3D Printed Bridges

Continuing to expand uses.

3D-Printed Bridges Promise Smarter, Greener Transit Links

The Wall Street Journal, Daniel Michaels, November 3, 2021

Three-dimensionally (3D)-printed bridges have been erected in the Netherlands, China, Spain, and the U.S., and Dutch technology startup MX3D this summer installed an artistic pedestrian bridge 3D-printed from stainless steel in Amsterdam. Advocates believe the technology will eventually scale up to accommodate longer bridges that are easier to maintain and build at less environmental cost. MX3D's system uses an industrial robotic arm that welds the tip of an unspooling metal wire on a constantly changing path. Meanwhile, the U.S. Marines in 2018 3D-printed a concrete foot bridge across a gully in California using standard construction equipment and custom-designed machinery. Mike Haley at design software company Autodesk expects longer bridges that can support vehicles to be 3D-printable within five years.