Based on the operating principles of meat grinders and fish cake extruders, the research team of Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Van Mien improved and developed a 3D printer to extrude concrete to build houses.
The technology was introduced by Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Van Mien (Construction Engineering Expert) at the workshop on 3D printing technology application trends organized by the Center for Science and Technology Statistics Information, Ho Chi Minh City Department of Science and Technology (CESTI) on May 23.
Mr. Mien said that the 3D printing technology was implemented by the group since 2019 based on the operating mechanism of fish cake extruders and meat grinders used by small traders in the market. The operating principle of these grinders is horizontal, while the 3D printer operates vertically.
Based on this principle, the group of variations into CNC machines operates on a vertical axis system similar to the principle of 3D printers. The machine is controlled on a computer using software to set technical parameters and control operations.
Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Van Mien next to the 3D-printed house designed by him and his colleagues. Photo: Organizing Committee
Concrete materials are mixed from PC50 cement, river sand, water, water-reducing additives, fly ash, silicafume, PP fiber... The mixing formula is tested many times to ensure plasticity, uniformity in size, no deformation, defects, and load-bearing capacity...
Initially, the 3D printing experiment group created items such as tables, chairs, etc. When successful, the group printed a house with a width of 5 m, a length of 14 m, and an area of 70 m2. According to the author, with 68 hours of continuous printing, the house will complete the rough part and then complete the main door, windows, roof and interior.
Associate Professor Mien said that the concrete mixture is printed on top of each other, with a hollow interior, so the wall is both load-bearing and heat-insulating, creating a comfortable feeling when used. The house ensures water permeability and compressive strength. "The defects shown by cracks on the wall are mainly due to the concrete adhering to the print head surface when printing continuously, causing blockages. Therefore, when 3D printing a house, there needs to be a break to maintain the equipment and the wall," Associate Professor Mien said.
In the near future, the group plans to continue 3D printing houses with larger areas. An overseas Vietnamese ordered a house with a ground floor and a first floor. According to the research team, 3D printed houses are many times faster to build than traditional construction, reduce labor costs, and create house models with unique architecture according to each person's ideas.
According to scientists, 3D printing technology is still quite new in Vietnam, so there are currently no technical standards. For housing, there are also no technical standards on materials, construction processes, acceptance... for projects made from 3D printing.
In the world, 3D printing technology has been researched and applied strongly by scientists for over 10 years. According to the world patent database, 3D printing technology first appeared and was patented in the US in 1986. This technology has developed strongly since 2010, the two countries leading the number of intellectual property applications are: China (more than 46,000 patents), the US (more than 5,300 patents). Of which, electron beam additive processing technology accounts for 38%, the most applied industry is mechanics, accounting for 26%.
In Vietnam, according to data from WIPO Publish (Intellectual Property Office), by the end of 2022, the country had 61 patent documents referring to 3D printing, of which Vietnamese applicants had only 9 applications, of which 2 were granted patents, 6 were pending examination, and one was rejected for protection. Vietnamese inventions mainly related to 3D printing materials, equipment, and related components.
Ha An
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