Multi-Robotic 3D Printing Wood-Based Slurry on Construction Scale

Abstract

In response to the escalating demand for rapid urbanization, the construction industry is compelled to shift towards sustainable alternatives, aiming to overcome various challenges, including shortages in skilled labor, material scarcity, and environmental degradation stemming from conventional and inefficient construction methods. 3D Printing (3DP) offers a transformative solution by digitizing construction processes and enabling the investigation of novel, sustainable materials that are biodegradable, reusable, and recyclable. Among these materials are wood- based slurry materials, which have the potential to divert 3 million tons of wood waste directed annually to landfills in the United States and recycle it in the production of various construction elements, making a step towards circular construction practices. This research investigates MR-3DP using wood-based slurry to manufacture ultra- lightweight, large-scale building components. This paper presents research that aims to investigate and understand the process parameters associated with the success and failure of printing construction scale objects using Multi- Robotic 3D Printing (MR-3DP) with wood-based slurry material. This is investigated through the design and fabrication of two non-load-bearing cavity wall prototypes.