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The University of Maine has revealed a colossal 3D printer, capable of constructing a house.
Staff claim the printer is the biggest in the world.
They say it beats the university's previous record for the largest polymer 3D printer.
The new device is called the Factory of the Future 1.0 (FoF 1.0)
It is four times larger than its predecessor and can print objects up to 96 feet long—about the size of a blue whale.
Despite the innovative advancement, industry experts believe traditional brick and mortar will remain the predominant material for constructing homes.
Dr. Eujin Pei, a specialist in additive manufacturing at Brunel University, saidthe printers could be used in creating house components.
He said it could be used "not to print a house, but sometimes to print decorative parts, or sometimes to restore some parts."
Dr. Pei also highlighted the utility of such printers in disaster recover.
The machines where they could quickly produce replacement parts for damaged buildings.
The University envisions the FoF 1.0 serving a broader purpose.
It said it could fabricate affordable housing, bridges, boats, and wind turbines.
It has a capability of printing up to 500 pounds of material per hour.
Future plans for the printer include the use of sustainable and recycled materials, with a specific interest in utilizing wood residue from Maine's extensive sawmills.
However, Dr. Pei said while wood is more eco-friendly, it lacks the durability of other materials.
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Habib Dagher, head of the university's Advanced Structures and Composites Center, said the development of FoF 1.0 was partly supported by the US military.
He added it incorporates advanced technology including "sensors, high-performance computing and artificial intelligence" to aid in the manufacture of large-scale products.
The record-setting printer managed to build a prototype bungalow and the new printer aims to address Maine's housing shortage more substantially.
Both printers can also be used concurrently in the production of the same object, expanding their manufacturing capabilities.
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