Gaudi robots promise fast and cost-effective home construction through 3D printing technology.
The robots are capable of printing high-quality structures in a short time and offer robust concrete mix with various material options.
Gaudi Robots: The Future of Home Building through 3D Printing.
New 3D printing robots from California-based Gaudi are promising to build homes in record time and for a fraction of the cost of traditional methods.
According to Gaudi, the 3D printing robots can reduce material costs by 60 per cent, labour costs by 80 per cent and time on site by 70 per cent. At World of Concrete, Gaudi Vice President Douglas Seemann outlined the capabilities of the machines.
"To build a home in 30 days is not unheard of — a complete home finished and out the door with people ready to move in," Seemann said. "And tiny or small homes, printing them in a day is not unheard of. We do that all the time."
The 6-tonne Gaudi 1 robot is able to print homes up to two storeys tall, while the 11-tonne Gaudi 2 can tackle homes up to four storeys.
Both 3D printers are fixed to a gooseneck trailer and do not require unloading before operation.
"The Gaudi 1 can be pulled with a heavy-duty pickup truck. You don't need to have specialized trucks or equipment," Seemann said.
Once on site, the 3D printing robot can be erected in less than one hour.
"So, you pull your robot up to the job site, and an hour later you're ready to print," Seemann said. "And it prints from the trailer. You don't have to take the robot off the trailer."
Operating the Gaudi 1 requires a team of three people: a printer operator, concrete mix manager and someone to monitor the print. Training for the operators can be completed in about one week.
"We have the most advanced robotic printers in the world, but they're also the easiest to use," Seemann said.
As well, the robots are able to print openings for doors and windows, eliminating the need for saw cuts.
"The robots are so precise that we're within millimetres," Seemann said.
For the printer ink, or concrete mix, Gaudi has developed a formula that uses recycled materials and industrial tailings. The Gaudi concrete mix is about three times the strength of traditional concrete used in residential construction, according to the company.
"A concrete driveway is 2,000 psi at 28 days. Ours is 7,000 psi. It's bulletproof," Seemann said.
The robots are also open source, allowing its user to create their own concrete formulas, using a variety of materials.
"Our ink is unique in that we can print from construction debris or from hemp. We can print from conventional materials," Seemann said.
As 3D printed structures are a new form of construction, permitting can be difficult for the regulating agencies, as the method is completely foreign. However, Gaudi is seeking permits in locations known for strict regulations and sharing its design files with its users.
Seemann explained about 100 to 150 homes have been printed in the United States to date.
"Every time a 3D home is printed, it's easier to get a permit," he said.
