarter of the homes have been sold.
According to Reuters, the community called "Wolf Ranch" is being constructed using a 3D printer called "Vulcan". This printer is 45 feet wide and weighs 4.75 tons. It’s really a giant!
This project is a joint venture between 3D printing construction developer ICON and housing construction company Lennar. Construction will officially start in November 2022 and is expected to complete the construction of 100 residences before the end of the summer. Today, many owners have moved into completed 3D printed houses, with prices ranging from US$450,000 to US$600,000.
ICON's 3D printer uses a mixture of cement powder, sand and other materials to stack layers of tubular concrete according to a certain design to form the walls and ultimately the entire house. The homes are mainly single-storey designs with three to four bedrooms, and the printing process takes approximately three weeks. The foundation and metal roof were constructed using traditional methods by a human team.
The finished walls look like giant strips of corduroy, but they are actually designed to be strong and sustainable, able to withstand extreme weather conditions. Additionally, these homes are waterproof and energy-efficient. The home's modern ranch-style design was provided by architecture firm BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group. The project's construction process has also been refined over time, with ICON's senior project manager Conner Jenkins saying that initially five different construction teams were involved but has now been streamlined to one team and one printer.
However, there is also a small problem, that is, the thickness of the wall affects the WiFi signal. Instead of relying on a single router to cover their entire home, residents have to use multi-point wireless network routers.
It is worth mentioning that ICON is not limited to using this large-scale 3D printer on Earth. NASA has also shown a strong interest in this technology and plans to use it in the Artemis lunar exploration program for the first manned landing on the moon in 2025. , using this technology to build structures on the moon.
All in all, the "Wolf Ranch" project demonstrates the huge potential of 3D printing technology in the field of residential construction, and also heralds the direction of future innovation in the construction industry. The application of this technology not only improves construction efficiency, but also provides people with a more environmentally friendly and sturdy living space, and has even expanded into the field of space exploration, which is full of expectations.