Freeform 3D wall printing
Branch Technology has developed a systemic approach to 3D printing mesh structures that function as the backbone of a wall assembly. The Cellular Fabrication (C-Fab) process is based on the knowledge that composite structures, such as human bones and trees, are common in nature. In the C-Fab structures, optimized geometries are imparted strength and functionality by the mesh material, allowing exterior and interior surfaces to be finished in any fashion.
C-Fab is made possible by a free-form printing process that is not constrained by the slow, layer-upon-layer manufacturing method of traditional 3D printing. The printing head is connected to a 12.5′ (3.8 m) robotic armature that slides along a 33′ (10.1 m) rail and is capable of printing walls up to 58′ (17.7 m) in length. Branch Technology’s algorithm generates both the spatial data and robot-driven motion to build complex geometric structures without the need for support scaffolds. The free-form nature of the approach encourages architects and designers to explore dynamic forms as well as their structural implications, while minimizing the amount of material employed.
Contact: Branch Technology, Chattanooga, TN, USA.
For more information, see Transmaterial Next: A Catalog of Materials that Redefine Our Future
