Here’s Why You Don’t See 3D Printed Homes in Utah Going Up Like Crazy

The use of 3D printer technology has become more commonplace with most of what is being created done by hobbyists. However, the promise of houses getting built by large 3D printing machines has not materialized and here is why.

The Promise of Cost-Effective Housing Solutions

The idea of printing something three dimensional rather then constructing it with traditional methods saves a lot of wasted material. For this reason, 3D printing a home looks like a way to save money on construction costs.

Theoretically a home built with a big printer spreading a bead of cement to make the walls would be faster and require lest labor. The idea of producing cheap homes caught the imagination of consumers and politicians trying to solve the lack of housing.

Worker watches 3D printer build a wall. https://youtu.be/nRLqld_jD_g?si=MCK_fNHGuUamJ_8c

In Utah, the need for homes is real and the ability to build affordable housing would be a big boon. There are a couple companies in the state working on 3D printed technology for construction, but it is still rare.

Cracking Issues: Understanding Structural Challenges

Here's why this vision hasn't panned out in the real world. The 3D printing done on a small scale creates amazing results. It is done in a tightly controlled space inside a machine where the temperature and other factors stable.

On the other hand, large scale 3D printing in different temperatures and seasons has proven harder to accomplish. Some of the homes created have had to be destroyed due to cracks developing that made the structure unstable.

Pinpointing the cause of the cracking is still being worked out. Part of the problem is the cement being used and there are ongoing experiments with modified printing materials that are stronger and also provide more insulation qualities.

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Needless to say, working out structural issues and working with regulatory demands have significantly slowed down the 3D printing home industry. Unfortunately, the ability to grind out quick, cheap homes in Utah is still a work in progress.