INNOPrint 3D – A 3D Printer That Can Build Emergency Housing in 30 Minutes Flat, Emerges From France

Formnext Germany

Share this Article

innoprint3dDisaster strikes, and thousands, tens of thousands, or even more people are left without houses to call their home. We see this over and over again, both in the developed and developing world, after hurricanes, tsunamis, tornadoes, earthquakes or floods ravage entire cities, communities or even countries. Shelter is a necessity of life, and in recovering from disasters, it, along with food, is one of the main resources that needs to be reestablished in the aftermath.

innoprint3For researchers at the University of Nantes (IRCCyN) in France, this was a problem that they looked to solve, and in doing so they turned to 3D printing technology. With the help of engineers from a company called Capacites, they came up with a 3D printer that they call the INNOPrint 3D.  This machine is capable of printing out extraordinarily large objects of 3 meters (9.84 feet) in all directions.

The ultimate goal for INNOPrint 3D is to create emergency housing in areas where disasters strike. In fact, it can 3D print buildings of this 3x3x3m volume, including all the walls and even the roof. These structures are completely printed, sealed and insulated in just 20-30 minutes flat; a timeframe almost unheard of for 3D printing enthusiasts.

“You have to imagine that, in a disaster, the robot will be shipped by boat together with raw material containers and the human relief,” explained Benoit Ferret of team MO2P / Robotics IRCCyN. “There, on demand, according to the desired size, in 20 to 30 minutes, an emergency housing can be realized and used for several months until a more permanent reconstruction can take place.”

innoprint5

That’s not all though. The team of researchers are also looking to expand upon this machine, to enable it to print out structures as large as they want. They are currently working on an iteration that will be able to 3D print structures of unlimited length and width (x & y axes), with a height of up to 7 meters (23 feet) tall (z axis), enabling the printing of entire houses and/or civil engineering buildings on site, all in a matter of a couple hours.

innoprint4

The INNOPrint 3D machine, as you can see in the photos and video provided below, uses a 4-foot long articulated arm to print at very rapid speeds. It should be interesting to follow the development of this project, as it could ultimately lead to much quicker recovery in the face of disaster, as well as future forms of construction within the developing world.

What do you think about the potential that INNOPrint 3D has? Discuss in the INNOPrint 3D forum thread on 3DPB.com. Check out the video below.



Share this Article


Recent News

Lawmakers Reignite Effort to Block Online Sharing of 3D Printed Gun Files

Juggerbot 3D and ORNL Collaborate on 3D Printing of Thermosets and Thermoplastics



Categories

3D Design

3D Printed Art

3D Printed Food

3D Printed Guns


You May Also Like

3D Printing News Briefs, June 11, 2025: Sustainability, Automotive Tooling, & More

We’re starting with sustainability news in today’s 3D Printing News Briefs, as EOS has strengthened its commitment on climate responsibility, and Zestep is making 3D printing filament out of eyewear...

3D Printing 50 Polymer Stand-In Parts for Tokamaks at the PPPL & Elytt Energy

Of all the world’s things, a tokamak is one of the hardest, most complex, expensive and exacting ones to make. These fusion energy devices make plasma, and use magnets to...

3D Printing News Briefs, May 17, 2025: Color-Changing Materials, Humanoid Robot, & More

We’re covering research innovations in today’s 3D Printing News Briefs! First, Penn Engineering developed 3D printed materials that change color under stress, and UC Berkeley researchers created an open source,...

Featured

Firehawk Aerospace Partners with JuggerBot 3D, Gets $1.25M from AFWERX for 3D Printed Propellants

Texas-based Firehawk Aerospace, an advanced energetic materials firm that works with aerospace and defense applications, announced a strategic partnership with JuggerBot 3D, an Ohio-based large-format 3D printer manufacturer. Together, the...