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DrMcMeow OP t1_j61th0h wrote
The University of Maine printed the first prototype in their on-campus facility in 2022.
Now they will be partnering with community action agency, Penquis
Penquis is receiving $3.3 million to support the project to build the first bio-based 3D printed neighborhood.
Penquis President and CEO, Kara Hay is thrilled with the partnership.
“We’re really excited! We know that in Maine we have a housing crisis both with affordability and access. We need solutions that are innovative and that can be affordable and quick,” said Hay.
The project is a joint effort in association with UMaine, MaineHousing, Maine’s congressional delegation, and the Key Bank Foundation.
The 3D printed homes are printed with materials such as wood residuals and bio-resin.
With the amount of materials in Maine, this neighborhood could be just the beginning of many more.
Dr. Habib Dagher, the founding executive director of the University of Maine Advanced Structures and Composites Center, said: “The goal is to make money 50% wood and 50% bio-resin. You may ask me, ‘Is there enough of these wood residuals in Maine to build homes?’ We did a survey, and we have about a million tons of what residuals every year in our region. A 600 square foot home, which is what we printed uses, 10 tons of of that material. So, you take a million tons divided by 10 tons every year, we have enough material to produce 100,000, 600 square foot homes.”
The creation of this neighborhood will also help UMaine polish-up the printing, shipping, and assembling process that goes into taking scraps of wood, and making them into complete home.
This will also be the path of the school’s Factory of the Future, where the houses will be built.
It will be a first-of-its-kind research and learning facility that will usher-in the future of digital manufacturing in true Dirigo spirit.
Hay added: “There’s something that happens around innovation, where even for those who have stigma against people that are struggling financially, the conversation the narrative changes when you pair innovation with the work. So one of the things we’re really excited about is being able to address stigma more directly.”
PatsFreak101 t1_j63g5cr wrote
It looks like one of those “Homes of the future” from like the 1950s. Which is ironic considering.
clhomme t1_j67t3uu wrote
And que Reddit debate on the use of the word ironic...
BracedRhombus t1_j6346g4 wrote
Amazing! There's still questions to be answered. How will it stand up to the environment? Will the materials outgas hazardous fumes? What is the snow load rating of the roof? Fire rating?
That said, I believe we will see more of these homes in the future.
papergirl222 t1_j63wser wrote
A flat roof in Maine? Snow is going to pile up on that.
timkyoung t1_j64ipmj wrote
Most commercial buildings have flat roofs. It's not as though it's impossible to design a structure with a low pitch roof that withstand a heavy snow load.
blutigetranen t1_j65gtjy wrote
Yup. Two of em shutdown in Scarborough cause of snow the other day, too
timkyoung t1_j64iutl wrote
"It's new and different, therefore it must be bad."
- some guy, probably
Candygramformrmongo t1_j62gj64 wrote
100,000 of those a year? We’re gonna need a bigger trailer park.
HappyHunt1778 t1_j61t8pc wrote
Yeah that sounds like some Bangor kinda shit tbh
IamSauerKraut t1_j61tq8q wrote
Did you type that from your rusty, 1950's single wide?
biglymonies t1_j62pa6t wrote
"New New Capehart" lol
Yourbubblestink t1_j61yknf wrote
Where exactly?
Candygramformrmongo t1_j62g56q wrote
In the new 3D Print Home Park.
clhomme t1_j67t7ub wrote
Some day to be referred colloquially as the 3D park.
Notmystationbro t1_j61x5n2 wrote
Pretty cool but quite the eyesore
Yourbubblestink t1_j61ym57 wrote
It looks like a mobile home.
Notmystationbro t1_j61zsez wrote
It is but with a more catchy name lol
YolksOnU t1_j64lgwz wrote
Sounds like a great place to test the technology, if it works here, it works almost anywhere. Maine's rough on structures.
secret-handshakes t1_j63i24q wrote
What, exactly, is bioresin? Is it plastic? Does it off gas? How flammable? What’s the R-value? Anyone have a link to this type of data?
[deleted] t1_j63p07s wrote
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EastRaccoon5952 t1_j66p7fm wrote
Bioresins are specifically not made of petroleum, and yeah its coated in a paint, just like most stuctures open to the environment are.
RealMainer t1_j63vlje wrote
Some sort of plasticrete (Plastic and wood shavings mixed together). Flammable probably, but very hard to actually catch on fire. You'd basically have to try really hard to set it on fire, but once it goes up it'll burn like an old tire.
It sounds like Maine housing is involved, so rather than a resale value, they will probably be rented to low income families.
rectumlike t1_j65a797 wrote
my favorite part is they're made from organic materials, big win for the environment.
Swimming-Surprise-50 t1_j63zbad wrote
You can tell this was designed by those whom have never owned a home before
[deleted] t1_j65ksk5 wrote
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pennieblack t1_j64dpxm wrote
Kinda chuckling at all the folks saying this is ugly. The model certainly looks nicer than any entry-level mobile home.
600 square feet, no shared walls with the neighbors, all the basic necessities, and a porch. These are being made in Maine, through the hardwork and innovation of Maine schools and organizations. What a fantastic project - I hope it helps many people.