Are the challenges with 3D printing just technological or is there more?

As builders and architects challenge conventional wisdom in how to build structures, technical challenges are becoming apparent as this promising technology emerges from its infancy. One of the most apparent challenges is printing the scale of objects in conventional building like walls, floors and roofs. At the moment, 3D printers are better at jewelry than joists, but that is changing as more large scale developments in printing technology hit the market.

Another challenge is the increasing complexity of objects in a modern structure. Electrical wiring, plumbing and even finishes are proving a challenge to the current generation of printers. Several projects are approaching this in a sequential manner, printing one substrate, then another to build the complexity required for a fully functioning structure.

Take a look at the video below to see how architects and engineers are handling the challenges, from California to Amsterdam to China.