Automation of printing path design for 3D concrete printing using BIM

• Main Author: Lee, Brian Jia Shen
• Other Authors: Qian Shunzhi
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2019
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Civil engineering::Construction technology
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/78426
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

In this report, a program to automate 3D printing path design has been developed. Current 3D printing path design procedures were examined and were found to be inefficient and laborious. The development of this novel program will allow designers to immediately translate their drawings done in a 3D BIM software into a G-code file that is readable by the 3D printer. The program aims to eliminate the need for manual printing path design and improve the operability of a BIM software model. Revit has been chosen to be the environment to develop this program because of its versatility and its extensive usage in the building and construction industry. As such, the program was constructed in Dynamo, a highly Revit-compatible visual programming platform. The program developed is an end-to-end solution that will empower Revit to slice, automate infill path design, tool path generation and output the G-code for 3D concrete printing of structural walls. All these functions will be performed within Revit, simply with a click of a button. The program has succeeded in facilitating the 3D printing of closed loop wall structures.