Hunkler 1

Lexi Hunkler

Ms. Caruso

UWRT 1103-006

2 , April 2017

The Future of Construction 3D Printing Formatted: No underline

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

printing in construction industries.

In order to reach a new audience and raise awareness of the future of construction to a

younger generation, I decided to create a childrens book encompassing the advantages,

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

and concepts to best reach the intended audience.

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

waste produced by traditional construction (Burger).

Furthermore, this revolutionizing technology creates housing at a fraction of the cost in

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

afford the supplies to have Pip fix his broken building.

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

structures as well as sub-components. It is key in developing customizable printed buildings,

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

structure for electricity and plumbing.

Throughout Pips adventures, he runs into a couple problems. Although additive

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

disadvantages of 3D printing in the construction industry include fewer construction employee

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

businesses like that out of order.

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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

equipment and the dangers of things falling apart in transportation.

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

Pip, Pip, hooray!

Though this childrens book is somewhat exaggerative and unrealisticthe main

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

with the character and in return, appreciate the potential of 3D printing.

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Work Cited

OLD:

Burger, Rachel. "5 Ways 3D Printing Is Changing the Construction Industry." The Balance. The

Balance, 7 Oct. 2016. Web. 22 Feb. 2017.

"Contour Crafting." Contour Crafting. Contour Crafting, n.d. Web. 22 Feb. 2017.

"How 3D Printing Is Affecting the Construction Industry." ForConstructionPros.com. Ed.

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.

Web. 12 Apr. 2017.

"What Are the Future Benefits for 3D Printing in the Construction Industry?" Lamp

Incorporated. Lamp Incorporated, n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2017.

Whirlwind Team. "Impacts of 3D Printing on the Construction Industry." Whirlwind Steel

Buildings. Whirlwind Steel, 30 Mar. 2016. Web. 11 Apr. 2017.