POWERWASP 3D Printer / Milling Machine in one !
Build envelope: 260 x 200 x 210 mm
Lead time: 4 weeks Italy / 6 weeks elsewhere
Nozzle diameters: 0.35 mm
Positioning precision: for x and y axis: 0,012 mm, for z axis: 0,4 µm
Input format: STL (printing), DXF (milling)
Software: open source (cura, slic3r, printrun excetera)
System compatibility: Windows XP, Vista, Mac OSX, Linux, Ubuntu
"Massimo Moretti had a dream: building houses using a 3D printer and saving the world. 20 years ago he set up CSP, an innovative project development center focusing on research of new and innovative ideas. The RepRap project opens his mind. During his research he got the inspiration from nature: wasp builds it's nest by only depositing and consolidating the mud.
Together with a group of ISIA (design university) students, the team started WASP (World's Advanced Saving Project). The first 3D printer WASP developed is POWERWASP, a unique open source 3D printer that can extrude not only plastics but also clay by switching the head, and it is also a milling machine! They call it "a personal fab".
So far 3D printing plastics has been proven to be extremely accurate (0.05 mm layer precision) and fast (200mm/s). See the image below, a little frog is printed with layer thickness 0.05mm. Impressive!
Another big step the WASP project takes is developing Delta Robot, based on the Rostock (delta robot 3D printer). The team plans to raise (or gain) funds for building and developing a huge version of Delta Robot for printing houses. " ~ 3ders.org
This is extremely useful project. Scientist from MIT is also trying to create similar to Delta Robot "Building 3D Printer". But their idea is to hang 3d printer between the buildings on wires.
I would use quadrocopters to build the building brick by brick. But the material would be "intelligent" - it should rearranged with excellent precision and solidify in the end.
