(506) 2240-6804
Vulcan 3d printer cement
Technology – ICON
Vulcan Construction System
Meet Vulcan
Our Home-Sized
3D Printer
Designed and engineered from the ground up for volume 3D printing of homes with precision and speed.
The Vulcan Construction SystemDesigned and engineered from the ground up for volume 3D printing of homes with precision and speed.
| Total Width | 46.5 feet |
| Total Height | 15.5 feet |
| Weight | 9500 lbs |
| Voltage | 230/240 V residential single phase |
| Print Height | 10.5 feet |
| Print Width | 38 feet |
| Print Length | Infinite |
| Print Speed | 5-10" /sec |
| Material Mixing & Pumping | Magma System |
| Material Input | Lavacrete |
Vulcan Construction System
Meet Vulcan
Our Home-Sized
3D Printer
Designed and engineered from the ground up for volume 3D printing of homes with precision and speed.
Vulcan Construction System
Print SuiteRobotics + Software + Materials
The Vulcan construction system is a combination of hardware, materials, and software to construct homes and large-scale structures. Every part of the system has been designed, engineered, and built from the ground up at ICON to build the highest quality homes possible.
The Vulcan construction system is comprised of the Vulcan printer and the Magma portable mixing unit that prepares ICON’s proprietary building material, Lavacrete, for printing. All of this hardware is driven by our BuildOS software suite. BuildOS generates and prepares architecture for printing, then controls the robotic hardware on-site to turn digital plans into physical homes.
Vulcan is a large-scale, construction 3D-printer that prints entire homes on location. The printer is designed to be rapidly transported to build sites, then moved quickly from site to site. Vulcan prints directly on the ground or a poured slab.
A portable factory that feeds a Vulcan printer on location. Magma ingests dry Lavacrete, hydrates, and then adjusts the formula in real time based on the conditions at the build site itself. Once material is mixed, Magma pumps the Lavacrete to Vulcan for printing.
Lavacrete is a proprietary material created by ICON’s material science team to be both highly printable and incredibly strong. Lavacrete has gone through rigorous testing and development yielding an extremely durable building material.
A collection of software products, BuildOS creates digital architecture and then helps control the robots that turn those designs into physical buildings. BuildOS software spans multiple device interfaces to accelerate construction through high-precision, parametric architecture for ICON’s construction operations.
Vulcan
Robotic ConstructionThe Vulcan is our third generation, large-scale 3D-printer system for additive construction.
The current Vulcan system is 1.5x larger, 2x faster than our previous generation and capable of printing homes and structures up to 3,000 square feet without relocation. The Vulcan can produce resilient, single-story homes faster than conventional methods and with less waste and more design freedom.
- Vulcan Size 15'-6" x 46'-6"
-
Build Volume 10'-6" x 38' x 100'
Magma
Mix MasterMagma is a smart, portable factory that feeds a Vulcan printer with material to print a home. Intelligent and working in perfect sync with a Vulcan printer on-site, Magma takes the guesswork out of complex, high-performance cementitious material.
The Magma system feeds Vulcan printers with ICON’s advanced cement-based material, Lavacrete. Using any of ICON’s proprietary Lavacrete blends, the Magma system mixes Lavacrete, additives, and water automatically, depending on current site weather conditions, then supplies the ready-to-print Lavacrete to the Vulcan. Think of Magma as an extremely smart print cartridge, super-sized for home construction.
Weather and environmentally aware, a Magma unit adjusts & mixes ICON’s Lavacrete material in real time for the best possible material.
Build OS
Digital NativeICON’s digital operating system controls every aspect of print operations via an intuitive, simple, and beautiful user interface.
The BuildOS system translates floor plans into print jobs and then directs both Vulcan and Magma, using real-time data down to the millisecond to produce the highest quality printed structures in the world.
From its powerful CAD and print planning to enable machine learning and predictive analytics for Vulcan robots, this advanced software brings construction into the 21st century.
