If you have seen a 3D printer in action, then you know how big achievement it is of modern engineering. They are a lot more than just statuettes. Today 3D printers, one of the best alternatives of low cost manufacturing are being used for everything starting from jet engine parts to dental retainers and more.
WASP (World’s Advanced Saving Project), the Italian maker of this 3D printer has given this 20 foot wide beast and 40 foot tall printer a name, BigDelta. The company’s main aim is to build affordable buildings in rural areas around the world. In a press release, the company said that the motivation behind developing this BigDelta (3D printer) was not money, it was the need.
According to UN-Habitat, the need for the enough housing will be more by 2030. They also mentioned a figure which is 40% of the global population which means around 3 billion people, so everyday around 100,000 housing units need to be built.
Using 3D printers, structures can be built layer by layer based on nature inspired design or bio-mimicry. WASP wants to show that building a home always does not have to be costly unlike today’s conventional construction. They believe that by combining the new world technology with old world technology of adobe (buildings made with dirt, water, clay, plant fibres) buildings can be made without the materials, labour and equipments that usually require in building time-consuming and expensive homes.
However, a lot of experiments need to be done before WASP puts BigDelta into work. And we all are hoping for their success.