Researchers at the University of Maine are making great strides for the world of large-scale 3D printing, and they’re doing it sustainably, exploring ways 3D printed homes could be an affordable, efficient, and adaptable solution to America’s housing crisis.
Ever wanted to own a boat? Why not print one? And while you’re at it, get yourself a #GuinessWorldRecord, or two. Oh and that’s not all – try and do it sustainably. That’s what researchers at UMaine’s Advanced Structures and Composites Center set out to do, trading shifts through the night to print a seaworthy vessel in under 72 hours. At 25′ long, weighing 5,000lbs, the 3Dirigo is currently “docked” inside the University of Maine’s Advanced Structures and Composites Center, 100,000 square feet of well-measured curiosity, where 260 scientists and whole lot of students ask big questions and solve big problems for #NASA, the #USMilitary and 500 plus corporations. It’s also home to the world’s largest #3Dprinter. Just big enough to print a record-breaking #boat.
Not only is UMaine making great strides for the world of large-scale 3D printing, they’re doing it sustainably, testing bio-based feedstocks to replace traditional petroleum based printing. As researcher James Anderson says, “fully bio-derived, fully recyclable, that’s the holy grail.” And that holy grail comes with the added bonus of boosting the bottom line, according to Drew Lyman of Lyman-Morse. The Lyman family has been building boats for 43 years and with new 3D printing molds, they’re saving time, money, and precious resources.
Today, researchers at UMaine are building applications for bio-based 3D printing on an even larger scale, exploring ways 3D printed homes could be an affordable, efficient, and adaptable solution to America’s housing crisis. This is public research and private enterprise at its best, spurring innovation and growth for the Pine Tree State and for all of us.
American Innovators: The World’s Largest 3D Printed Boat
Featuring:
Dr. Habib Dagher, Executive Director, UMaine’s Advanced Structures and Composites Center
James Anderson, Additive Manufacturing Research Thrust Leader, UMaine’s Advanced Structures and Composites Center
Dr. Susan MacKay, Senior R&D Program Manager, UMaine’s Advanced Structures and Composites Center
Drew Lyman, President/Owner, Lyman-Morse
Filmed at UMaine’s Advanced Structures and Composites Center in Orono, Maine, and at Lyman-Morse in Thomaston, Maine.
Directed by Eric Feigenbaum
Created by Conor Gaughan and Kate Tucker
Written and hosted by Kate Tucker
Produced by Consensus Digital Media in partnership with Remedial Media
Executive Producer – Kate Tucker
Executive Producer – Jessie English
Executive Producer – Eric Feigenbaum
Executive Producer – Conor Gaughan
Editor – Dustin Waldmen
Assistant Editor – David Connelly
Director of Photography – Jared Watson
Camera Operator – Gabriel Judet-Weinschel
Sound Engineer – Tom Eichler
Audio Mixer / Sound Design – Dillon Terry
Color Grading – Bilal Saif
Graphic Design – Stephen Lepsch
Made In America
Hidden away in small towns, on family farms, down winding roads, are uplifting American stories of innovation and strength – stories of what this country makes, and what makes this country great. We survive the toughest of times and we celebrate our victories. That’s the essence of being Made in America.
American Innovators
We are a country of mover-shaker risk-takers, if something doesn’t work, we fix it. That’s what it means to be Made in America. We’re explorers, dreamers, dare-to-believers and we’re working hard to make this nation stronger for all the future proud-to-be Americans. Sustainable. Resilient. Strong. American.