University of Maine
Setting sail into the future the world’s largest 3D Printed boat, 3Dirigo revolutionizes maritime manufacturing.
A team of researchers from the University of Maine has propelled maritime manufacturing into a new era with the unveiling of the 3Dirigo, the world’s largest 3D-printed boat. Garnering recognition from Guinness World Records for the largest 3D printed solid part, boat, and 3D printer, the 3Dirigo weighs 2.2 tons and boasts a length of 7.62 meters, showcasing the transformative power of large-format polymer 3D printing. The project, designed on a 30 x 6.70 x 3-meter 3D printer developed by the UMaine Advanced Structures and Composites Center in collaboration with Ingersoll Machine Tools, signifies a promising leap in maritime innovation. The large-format 3D printing not only breaks records but also opens doors to more sustainable and cost-effective boat manufacturing processes. The composite materials used in the construction of the 3Dirigo highlight the potential for additive manufacturing in revolutionizing traditional approaches.
The maritime sector is increasingly turning to large-format 3D printing to create entire structures in a single printing process, minimizing assembly and post-processing efforts. The 3Dirigo, built with a focus on composite materials, emphasizes the benefits of additive manufacturing in the marine industry. In a broader context, the University of Maine’s 3D printing initiatives extend beyond boat manufacturing. The university has collaborated with the Combat Capabilities Development Command (CCDC) to develop a 3.6-meter-long 3D-printed communication shelter for the US military. This demonstrates the versatility and potential applications of large-format 3D printing in civil, defense, and infrastructure projects.
This accomplishment follows a broader trend in maritime 3D printing, exemplified by Al Seer Marine’s creation of a 3D-printed water taxi. Not only breaking records for the world’s largest 3D printed boat, this initiative showcases the industry’s commitment to sustainability by utilizing 67% recycled materials.
As the maritime sector navigates the waters of innovation, the 3Dirigo serves as a beacon, signaling the transformative impact of large-format 3D printing on boat manufacturing and beyond. The future of maritime innovation is setting sail, propelled by the winds of additive manufacturing and sustainability.
University of Maine creates the world’s largest 3D printed boat.
World’s First 3D Printed Water Taxi Is Also Largest 3D Printed Boat.
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3D Printing news alert( Largest wood-based plastic 3D printer)
The largest wood-based plastic 3D printer was developed by a company called Additive Elements, located in Germany. The printer is called the AE11, and it has a build volume of 1.2 meters x 1.2 meters x 1.0 meters, making it one of the world’s largest wood-based plastic 3D printers. The printer uses a material called ARBOFORM, a sustainable and biodegradable plastic made from lignin, a natural polymer found in wood.
ARBOFORM is a unique material that creates 3D-printed objects with wood’s look, feel, and smell. The material is also strong and durable, making it suitable for various applications. One potential benefit of using wood-based plastic for 3D printing is that it is a renewable and sustainable material, unlike traditional petroleum-based plastics. Additionally, using wood-based plastic can help reduce waste and emissions in the manufacturing process. According to WAM, this printer can create objects up to 10 meters long, 3 meters wide, and 1.5 meters high, making it the world’s largest wood-based plastic 3D printer. The company claims that using recycled materials makes printing more sustainable than traditional 3D printing methods.
According to the office of Sen. Susan Collins, A 3D printed representation of the state of Maine presented by Habib Dagher, executive director of UMaine’s Advanced Structures and Composites Center, presented a 3D printed representation of Maine, “The material is nanocellulose, basically a tree ground up to its nanostructure. These materials have properties similar to metals,” Dagher said. “We are taking those and putting them in bioplastics to make very strong plastics that we can make almost anything with.”
UMaine will get world’s largest 3D printer and use wood-based plastic to make boat molds.
This entry was posted in 3D and 4D Additive Mechanical Engineering Design/ Wear Testing/ Materials Science/ Custom PC Builds/ Artistic Prints, Creative Projects, Translucent Filaments., 3D Printing Construction Technology/ Real Estate/ Housing/Architecture/ Cultural., 3D Printing/Space/ Carbon/Sustainable/Conservation., 3D/4D Printing//Customized Sports Safety/ Entertainment/Gaming/research., 3D/4D/Materials/Electronics., Policy. and tagged 3D Printing News Alert( Largest wood-based plastic 3D printer), boat mold, Habib Dagher, Largest wood-based plastic 3D printer, nanocellulose, polylactic acid, Sen. Susan Collins, UMaine, University of Maine, What other industries or applications do you think could benefit from the use of a large wood-based plastic 3D printer?.
