US military builds barracks using “world’s largest” 3D printer

MCSC’s Additive Manufacturing Team collaborated with I Marine Expeditionary Force to build the prototype barracks at the US Army Engineer Research and Development Center in Champaign, Illinois.

Never miss important industry news again – Click here to sign-up and receive the Weekly Round Up in your inbox every Saturday

The 3D printer was used to build a basic barracks hut measuring 500 sq ft (46 sq m) in just 40 hours. According to MCSC, it normally takes 10 Marines five days to construct a similar hut out of wood, so that’s a significant improvement.

The team began with a computer model and a 3D printer. Once they hit print, the actual construction process was very similar to previous 3D-printed concrete structures we’ve seen, and involved cement being extruded through a nozzle in layers to build up the undulating walls. We’ve no word on how the roof, windows and doors were added, but would guess that US Marines handled these finishing touches manually.

The Marine Corps is now carrying out more research to see how the technology can be employed in the field and if the construction process can be refined further. One suggestion made was that automating the pumping and mixing of the cement could speed up progress to just a day.

Keep reading on New Atlas