ICON’s digital operating system controls every aspect of print operations via an intuitive, simple, and beautiful user interface.
The BuildOS system translates floor plans into print jobs and then directs both Vulcan and Magma, using real-time data down to the millisecond to produce the highest quality printed structures in the world.
From its powerful CAD and print planning to enable machine learning and predictive analytics for Vulcan robots, this advanced software brings construction into the 21st century.
Materials
Rock SolidScience
Materials
Rock SolidScience
ICON’s Lavacrete can be printed at high speeds while retaining form, enabling homes to be built faster while keeping construction projects on schedule and on budget.
Lavacrete, a high-strength concrete, boasts a compressive strength of 2,000 - 3,500 psi. In structural tests, ICON's wall system exceeded building code design requirements by more than 350%.
ICON’s Lavacrete can be printed at high speeds while retaining form, enabling homes to be built faster while keeping construction projects on schedule and on budget. Lavacrete, a high-strength concrete, boasts a compressive strength of 2,000 - 3,500 psi. In structural tests, ICON's wall system exceeded building code design requirements by more than 350%.
ICON unveils plans for improved "next-generation" Vulcan 3D printer
0Shares
Texan construction company ICON has revealed that it’s currently using a “next-generation” version of its Vulcan 3D printer to erect a three-bedroom house with unique ranch-like aesthetics.
Nicknamed ‘House Zero,’ the elegantly-appointed 2,350 sq. ft unit is being built as the first of a planned ‘Exploration Series’ of dwellings, which will act as a test bed for developing new design languages.
Through the project, ICON aims to showcase the architectural potential unlocked by its machine, and construct a luxuriously-upholstered building that broadens the appeal of living in 3D printed homes.
“If people fall in love with what we’re doing here, it turns out the Vulcan is the only construction system in the world capable of delivering this home and others like it,” said Jason Ballard, Co-founder and CEO of ICON. “We’re getting ready to stand up manufacturing in our new facilities and begin larger scale projects in anticipation of such a response.”
A concept rendering of ICON’s House Zero structure. Image via ICON.“We are hopeful this catalyzes widespread enthusiasm and excitement for the future of construction and architecture.”
Vulcan 3D printing technology
ICON’s construction capabilities revolve around its proprietary Vulcan platform, which enables the production of durable single-storey structures. Initially, the firm deployed its technology to build houses for low-income communities, but recently it has progressed onto 3D printing commercial homes, and now even NASA is working with the company to develop a means of creating off-world infrastructure.
Having successfully used its Vulcan system to construct two dozen structures across the U.S. and Mexico, ICON has now developed an upgraded machine that’s capable of printing homes up to 3,000 sq. ft in size. With a print speed of 5-10″ per second and a weight of 9,500 lbs, the large-format system is twice as fast and 1.5 times bigger than its predecessor.
While the new Vulcan still functions using the same Magma mixing system and Lavacrete 3D printing material, ICON says that it has also been built with a “digitally native approach.” As a result, the machine now includes an automated control system, which allows it to be operated remotely via the company’s in-house app using everyday mobile devices.
According to ICON, its enhanced platform is ultimately capable of producing buildings up to 10.5 feet in height, 36.75 feet in width and that stretch for “infinite” lengths, and with the announcement of its Exploration Series, the firm has effectively outlined how it intends to put its new system to the test.
ICON’s Exploration Series
In the course of building its Exploration Series of homes, ICON intends to act as an enabler, providing creatives with an enhanced 3D printing platform on which they can develop brand new architectural vernaculars, and the first build in this veritable construction trilogy has been designed by the award-winning Lake|Flato Architects.
Referred to only as ‘House Zero,’ the designers say that their three-bed home will feature an “elevated architectural and energy-efficient design.” Just like ICON’s previous builds, the architects expect their 3D printed house to reflect the technology’s inherent sustainability and durability benefits, while also enabling them to accelerate what would normally be a lengthy production workflow.
