UNSW Collaborations
In 2021, Luyten 3D, collaborated with the University of New South Wales (UNSW) designed and built the ‘Heptapod’, a 3D-printed house in Melbourne, Australia. [7] [2] This marked the first building code-compliant, 3D-printed home in the Southern Hemisphere (AS/NZS 1170). [8] [9] The structure required two days for printing and one additional day for assembly of the printed elements. [10] The printed elements gained sufficient strength after 5 hours, resulting in significant reductions in production time and up to 80% savings in labor costs. [11]
In 2022, Luyten 3D collaborated with UNSW to adapt its terrestrial construction technology for lunar applications. [12] It developed a 3D printer and 3D printing mix to print lunar accommodations on the moon as part of Project Meeka. [13] [14] Academic analysis has noted that while Luyten's approach proposes using platforms and printers similar to terrestrial ones, this is one of several proposed methods for lunar construction. [15] The project sought to address two critical challenges in lunar construction: materials and lightweight building tools. Led by architectural designer and 3D printing specialist Brandon Nelson, the project proposed high-strength cylindrical structures specifically engineered to withstand the harsh lunar environment through extensive simulation testing. [12] The project represented part of a broader trend of startup companies entering the space exploration sector. [12]
In 2023, in collaboration with UNSW, Luyten 3D received $2.9 million (AUD) from Australian Federal Government as part of a Cooperative Research Centres Project (CRC-P) grant. This grant was awarded to develop affordable and sustainable 3D printed housing. [16] [17] [18] [19]
The project involves transporting Luyten's 3D printers to construction sites across Australia, using cost-effective, sustainable, and carbon-neutral local materials for construction. Luyten 3D’s printers are designed to withstand extreme temperatures, function off-road, and remain lightweight to minimize transport costs. The collaboration, alongside Giraffe Technology, Ark Built, and Hanson Construction Materials, focused on developing 3D printed houses that are best suited to remote mining and Indigenous communities across Australia. [11] [9] Focusing on environmental requirements produced housing that was more cost-effective and sustainable than existing prefabrication alternatives.
