Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Lexi Hunkler
Ms. Caruso
UWRT 1103-006
2 , April 2017
What seems like a futuristic concept far out of reach is instead a very real and rapidly
growing reality. Printing toys, tools, food, and organs is just the beginning; Though the process
of 3D printing printing still seems like a futuristic concept, it is instead a very real and rapidly
developing process, and printing toys, tools, food, and organs is just the beginning. is becoming
the fast approaching future. One of the industries affected most by 3D printing, formally known
as additive manufacturing, will be the construction industry. Using my prior inquiry research
over the future of 3D printing as a whole, I decided to expound upon the subcategory of 3D
In order to reach a new audience and raise awareness of the future of construction to a
disadvantages, and facts of additive manufacturing for construction and building. Combining my
previous research, as well as adding new sources, I believe my knowledge of this topic is evident
in the plot and details of the book; however, at the same time, the book uses elementary language
I believed that this genre type would be best to reach my intended audience. Often times,
colorful, cartoon childrens books, especially about construction, are sought after by parents of
young children and catch the eye of the targeted audience. The intent of the project was to inform
the young generation of the future that they will grow up in. Rather than traditional tractors,
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cranes, and construction workers, this story takes place in the near future and follows the
adventures of a friendly 3D-printer on his journey to print buildings. However, even after 3D
construction printing becomes a reality, this book will still be intriguing and informative to this
young audience to read just as traditional construction books continue to be entertaining as well.
Entitled Pip the Printer, entertaining amusing main character Pip perseveres to print the future.
His catchphrase yes we can, creates an interaction between the audience and the story,
intriguing the younger generation for what will be seen in their lifetime.
3D printing is far different than anything in the construction industry. Architects use
super-size printers that combine special concrete and composite mixtures that are thicker and
more stable than regular concrete. In doing this, they are able to create stronger, more durable,
less wasteful, more practical structures (How 3D Printing). This not only revolutionizes the
construction process, but, due to less material use and less required labor, it significantly can
lower the cost of housing for many. In order to portray this in the story book, Pip, the super-sized
printer, explains the process of what he does in order to print buildings. The narrator also gives
words to Pips actions, describing in good detail how Pip lays out the special concrete mixture
over and over creating more and more of the structures. Additionally, Additionally, in order to
portray the issue of excessive waste produced by traditional construction, on his journey to work,
he passes by a construction-waste and dump site on his journey to work, showing the excessive
significantly less time and with very little labor costs (What are the Future). To exemplify this,
Pip finishes his work in a very short time, comparatively, but still does an excellent job.
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However, because the intended audience cannot perceive cost and monetary issues very well, the
only mention to money is when one of the townspeople proclaims how grateful he is that he can
Continuing, a huge benefit of 3D printing is its ability to be customizable and use contour
crafting. Contour crafting, according to a website dedicated to the very thing, "is a layered
fabrication technology . . .[that] has great potential for automating the construction of whole
allowing detail, difference, and even utility openings such as electrical and plumbing ("Contour
Crafting"). In order to portray this in Pip the Printer, Pip is very detail-oriented. He makes sure
things are near perfect, and Bob the builder verbally guides him to make openings in the
manufacturings benefits outweigh the cons, there are a couple problems it creates. Pip
encounters a couple of these problems throughout his adventures in the book. Some
numbers due to labor workers' jobs being completed by a 3D printer. Second, many construction-
related industries would suffer due to lack of need. For example, "conventional product
manufacturing" or "plant renting companies" would no longer be needed, thus, putting them out
of business (How 3D Printing). To show this in the book, the same page that shows the dump
site and waste of traditional construction shows out-of-service construction stores and run-down
hardware stores. This subtly shows the audience that Pips job as a 3D printer unintentionally ran
While the book portrays the loss of traditional construction industry jobs by briefly
showing some abandoned construction stores and buildings, it does not focus much on that issue.
it dives further into the issue when Pip sees the workers he has put out of construction work. In
order to fix this, Pip invites the out-of-work construction workers to join his printing company to
help with the engineering and or material-gathering for Pips work. HoweverFurthermore, Pip
does runs into two other problems in his journey. For example, as of now, printed-construction is
limited to the select materials that can be used. This type of 3D printing uses recycled plastics,
concrete, synthetic stones, and bioplastics (Whirlwind Team). To exemplify the occasional Formatted: Font: (Default) Times New Roman, 12 pt
difficulty and con of searching for and procuring materials, Pip runs out of materials and wastes
half a days worth of work waiting for more materials to come. Next, transportation and storage
of these giant printers can be a hassle and puts the machine at risk for breaking. During a part of
his journey to the construction site, he loses a couple of bolts and has to have Bob the builder
come and repair him. This demonstrates one of the problems with transporting such huge
However, though the book briefly touches on the cons of additive manufacturing in the
construction industry, it primarily glorifies the futuristic industry and presents a positive message
to the young audience that 3D printing is, and will be, a good thing overall. In the end, Pip and
the townspeople are very pleased with the outcome of Pips hard work and shout with cheer
character (an inanimate object) being alive, for starters, it does a swell job of explaining to the
intended younger audience what 3D printing construction is, what it takes, how it works, and the
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pros and cons of it. Throughout the book, there are several hints or plot twists that further
describe or exemplify the issues of 3D printing and traditional construction. However, there are
also several examples of how beneficial 3D printing will be in the construction industry. By
creating Pip to be a fun-loving, energetic, and adorable character, it causes readers to fall in love
Work Cited
OLD:
Burger, Rachel. "5 Ways 3D Printing Is Changing the Construction Industry." The Balance. The
"Contour Crafting." Contour Crafting. Contour Crafting, n.d. Web. 22 Feb. 2017.
Kimberly Hegeman and Larry Stewart. N.p., 16 Apr. 2015. Web. 20 Feb. 2017.
NEW:
Humanity, Phil For. "The Pros and Cons of 3D Printing." Phil for Humanity. N.p., 11 Feb. 2013.
"What Are the Future Benefits for 3D Printing in the Construction Industry?" Lamp