The technology has been used to “print” office buildings and houses, aircraft parts and human body parts.
There have been all sorts of wonderful predictions for 3D printing, or additive manufacturing, but for the construction industry the best has yet to come.
A group that features both trade associations and students from graduate engineering programs has cooked up a great showpiece for the Conexpo-Con/Agg show in Las Vegas next March. That’s where they will unveil a 3D-printed excavator.
Why will it be such a great showpiece? Because the show’s theme is Imagine What’s Next.
The show aims to spotlight how far technology has come. What better than this to illustrate both how far we’ve come, but how far might we be going?
When it comes to construction equipment shows, Conexpo-Con/Agg is as big as it gets. It’s a show that comes around every three years. The fact it’s not an annual affair gives it weight. Construction industry people look forward to it. A wonderful place, in other words, to show what 3D printing can do for an international industry.
And to top it off, people attending the show will not only see the 3D-printed excavator, they will be able to watch a second excavator being printed live on the show floor.
A lot of industrial shows are much alike. Mostly they showcase the bells and whistles developed during the previous year. Sad to say, but to many people, even within the industry, an excavator is an excavator is an excavator.
Until now.
3D printing has been around for a few years and lots of people have predicted great things for it. Those great things have begun to flow into the health care field, especially for creating such things as hip and knee joints for implantation.
Now, it seems that it might be construction’s turn to reap some of the benefits of the technology. And I think this 3D printed excavator is a true game-changer.
The machine to be unveiled next March is a joint collaboration between the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, the National Fluid Power Association, the Center for Compact and Efficient Fluid Power, the U.S. government’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the U.S. National Science Foundation.
As well, research teams from Georgia Tech and the University of Minnesota are hard at work, converting the present excavator design to one that that can take full advantage of 3D manufacturing.
It’s important to note that the Association of Equipment Manufacturers is part of the group leading the excavator demonstration. Having them on board will greatly ease the way of 3D printed machines into the market.
So the appearance of the 3D machine at the show could well affect the design of excavators for years.
If you don’t believe that, take a look at what the university research teams are working on.
Graduate engineering students at Georgia Tech are in the process of creating a boom and bucket that features integrated hydraulics. Their aim is to decrease the weight and material cost of the parts and decrease maintenance costs once the machine is in the field.
Students at the U of Minnesota are working on the design of a reservoir for hydraulic oil that also serves as a heat exchanger and cooling system.
What they’re aiming for is a system that reduces the size and weight of the machine, while increasing its efficiency.
Think of that. Lighter, cheaper materials, lower maintenance costs, greater efficiency.
Hey, maybe these kids are onto something.
"These kids" are the future of the construction industry. They’re the ones best able to look at a shiny new machine on a show floor, then think: Imagine what’s next.
It’s these youngsters who will take (and deserve) centre stage when the fruit of their labour is unveiled next March in Las Vegas.
Korky Koroluk is an Ottawa-based freelance writer. Send comments to editor@dailycommercialnews.com.
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