Submillimeter Formwork: 3D-Printed Plastic Formwork for Concrete Elements

Abstract

Submillimetre Formwork is a novel method for fabricating geometrically complex concrete parts with 3D-printed plastic formwork (Figure 1). This research investigates how 3D printing can be used to fabricate submillimetre-thin formwork. To achieve this, computational methods for optimizing the fabrication speed of formwork with plastic deposition 3D printing are developed, as well as methods to stabilize the minimal formwork during the casting process. Without any coating and post-processing steps, the plastic formwork is easily removable, recyclable and bio-degradable. The implications of Submillimetre Formwork are a considerable material reduction, faster off-site fabrication time for the formwork, ease of transportation to site, ease of on-site assembly and unprecedented design opportunities for free form and highly detailed concrete components.