image

Spatially 3D Printed Structures

Robotic 3D printing could promote an alternative tectonic that encourages variation and differentiation on a large-scale, instead of being bound to geometric simplification, standardisation and repetition. The conceptual change, from layer-based material deposition to spatial extrusion, has several noteworthy implications:

  1. the fabrication time is significantly reduced and becomes feasible for application in construction at the large scale.
  2. the densities could be generated according to the various forces that act on the structure.

Focus

  • Functionally graded material (structural optimization, material efficiency, visual gradient);
  • Material behavior variations via tool-path manipulation (stiffness / flexibility);
  • Specific spatial 3D printing challenges (overhang, long spans, customized node connections);
  • Ornamentation

image

image image

Project Lead: Digital Building Technologies, ETH-Zurich

Tutors: Benjamin Dillenburger, HYUNCHUL KWON

MAS Students 2016/17: Shaun Dai-Syuan Wu, Ahmed Elshafei