MX3D is a R&D company that has used ABB robots to produce the world’s first functional 3D-printed steel bridge over an Amsterdam canal by 2017.

“The basics of the technology is pretty simple,” Mr Laarman explained in the movie, which was filmed at MX3D’s workshop in Amsterdam. “We’re using an industrial robot that is usually used in assembly lines in the car industry. We have combined this with a welding machine and our own software to have it 3D print in metal.”

The 6-axis robots that MX3D are adapting are able to rotate their arms along six different planes of movement. They build up structures by depositing small quantities of steel in layers. Unlike traditional 3D printers, robots can produce much larger structures by moving across them as they print.

“You’re not limited by size, so we can theoretically print endlessly big,” Mr Laarman said. The steel footbridge will span eight metres. MX3D originally intended to print the bridge in situ, but had to abandon that plan over health and safety concerns. Mr Laarman and his team will now reconstruct a section of the canal in their workshop to demonstrate that it could be done on site.

Watch below to see the bridge operational in Amsterdam.

MX3D
www.mx3d.com