USING the world’s largest prototype polymer 3D printer, a University of Maine team built the world’s largest 3D-printed boat, which also happened to be the world’s largest solid 3D-printed object.
The team tested the seaworthiness of its eight metre, two tonne ship, dubbed 3Dirigo, in University of Maine’s Alfond W2 Ocean Engineering Laboratory, which features a multidirectional wave basin and a high-performance wind machine.
According to a press release, 3Dirigo isn’t the biggest object the university’s 3D printer can construct – it can print objects up to 30 metres long, six metres wide, and 3 metres high!
Reportedly, the university has several applications for the printer lined up, too, including a partnership with the U.S. Army.