“House Zero has allowed Lake|Flato to develop our ethos of human and nature-centric design with an entirely new framework,” said Ashley Heeren, an Associate at Lake|Flato.
“It’s been a thrill for our team to design this home of the future and explore new ways to create high-performance shelter that celebrates craftsmanship, seeks increased efficiency and eliminates steps in the construction process.”
“This welcoming, practical home design expands the performance capabilities of 3D printing technology and is unlike any other home we’ve designed to date.”
Currently being built in East Austin, House Zero is set to feature a ‘bath home’ with over 2,000 sq. ft of living space, including three bedrooms, and a separate 350 sq. ft single-bed and bath accessory ‘dwelling unit.’ Describing the houses’ aesthetics as similar to those of a “mid-century modernist ranch,” ICON says that the attractively-upholstered property could represent “a major advancement in modern architecture.”
“House Zero will be the most incredible 3D printed home in the world, because it was optimized and designed specifically to be 3D printed,” concluded Ballard. “This is the moment when people around the world will see more of the architectural design freedom and benefits of a 3D printed house, and believe that they too would want to live in one.”
Bringing printed homes to market
Although 3D printing has been used to construct proof-of-concept buildings in the past, the technology’s now increasingly being deployed to create commercial accommodation. Earlier this year, Californian start-up Mighty Buildings announced plans to 3D print a fifteen-strong neighborhood of homes, which could be marketed at prices of up to $950,000.
Germany-based PERI Group is also aiming to enter the commercial construction space with its three-floor additive manufactured apartment building. Currently being built using COBOD’s large-format 3D printing technology, the structure is set to be carved up and marketed as five rentable homes upon its completion.
Elsewhere, on a more experimental level, 3D printer manufacturer WASP has finished constructing its sustainably-sourced 3D printed ‘TECLA’ eco-habitat. Built entirely from recycled materials, TECLA is designed to represent a greener model for future house-building programs, that’s better-equipped to deal with natural disasters.
To stay up to date with the latest 3D printing news, don’t forget to subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry newsletter or follow us on Twitter or liking our page on Facebook.
For a deeper-dive into additive manufacturing, you can now subscribe to our Youtube channel, featuring discussion, de-briefs and shots of 3D printing in-action.
Are you looking for a job in the additive manufacturing industry? Visit 3D Printing Jobs for a selection of roles in the industry.
Featured image shows ICON’s next-generation Vulcan 3D printer. Image via ICON.
Tags Ashley Heeren COBOD House Zero icon Jason Ballard Lake|Flato Architects Mighty Buildings Nasa PERI Group Vulcan 3D printer wasp
Paul Hanaphy
Paul is a history and journalism graduate with a passion for finding the latest scoop in technology news.
Icon releases Vulcan II 3D construction printer
News
Texas-based Icon announces that it has completed development work on its second-generation Vulcan II 3D construction printer and intends to start open ordering next month.
The Austin-based startup is best known for its collaboration with New Story, a non-profit organization that promotes the idea of building low-income low-income homes, including in developing countries. The guys are going to solve the housing problem at the global level, of course, with the help of additive technologies.
Last spring, the partners presented to the public, or rather investors, a small 3D-printed house with all amenities, supposedly costing only four thousand dollars. The investors nodded approvingly and poured $9 million into the innovative venture, inspiring Texas engineers to develop a commercial version of their additive plant.
Icon's 3D printers follow the concept of Contour Crafting by Prof. Beroch Khoshnevis: movable gantry structures mounted on rails or wheels, giving a theoretically unlimited build length. The width of the working area of Vulcan II reaches ten meters, and in height - two and a half. The extruder produces layers two and a half centimeters thick and five centimeters wide at a speed of 125 to 175 mm/s. Thanks to a set of sensors and special algorithms, the system is able to adjust operating parameters such as paving speed in real time.
