Take 3D printing to another level – Ice printing!

A group of students and faculties from McGill University in Montreal have developed a new, inexpensive way to sculpt 3D models – with water!!

This new ground breaking technology is brining the traditional rapid prototyping (RP) to a whole new level and the current practical applications of this project include commercial (outdoor) and industrial part modeling (guess the ice hotel in Quebec will be greatly interested in this project!). In fact, according to the official site this new environmental friendly method will improve the labour intensive ice construction industry with today’s computer technology.

BEHIND THE SCENE

The project was originally done by retrofitting the FAB@HOME model 1 desktop robot and then replaced with Adept Cobra 600 robot (also modified to suit the project requirements) which offers faster and more accurate result.

FAB@HOME Model 1 desktop robot                          Adept Cobra 600 robot

See the robots in action and more pictures
In fact, the future scope of the project will be expanded to the architectural level which means by using bigger robots and artificial snow delivering system; it is possible to construct buildings, and large structures from a simple computerized 3D model!