More US Companies Now Offering 3D Printed Homes

A growing number of U.S. companies are now offering homes built with three-dimensional, or 3D printing technology.

The companies say 3D printers can build homes faster, for a lot less money, and in a much more environment friendly way than traditional building methods. They say the technology may also help solve America's shortage¹ of affordable² housing³.

3D printers make physical objects based on 3D models created by a computer. The machines put down many thin layers of material -- such as plastic, metal or concrete -- on top of each other. Objects are created through this process, from the bottom up.

In recent years, 3D printers have mostly been used to create small, specialized⁴ items. This includes parts for automobiles⁵, airplanes and medical devices⁶. Many consumer products can also be 3D printed as well, from clothes to foods.

Now, an increasing number of startup companies are using 3D printing to build entire homes. Since the technology is still developing, not many have yet been built. However, the top companies plan to greatly increase production in coming years.

The startup company Icon⁷, based in Austin, Texas, made news in 2018 by completing the first permitted 3D printed home in the U.S. At the time, it said the home had been built in just a day.

Since then, the company says it has been developing new technologies in robotics, software and manufacturing⁸ materials. It designed its own 3D printer and says the robot-powered machine can create structures up to 185 square meters. The printing process uses a cement-based mixture that Icon says is stronger and less costly⁹ than traditional building materials.

To date, Icon has completed 24 3D printed homes in the U.S. and Mexico. Among them was a community of 3D printed homes in a poor neighborhood in Mexico. The company has also completed a series of structures for homeless people in Austin. And it says it plans to open America's first housing development of 3D printed homes this summer.

Icon co-founder Jason Ballard told The Associated Press his company's 3D printing system can reduce construction costs by up to 30 percent and produce a home twice as fast as traditional methods. The process can do the work of 10 to 20 workers in several different fields. The machines, unlike humans, can work 24 hours a day.

Sam Ruben is the co-founder of another home building company, Mighty¹⁰ Buildings. "With 3D printing, we're able to print exactly what we need," he told the AP. The company uses a 3D printer in Oakland, California to produce all parts, which are shipped to the site of the home. The house can then be put together with simple tools, Ruben said.

Mighty Buildings advertises several home models on its website. A complete, mid-size home up to 65 square meters costs $187,250. The company also produces 32 square meter "mighty studios" that start at $115,000. The smaller structures are designed to be used as extra bedrooms, home offices, etc. Ruben said the prices are about 40 percent lower than traditional homes.

He added that the 3D printing process removes nearly all building waste, which can save up to three tons of carbon per home. The company has a goal of producing 1,000 structures next year. It has teamed up with a developer to complete a solar-powered community of 3D printed homes in the California desert. Orders have already been sold out, with 500 people on a waiting list.

A New York company, SQ4D, also uses 3D printing technology to build homes. In February, the company showed off a 130 square meter model home to demonstrate¹¹ its printer's abilities. SQ4D plans to sell its homes starting at $299,000. The company has even started listing the homes on the internet selling site Zillow.

Kirk Andersen is SQ4D's director of operations. He told Reuters the 3D printer will permit buyers to easily create their own home design, room by room.

While 3D printing as a home building method is just getting started, Andersen said others in the construction industry need to get prepared for big changes. "This is the beginning. This is just scratching the surface," he said.

Words in This Story

three-dimensional (3D) – adj. having or appearing to have length, depth and height

affordable – adj. reasonably priced and able to be bought by most people

layer – n. an amount of a substance that covers a surface

concrete – n. a hard substance using in building operations

consumer – n. someone who buys or uses goods or services

construction – n. the work of building homes, offices, bridges, etc.

scratch – v. to act on something

1 shortage   

n.缺少，缺乏，不足

参考例句：

• The city is suffering a desperate shortage of water.这个城市严重缺水。
• The heart of the problem is a shortage of funds.问题的关键是缺乏经费。

2 affordable   

adj.支付得起的，不太昂贵的

参考例句：

• The rent for the four-roomed house is affordable.四居室房屋的房租付得起。
• There are few affordable apartments in big cities.在大城市中没有几所公寓是便宜的。

3 housing   

n.房屋，住宅；住房建筑；外壳，外罩

参考例句：

• Do you think our housing sales will turn around during this year?你认为今年我们的住宅销路会好转吗？
• The housing sales have been turning down since the summer.入夏以来，房屋的销售量日趋减少。

4 specialized   

adj.专门的，专业化的

参考例句：

• There are many specialized agencies in the United Nations.联合国有许多专门机构。
• These tools are very specialized.这些是专用工具。

5 automobiles   

n.汽车( automobile的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• When automobiles become popular,the use of the horse and buggy passed away. 汽车普及后，就不再使用马和马车了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Automobiles speed in an endless stream along the boulevard. 宽阔的林荫道上，汽车川流不息。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

6 devices   

n.设备；装置( device的名词复数 )；花招；（为实现某种目的的）计划；手段

参考例句：

• electrical labour-saving devices around the home 节省劳力的各种家用电器
• modern labour-saving devices such as washing machines and dishwashers 诸如洗衣机和洗碗机之类的现代化省力设备

7 icon   

n.偶像，崇拜的对象，画像

参考例句：

• They found an icon in the monastery.他们在修道院中发现了一个圣像。
• Click on this icon to align or justify text.点击这个图标使文本排齐。

8 manufacturing   

n.制造业，工业adj.制造业的，制造的v.（大规模）制造( manufacture的现在分词 )；捏造；加工；粗制滥造（文学作品）

参考例句：

• The entire manufacturing process has been automated. 整个生产过程已自动化。
• Manufacturing processes may be affected by the functionality of the product. 生产过程可能要受到产品设计目的的影响。

9 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
• This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。

10 mighty   

adj.强有力的；巨大的

参考例句：

• A mighty force was about to break loose.一股巨大的力量即将迸发而出。
• The mighty iceberg came into view.巨大的冰山出现在眼前。

11 demonstrate   

vt.论证，证明；示范；显示；vi.示威游行

参考例句：

• Let me demonstrate to you how this machine works.我给你演示一下这台机器的运转情况。
• How can I demonstrate to you that my story is true?我怎样才能向你证明我的话是真实的呢？