In partnership with Gate Precast, ORNL developed a 3D printed precast concrete mold using a carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic known as CF-ABS. Traditional wood molds are fragile and require skilled workers to build them. While the CF-ABS molds had a higher upfront cost, the speed of production and increased durability made them a better choice for large projects that require many duplicate castings.
The molds were used in the renovation of the One South First building in Domino Park of Brooklyn, New York. Since the project, the technology has been transferred to industry partner Additive Engineering Solutions, which has since supplied the molds for dozens of construction projects around the US.
SUPPORT
This project was funded in part by the US Department of Energy’s Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office.