As befits a "volcano", the 3D printer spews "lava" - a special mixture of Lavacrete based on Portland cement. The recipe is kept secret, but the developers claim that the compressive strength reaches 6000 psi, and thus exceeds that of commercially available building materials. Upon completion of 3D printing, it is planned to finish the walls with drywall from the inside and siding from the outside.
The maximum power consumption of the equipment reaches 35 kW with a nominal power of around 16 kW. The equipment complies with the IP66 standard (protection against dust and moisture), and even has a built-in LED backlight for working at night. Control is carried out from the tablet, while a team of four to six people is enough to operate the entire system, including a 3D printer and Magma mixing equipment.
So far, the company is working on securing pre-orders, but from next month it promises to start accepting applications from everyone with deliveries starting next year. Additional information is available on Icon's official website at this link.
Do you have interesting news? Share your developments with us, and we will tell the whole world about them! We are waiting for your ideas at news@3Dtoday. ru.
Follow the author
Subscribe
Don't want
7
13 BEST CONSTRUCTION 3D PRINTERS OF 2019
A 3D construction printer is a machine that can build houses by applying material (concrete) layer by layer. The paste type material used, in this case concrete or earth, is forced through the nozzle in layers to print buildings.
Concrete 3D printing in the construction industry saves time, effort and material when compared to traditional methods. However, it is important to note that 3D printers are not yet capable of creating a fully functional home, only the frame and walls can be created, other elements such as windows, electricity or plumbing must be installed separately. Concrete 3D printers can also be used to print bridges, benches, or simply outdoor decorations.
To provide a complete overview of the construction 3D printer market, we have listed the top 12 construction 3D printing solutions.
Some of them are 3D printers already available for sale, while others are still in the prototype stage or provide 3D printing services for external structures.
HOW TO BUILD A 3D PRINTED HOUSE?
Construction 3D printers use extrusion technology. Some construction 3D printers are similar to FFF/FDM desktop 3D printers, only larger (gantry style), while others consist of a rotating mechanical arm.
In both cases, paste-type components such as concrete are used as the filament. The material is ejected from a special nozzle to form layers. In simpler (very) extrusion of pasta is like using a bag to dispense frosting on a cake.
The printer builds foundations and walls layer by layer. The base is literally the printer's build plate. However, some concrete 3D printers are used to 3D print brick molds. Once molded, the bricks are stacked on top of each other manually (or with a robotic arm).
Benefits of building 3D printing
• Eco-friendly : 3D printed houses can be built with sustainable materials. What's more, some construction 3D printers use solar energy and emit little CO2.
• Affordable: 3D construction printers can build affordable housing, providing great relief to people in poor areas or after natural disasters.
• Scalable: 3D construction printing reduces certain construction costs. For example, the cost of 1 square meter of wall using traditional construction methods is approximately $75, while for an Apis Cor house 3D printer it is only $27.
• Efficient: Because materials are 3D printed on demand, machines produce less waste. In addition, 3D construction printers can complete the foundation of a house in less than a few days, while traditional construction methods take weeks or even months.
• Design flexibility: Curved walls and unique facades can be easily created with a 3D printer
Disadvantages of 3D construction
• Expensive initial investment: These 3D printers can sometimes cost up to a million dollars.
• Partially Built Houses : Only house frames are built. The 3D printing process is usually paused to manually install plumbing, wiring, and fittings.
• Rough appearance : The exterior of most 3D printed houses is not as smooth as traditional houses.
• Lack of Certification: Construction sites are regulated by law and there are important safety standards that must be met, which can be difficult with 3D printing methods (different repeatability, dimensional stability, etc.).
CONSTRUCTION 3D PRINTERS: OVERVIEW
We divide construction 3D printers into three categories: house building 3D printers that you can buy, prototype concrete printers, and concrete 3D printing services.
