World largest 3D Printer to produce large-scale building prototypes

Andrea Morgante, founder of Shiro Studio, has collaborated with D-Shape to produce the Radiolaria pavilion, a complex, free-form structure produced using the world’s largest 3D printer.

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Measuring 3 x 3 x 3 metres, the structure is a scale model of a final 10-metre tall pavilion to be built in Pontedera, Italy, in 2010.

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D-Shape developed the first large-scale stereolithic printer in 2008 aiming to offer architects the design freedom that rapid prototyping allows them but has so far been confined to scale models.

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The structure is made of an artificial sandstone material and does not feature any internal, steel reinforcement.

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Held together by an inorganic binder, the resultant material has excellent strength properties - with some performance characteristics superior to portland cement - and will not damage the environment.

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The structure was designed using CAD-CAE modeling technologies and CAD-CAM software controls the plotter during printing. The process starts from the bottom and proceeds in 5-10mm layers at a time.

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The solidification process takes 24 hours to complete and any surplus material supports the structure during manufacture and can be reused.

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