3D printer that uses construction waste to print furniture

The concrete printer, which is jointly developed by IIT Guwahati and Deltasys E-Forming, is capable of printing components up to one-metre long, one-metre wide and one-metre tall. 

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati have developed a 3D printer that uses construction waste to print furniture. As per an official statement issued by the institute, the concrete printer, which is jointly developed by IIT Guwahati and Deltasys E-Forming, is capable of printing components up to one-metre long, one-metre wide and one-metre tall. 

The researchers used specially developed printable concrete containing industrial wastes as binders to build 3D printed furniture with a seating height of 0.4 metre, a width of 0.4 metre and arch-shaped support. The entire unit was printed layer by layer at an 80 mm per second speed, with each layer having a 10 mm height. After the unit was printed, it was covered with moist gunny bags for seven days to cure before being used, the statement said. 

“Traditionally, these structures were mold cast which requires more concrete material, labour and formwork preparation. However, with 3D concrete printing, optimised designs are printed with 75 per cent less concrete and without the need of mold,” the statement said.  

IIT Guwahati Director TG Sitharam said 3D printing of concrete can be a technological solution for reducing carbon footprint in the construction industry. “From an Indian context, a techno-economic analysis must be carried out that take into account not only the environmental sustainability but also aspects relating to cost, quality, labour and maintenance associated with 3D printing,” he said. 

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