By — Alexandra Sarabia Alexandra Sarabia Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/china-unveils-worlds-largest-3d-printer Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter China unveils the world’s largest 3-D printed structure World Oct 8, 2015 4:00 PM EDT VULCAN, the world’s largest 3-D printed architectural structure, was recently unveiled during Beijing Design Week 2015. The pavilion, which is displayed in Beijing’s Parkview Green was constructed from 1,023 individually printed 3-D units and measures 26.5 feet in length and 9.5 feet in height, according to Inhabitat. Twenty large-scale 3-D printers were used to complete the units that assemble the pavilion, as described on the site Designboom. The white undulating lattice structure resembles a volcano, hence the name Vulcan, the Latin term for volcano. Silkworm cocoons inspired the architects behind the design, Yu Lei and Xu Feng of the Laboratory for Creative Design. 3-D printing creates three-dimensional objects from computer-generated designs. A design can be made using digital or animation modeling software like computer-aided design, which can then be sent to a 3-D printer, as explained in Mashable. Rubber and plastic can be used to make these designs. Previously, only small-scale objects from industries ranging from fashion to medicine could be 3-D-printed. There has been much discussion about how 3D printing could transform the architecture and construction industries. VULCAN was just awarded the Guinness World Record for the world’s largest 3-D printed structure. Editor’s note: The headline has been changed to reflect that China has unveiled the largest 3-D printed structure, not printer. By — Alexandra Sarabia Alexandra Sarabia
VULCAN, the world’s largest 3-D printed architectural structure, was recently unveiled during Beijing Design Week 2015. The pavilion, which is displayed in Beijing’s Parkview Green was constructed from 1,023 individually printed 3-D units and measures 26.5 feet in length and 9.5 feet in height, according to Inhabitat. Twenty large-scale 3-D printers were used to complete the units that assemble the pavilion, as described on the site Designboom. The white undulating lattice structure resembles a volcano, hence the name Vulcan, the Latin term for volcano. Silkworm cocoons inspired the architects behind the design, Yu Lei and Xu Feng of the Laboratory for Creative Design. 3-D printing creates three-dimensional objects from computer-generated designs. A design can be made using digital or animation modeling software like computer-aided design, which can then be sent to a 3-D printer, as explained in Mashable. Rubber and plastic can be used to make these designs. Previously, only small-scale objects from industries ranging from fashion to medicine could be 3-D-printed. There has been much discussion about how 3D printing could transform the architecture and construction industries. VULCAN was just awarded the Guinness World Record for the world’s largest 3-D printed structure. Editor’s note: The headline has been changed to reflect that China has unveiled the largest 3-D printed structure, not printer.