Abstract
In architecture, the use of Additive Manufacturing (AM) technologies has been typically undermined by the long production time, elevated cost to manufacture parts and the low mechanical properties of 3D printed components. As AM becomes faster cheaper and stronger, opportunities for architectures that make creative use of AM to produce functional architectural pieces are emerging. In this paper, we propose and discuss the application of metal AM in complex space frames and the theoretical and practical implications. A functional lightweight metal table by the authors support our hypothesis that AM has a clear application in architecture and furniture design, and that space frames constitutes a promising structural typology. Specifically, we investigate how AM using metal as a material can be used in the application of fabrication of complex space frame structure components and connection details. The paper presents background research and our contribution to the digital design tools, the manufacturing and assembly processes, and the analysis of the performances of a parametrically designed and digitally fabricated large meeting table. Insights from this paper are deployed in an architectural scale project, AIRMesh, a metal 3D-printed pavilion set in the greenery of Gardens by the Bay, Singapore.
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