New uses for 3D printing are constantly being used, and in the US, the latest wave is using these devices to quickly build houses to solve the problem of roaming.
The Los Angeles City Council is already considering launching a 3D printer purchase project that will print materials for home construction, quickly providing housing for those who are homeless.
As NBC reports, Herb Wesson, Chairman of the Board, is at the origin of this initiative and is inspired by work done in Texas, where 350-square-foot homes were built in approximately 48 hours. He thinks it is possible to produce houses larger than 800 square feet at the same time with a full-capacity 3D printing operation.
Millionaire tax
Regarding funding sources, the council motion proposes seeking voter approval to tax people whose personal income exceeds € 1 million. The introduction of such a "millionaire tax" at a level of 0.5% would generate around € 240 million a year to move the project forward.
The aforementioned development for the homeless in Texas saw a 48-hour prototype house being built, as mentioned by a company called Icon, using a Vulcan II 3D printer, for a cost of around € 10,000.
The futures plan for this Texas-based community (in Austin) is to consist of 500 homes spread over about 50 acres.
The house shown at the top of this article is Icon's first 3D printed house, designed specifically for developing countries, created as a proof of concept last year.