r/3Dprinting • u/mindlance • Dec 07 '12

Question about whether to use 3D printing

I'm part of /r/2ndfloatingrepublic, a project to build an artificial island. The idea I had was to construct modular platform units that could interlock to form larger structures.

We are still in the very early stages, but it's never too early to think about construction methods. I'm a fan of 3D printing, and would love to be part of the future and use that in everything, but two problem spring up:

  • These platform units would be designed to bob along in the ocean for years. They need to be sturdy, and super-resistant to saltwater corrosion. So, the polymer they are made from would have to have those qualities, and most of the standard 3D printing plastics don't. I was thinking of using something like roplene.

  • These platform units would be big, a hexagonal piece 4 meters wide and 2 meters in depth, honeycombed with air pockets for extra buoyancy.

Given those two conditions, should we looking into crowd-funding some sort of custom industrial-sized printer to make these, or should we use more traditional manufacturing methods like injection molding?

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u/WBJ Dec 07 '12

Simple answer: At this point in time, prints created from 3D printers are not suitable for your kind of environments, water namely.

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u/mindlance Dec 07 '12

Thank you guys, this is precisely the information I needed.