We have heard of 3D-printed scooters. But what about a 3D-printed steel bridge? Wait till you get to Amsterdam to see it in reality. In the Red Light District of Amsterdam, you will be able to see the steel bridge across the Oudezijds Achterburgwal canal. The bridge is dedicated to Queen Maxima of the Netherlands and was opened to pedestrians and cyclists last month.
The construction of the bridge was done by four giant, torch-wielding robots over a period of six months and used almost 4.9 tons of steel. This physical construction began after four years of research by the scientist at Dutch company MX3D so that the finished product will be flawless.
To ensure the safety of the bridge, it has a number of built-in sensors which will detect stress, movement, vibration, and temperature. The data will be regularly checked with the help of the digital twin of the bridge. The digital twin is a virtual bridge on a computer to help scientists to keep the structure in check.
Earlier 3D printing was the hobby of tech-savvy people but in recent years it has found a lot of industrial applications. Last year in California, a company developed a technique for 3D printing of houses in less than 24 hours. It was also used as a method to fill the gaps left from medical supply shortages throughout the pandemic.
