It seems that there is now a new champion for the title of “world’s largest 3D printer”.
A post by COBOD’s CEO, Henrik Lund-Nielsen, revealed a new project by the construction 3D printer company, along with a new 3DCP printer.
The company’s previous 3DCP device, the BOD3, sported an enormous build volume and is able to 3D print concrete structures up to several stories tall. It has been used in multiple high-profile projects worldwide.
Now it seems that COBOD is going to the next level. Nielsen writes:
“I am extremely proud to share with you that the first of the two #BODXL printers from COBOD International has now been installed and is printing at the UCC Holding school building site in Doha. The printer was inaugurated at a VIP event this week in Doha.”
It looks like the BODXL is a new and even larger device. According to Nielsen, the build volume of this titanic machine is a staggering 50 x 30 x 15 m. For reference, that would be 50,000 x 30,000 x 15,000 mm, equivalent to 1.34 MILLION Bambu Lab machines.
Nielsen said the BODXL is 4X the size of the next biggest 3DCP printer:
“On its own, this printer can produce a 1,500 m2 (16,146 sq ft) footprint up to 5 floors, equivalent to a five-floor building of 7,500 m2 (80,730 sq ft).”
Let’s just think about that for a moment. This machine can print an 80,000sf, five-story building.
Of course, the BODXL is just printing the concrete portions, and the remaining HVAC, plumbing, surfaces, windows, electrical, etc., must all be done using conventional trades. Nevertheless, this is an astounding development.
Nielsen believes this move signals a shift into a “new era”, and he could be correct. If COBOD is able to extend the dimensions of the BODXL further, which is quite likely, then we could see enormous buildings being 3D printed in rapid time.
