The Revolution Blog

These deathless 3D-printed Lego beams can build your dream home

Sunday, May 09, 2021

Lego blocks. They’re tiny marvels of engineering. Not only have they stood the test of time. They’re also pretty much indestructible (and you know how much we love tough things). So it’s no wonder grown men in Spain are keeping the childhood dream alive with a patent that’s set to revolutionize the construction industry: 3D-printed beams that connect like LEGO pieces and float light butterflies. They’re just as strong as concrete, only 80 percent lighter than your standard concrete beams.

According to researchers from the Polytechnic University of Valencia who developed the patent, the beams use recycled plastic as the raw ingredient. Thanks to their polymeric profile, they can be assembled and installed anywhere while maintaining their structural rigidity. And because they contain zero metal, they won’t corrode over time. The crack team was able to minimize the beam’s weight so dramatically by using an alveolar structure, a natural system found in human bones, to seal the deal.

Tough to destroy. Easy to work with. Sounds like certain rolling products we know...

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