| 摘要: |
| 家用3D 打印技术可满足大众的定
制化需求，实现小产品的自主设计与制造，
但在适合人体活动的中尺度空间营造方面，
往往受到打印尺寸、打印速度、构件强度等
因素限制而鲜有应用。本研究旨在设计、测
试并验证一套基于家用3D打印节点的空间
建构系统。采用通过设计做研究的方法，通
过竹构作品“自由地生长”的设计与建造过
程，探索家用3D打印技术应用于空间建构
的具体途径，即基于家用3D打印工艺的研
发，自主设计与制造节点连接管材，研发并
验证具备高自由度的空间建构系统。在不依
赖工厂与大型加工机械的情况下，大众仍然
可以运用家用3D打印技术自主设计并快速
建造适合人体活动尺度的复杂造型构筑物。
研究拓宽了家用3D打印机的应用范围，降
低了参数化设计的专业门槛，为原竹建筑提
供了新的节点构造方式，拓展了原竹设计的
自由度。 |
| 关键词: 建构 增材制造（3D打印） 原竹构
筑 装配式建造 通过设计做研究（RTD） |
| DOI：10.13791/j.cnki.hsfwest.20240421001 |
| 分类号: |
| 基金项目:广州市基础与应用基础研究项目（202102080396） |
|
| Exploration and practice of spatial tectonics based on home 3D-printed technology |
|
XIONG Lu,LUO Yue,LIN Guangsi
|
| Abstract: |
| Under the backdrop of the “Third Industrial Revolution” and “Industry 4.0”, digital
fabrication and household 3D printing technologies have significantly narrowed the gap between
public participation and professional design-manufacturing processes, creating new opportunities for
democratized production. Although household 3D printing has been widely adopted for designing and
manufacturing small-scale personalized products, its application in human-scale spatial construction
remains constrained by three critical limitations: print volume, production speed, and structural
integrity. This study employs the research through design (RTD) methodology, using bamboo
construction as a medium, to develop, test, and validate a spatial construction system based on
household 3D-printed joints. The research explores the feasibility of applying household 3D printing
technology to spatial construction while balancing design autonomy, structural reliability, and
manufacturing efficiency. Over a 10-month development cycle, the research team conducted three
rounds of design iterations and three full-scale prototype tests, ultimately establishing a comprehensive
digital fabrication solution. The study begins by systematically reviewing the historical evolution of
democratized industrial design, tracing the trajectory from the Arts and Crafts Movement’s revival of
handicrafts to modernist mass production, and finally to the current era of personalized customization
enabled by digital manufacturing. Through comparative analysis of design characteristics across
different industrial revolutions, the research highlights how household 3D printing promotes public
participation in manufacturing through open-source platforms and low-cost equipment. Special
attention is given to the role of open-source communities in democratizing technology following the
expiration of Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) patents. However, conventional FDM printers face
significant challenges in spatial construction applications: the standard build volume of 300 mm is far
smaller than required for human-scale spaces; the typical deposition rate of 50 g/h is insufficient for
construction efficiency; and the structural strength of components produced through standard processes
fails to meet safety requirements. To address these limitations, this study proposes an innovative
solution: a modular construction system that connects raw bamboo members using 3D-printed joints.
Leveraging the geometric freedom of 3D printing, the system replaces traditional orthogonal
connection methods (e.g., hinged or nailed joints) to achieve material adaptability and multi-angular
spatial configurations. Four key technological innovations drive breakthrough progress: 1)
development of a 1.75 mm large-diameter nozzle process, adjusting nozzle flow to form a 4 mm wall
thickness; 2) optimization of high-temperature extrusion parameters (260 ℃), significantly enhancing
interlayer bonding strength; 3) development of customized slicing algorithms based on the
Grasshopper platform; 4) innovative spiral ascending printing path to avoid strength weak points
inherent in traditional processes. These technological innovations not only substantially improve
component strength but also increase printing speed by approximately 10 times. Additionally, an
intelligent parametric design tool was developed, enabling users to automatically generate optimized
joint designs by simply inputting basic parameters such as bamboo diameter and connection angles.
The system was successfully implemented during the competition for 2021 Chengdu Park City
International Garden Festival and the 4th BFU international garden-making festival. Using just seven
household 3D printers (priced at ￥1 000-3 000 each) and modular assembly techniques, the teamconstructed a bamboo structure with excellent seismic performance. The design employed a graded structural system, utilizing PETG material joints for the main
frame and flexible TPU joints for secondary structures, achieving both overall stability and dynamic aesthetic appeal. Despite continuous heavy rainfall and a 6.0-
magnitude earthquake, the team completed the earthquake-resistant bamboo structure, which won first prize in the competition. Notably, when power outages
prevented the use of electric tools, the system’s prefabricated construction advantages became particularly evident, as assembly was completed using only
manual tools. Furthermore, the design achieved “structural poetics” by exposing joint logic while integrating bamboo branches and strategic lighting, creating a
harmonious synthesis of industrial precision and natural aesthetics. This study demonstrates that laypersons can autonomously design and rapidly construct
geometrically complex, human-scale structures using household 3D printing technology without relying on industrial facilities or heavy machinery. The findings
significantly expand the application scope of consumer-grade 3D printers, lower the technical threshold for parametric design implementation, introduce novel
jointing methodologies for bamboo architecture, and substantially enhance design freedom in bamboo-based construction. In the future, this construction system
and process could be applied to participatory community building, further exploring the democratized spatial construction in the context of “Industry 4.0”. |
| Key words: tectonics additive manufacturing (3D printing) raw bamboo structure prefabricated construction research through design (RTD) |
