Space-filling and print path generation methods for large-area 3D concrete printing pavements

Abstract

3D concrete printing (3DCP) technology is a construction method that offers a unique combination of automation and customization. However, when the printing area goes large, generating the print path becomes a sophisticated work. That’s because the customized print path should not only be expandable but also printable, such rules are hard to follow as both the printing area and construction requirements increase. In this paper, the Shenzhen Baoan 3D Printing Park project serves as a case study to introduce space-filling and print path generation methods for three types of large-area concrete pavement. The space-filling methods utilize geometry-based rules to generate complex and expandable paving patterns, while the print path generation methods utilize construction-oriented rules to convert these patterns into print paths. The research provides easy-to-operate design and programming workflows to achieve a pavement printing area of 836 sqm, which significantly increases the construction scale of large-format additive manufacturing (LFAM) and shows the potential of 3D printing technology to reach non-standard results by using standard workflows.