Recently, engineers at the University of Maine unveiled an impressive new machine: the world’s largest 3-D printer! This device builds up layers of material, such as plastic, to create solid objects. It can print designs as big as 29 meters (96 feet) wide and 5 m (18 ft) tall. That’s bigger than an average house!
The 3-D printer can also build objects out of materials like plant-based plastic and wood fibers. These materials can be recycled and reprinted again and again, explains structural engineer Habib Dagher.
Since April 2024, the massive printer has created boats, buildings, and flying drones. In the future, engineers plan to use the machine to create a floating ocean research center, as well as a whole neighborhood of affordable housing.