new Delhi India’s Defense Infrastructure Development Agency MES (Military Engineering Services) has built two houses at South-Western Air Command, Gandhinagar and Jaisalmer, harnessing 3D rapid construction technology from the private sector. However, the use of 3D printers by the Indian Army is not limited to homes only.
Vidyashankar C, co-founder and chief operating officer, Tavasta Constructions, a Chennai-based firm that manufactured the 3D printed structures, said in an interview.
Institute of Technology-Madras, was incubated at Tavasta, which raised 30 million from the non-profit organization Habitat for Humanity, in October, was one of the first to successfully develop a one-story 3D-printed home meeting the protocol for traditional homes.
The startup is working with state-owned Central Building Research Institute and Structural Engineering Research Center for approvals to ensure that 3D printed structures are safe to live in.
Vidyashankar said the 3D printed houses for the Indian Air Force (IAF) were deployed within 35 days, while the conventional construction took six months.
He said the quick turnaround time is a major driver for increasing interest in 3D printing technology.
“Government organizations have shown great interest in the use of 3D printing for the defense and railway sectors,” said Swapnil Sansare, founder and CEO of Mumbai-based 3D printer manufacturer Divide by Zero.
He said that discussions are going on at multiple levels to ensure the feasibility and sustainability of the technology for building houses, bunkers and emergency structures.
The company is working with Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) on some projects, Sansare said without disclosing details.
Such 3D printed structures allow greater flexibility in designing.
The houses built by Tvasta for the IAF, for example, are different from the 600-square-foot one-bedroom residential unit built using a 3D printer in April 2021 at the IIT Madras campus. It was built in five days for affordable housing.
However, structures for the armed forces are specially designed for areas where conditions are unfavorable. “For the Air Force, we have used a new composite mix and a new design to adapt it to the local conditions. On the other hand, the units in Jaisalmer have a lot of curves to avoid sand deposits and this will spoil the material. The material also has anti ultra violet (UV) properties,” said Vidyashankar.
The manufacture of 3D-printed structures is also not labor intensive. While some parts are printed remotely and then assembled on site, printers can be installed on site to print and assemble if necessary.
Emailed queries to the Defense Ministry spokesperson regarding future deployment of 3D printed houses by the Armed Forces did not elicit any response till press time.
The Indian Armed Forces are not the only defense organization to explore the use of 3D printed structures.
Last August, the US military unveiled a 3D-printed 3,800 square foot barracks in Texas that can seat 72 people.
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