Home 3D printers available
AMT printers
Pictured: AMT S-6044 Long and AMT S-300
), 11 x 31 x 80 (maximum)
• Material: Concrete / Clay / Gypsum
• Country: Russia
Equipment produced by AMT-SPETSAVIA - shop and field portal construction 3D printers (COP-printers, Construction Objects Printing): and from small-format (for printing small architectural forms ) to large (for printing buildings up to 30 floors high).
Productivity from 0.5 to 2.5 cubic meters per hour, management by 2 people. AMT printers are capable of printing with any kind of concrete, clay and gypsum.
BetAbram P1
• Assembly size : 1.6 x 8.2 x 2.5 m
• Material : Concrete
• Country : Slovenia
BetAbram is a small Slovenian team that has been working on building 3D printing equipment since 2012. Their flagship home 3D printer, the BetAbram P1, is currently in its second iteration and is available with additional printheads: basic, "Orto" for smoother layers, and rotatable for more design options.
COBOD BOD2
• Build Size : 11.98 x 45.07 x 1.53 m
• Material : Concrete
• Country : Denmark
This construction 3D printer is fast at up to 18 meters per minute. BOD2 is modular and can be adapted to various sizes. COBOD is a 3D Printhuset company.
Constructions-3D 3D Constructor
• Assembly size : 13 x 13 x 3.
8 m
• Material : Concrete
• Country : France
Constructions-3D is a subsidiary of French 3D-printer Machines. Their 3D Constructor machine is mobile thanks to its rubber tracks and fits in a 20ft shipping container for easy transportation from one construction site to another.
CyBe Construction CyBe RC 3Dp
• Assembly size: 2.75 x 2.75 x 2.75 m
• Material: Concrete
• Country: Netherlands This easy-to-use 3D printer is capable of reaching heights of up to 2.75 meters and only requires two people to operate.
ICON Vulcan II
• Build Size : 2.6 x 8.5 x ∞ m
• Material : Concrete
• Country : United States
ICON wants to revolutionize the construction industry with its Vulcan II printer. The whole process is designed to be user friendly with a tablet-based interface, and the ICON Lavacrete concrete mix is optimized for easy printing.
MudBots Concrete 3D Printer
• Build Size : 1.
83 x 1.83 x 1.22 m (Minimum)
• Material : Concrete
• Country : United States of Mud3D Printers is
USA. Their smallest model (approximately 1830 x 1830 x 1220 mm) is available for $35,000. Large build sizes are also available, reaching up to 30 meters in length.
According to MudBots, their 3D printers can print a small house in just 12 hours and cut costs by 70% compared to traditional building methods.
Stroybot2
Build Size : 10m x 15m x 6m
Material : Concrete
Country : United States
StroyBot, also known as the Rudenko 3D Printer, is a versatile mobile design printing system supplied as a build kit user. On average, he can print a 100 square meter house in 48 hours (walls only).
WASP Crane WASP “Infinity 3D Printer”
• Assembly size: Ø 6.3 x 3 m
• Material: Concrete / Earth materials
• Country: Italy 12MT. This open source builder is modular and multiple Crane printers can work together on the same project, giving theoretically endless 3D printing possibilities.
Concrete printers working projects 9
Apis Cor 3D printer Francisco and claims to be able to 3D print a house in less than 24 hours. Their Apis Cor printer is similar to a robotic arm and won first place in NASA's 3-stage 3D printing competition.
Batiprint3D 3D Printer
• Build Size : -
• Material : Concrete / Other
• Country : France
Batiprint 3D made headlines internationally when it completed the Yhnova 3D print shop in Nantes, France. Their 3D printer not only prints cement but also insulating foam, making it one of the most complete 3D building solutions.
S-Squared ARCS VVS NEPTUNE
• Build Size : 9.1 x 4.4 x ∞
• Material : Concrete
• Country : United States
S-Squared, also known as Q3D scale project "4D printing", which aims to provide fast, reliable, environmentally friendly and affordable housing for poor areas. ARCS VVS NEPTUNE is one of the company's working models, but it will not be available for commercial sale.
