3D printing is playing a crucial role in the KAFD project
Watts highlights the benefits 3D printing can offer to validate a design by breaking down a building into a kit of parts to check feasibility . This moves towards reducing cost by optimising , but does require a cradle to cradle approach of interaction with a building . “ We ’ re interested in building production becoming a controlled , engineered process rather than a group of linked trades coming together ,” he says , adding that while a loose fit approach might offer flexibility , it requires expensive interfaces between those loose fit processes .
“ Because buildings are currently loose fit items there is less onus on the need for a perfect fit in the early stages , so 3D printing currently has a limited application ,” admits Watts , looking to the future . “ But once building assembly starts to become interconnected and parts can be more easily replaced without threatening assembly integrity , 3D
34 April 2018