Large-Scale Interactive 3-D Printing Technology to Demo at METALCON

NEWTON, Mass. – The largest international event for the metal construction industry will showcase a 3-D printing technology project developed by the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory and industry partners at METALCON’s annual tradeshow and conference on Oct. 26.

As part of its focus on technology this year, METALCON is featuring ORNL’s Additive Manufacturing Integrated Energy project. AMIE demonstrates rapid innovation through additive manufacturing, or 3-D printing, addressing electricity supply and reliability challenges via an integrated approach to power generation, storage and consumption.

AMIE connects a natural gas-powered hybrid electric vehicle with a high-performance building―both printed on the world’s largest polymer 3-D printer. Power flows between the vehicle and building using a fast, efficient bi-directional wireless power transfer technology developed by ORNL. The structure’s 3.2-kilowatt solar panel system, paired with the electric vehicle’s batteries, generates and stores renewable power.  It is a model for energy-efficient systems that link buildings, vehicles and the grid―a breakthrough in offsetting power supply disruptions.

In addition, AMIE exemplifies additive manufacturing’s rapid prototyping potential in design, manufacturing and construction technologies, which will enable products to go to market more quickly and reduce the amount of waste generated by traditional construction methods.

Dr. Roderick Jackson, the technical lead for AMIE and the Building Envelope Systems Research group leader at ORNL, is a special guest speaker at METALCON. Jackson, who has a background in construction, will present the Future of Design and Technology Trends in Construction followed by a guided tour of AMIE in the exhibit hall. He will explain multiple uses of this new technology combined into one project and discuss the potential of integrated design, build and energy efforts.