Summary Reader Response - Draft 1 [INCOMPLETE]

ICON’s website, aptly titled “Technology” (n.d.), introduces the Vulcan Construction System, a 3D-printing-based construction system that operates through unifying hardware, software, and construction materials. Vulcan is a gantry-system-based, large-scale construction-use 3D printer. Designed to be transported quickly and assembled on-site, as reported by Yashar et al. (2023) for their work with NASA, it is capable of printing volumes up to 38 thousand cubic feet without needing to be repositioned. Magma is a portable factory that dries, hydrates, and adjusts the mixing formula for Lavacrete in real-time based on site conditions. Once ready for printing, Lavacrete is then supplied from Magma to Vulcan. Lavacrete is a proprietary high-strength cement-based material, designed for use with Magma and Vulcan, with compressive strength rated at 2000 - 3500 psi. Lastly, BuildOS is a collection of software products that makes up ICON’s operating system, boasting CAD and print planning capabilities, as well as real-time machine learning and predictive analytics through interfacing with Vulcan and Magma, assisting workers in controlling and refining the printing process.

The Vulcan Construction System has proven itself more than just a gimmick, as housing projects built using the system have showcased advantages against conventional housing construction methods in the United States, with lower construction costs and faster project completion. Though, this construction system at present cannot be applied to build multiple-story buildings due to being height-limited by the gantry.

A study on the environmental footprint and economics of 3D-printed housing by Abdalla et al. (2021) finds that a 3D-printed house boasts “78% reduction in the overall capital costs when compared to conventional construction methods.” This comes about due to multiple factors. The exclusion of construction components, such as steel, concrete and formworks found in conventionally constructed concrete housing resulted in 49% of savings. Meanwhile, lifecycle assessment and lifecycle costing analysis on construction components, equipment (e.g., 3D printer), and electricity tariffs show that while the lifecycle cost of the 3D printer itself is contributes to over 90% of [incomplete text hereafter]

 

Reference List:

ICON. (n.d.) Technology – ICON. https://www.iconbuild.com/technology

Yashar, M., Glasgow, C., Mehlomakulu, B., Ballard, J., Salazar, J. O., Mauer, S. Covey, S. (2023) Mars Dune Alpha: A 3D-Printed Habitat by ICON/BIG for NASA's Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA). Earth and Space 2022 - Space Exploration, Utilization, Engineering, and Construction in Extreme Environments, 976-984. https://ascelibrary.org/doi/epdf/10.1061/9780784484470.082

Abdalla et al. - https://doi.org/10.3390/su132111978