World’s first 3D-printed bridge opens in the Netherlands

The Netherlands just made history by officially opening the world’s first 3D-printed bridge. On Tuesday, Dutch officials celebrated the opening of the innovative bridge, which is 8 meters (26 ft) long and located near the town of Gemert. Thanks to reinforced, pre-stressed concrete and 3D-printing techniques, the bridge (which is primarily intended for cyclists) can safely bear the weight of 40 trucks. In total, the structure took just three months to build. Said Theo Salet, from the Eindhoven University of Technology, “The bridge is not very big, but it was rolled out by a printer which makes it unique.” Using 3D-printing techniques, less concrete is used than would be required to fill a conventional mold. Says the official website, “a printer deposits the concrete only where it is needed.” The bridge, which is 8 meters (26 feet) long, spans a water-filled ditch to connect two roads. Though the bridge is intended to be used by cyclists , the BAM Infra construction company determined that it can safely bear loads of up to two tonnes — or 40 trucks — through testing. It took the company just 3 months to build the bridge, which has approximately 800 layers. Related: This twisting tower is made out of 2,000 3D-printed terracotta bricks Said the head of BAM, Marinus Schimmel, in a statement , “We are looking to the future. Schimmel added that BAM is ”searching for a newer, smarter approach to addressing infrastructure issues and making a significant contribution to improving the mobility and sustainability of our society.” This project also established the eco-friendly benefits of 3D printing. “Fewer scarce resources were needed, and there was significantly less waste,” said Schimmel. The Netherlands is but one country experimenting with 3D-printed infrastructure. The United States and China, for instance, are using the cutting-edge technology to create structures from scratch without relying on traditional manpower. Elsewhere in The Netherlands, a Dutch start-up called MX3D has started printing a stainless-steel bridge . Reportedly, up to one-third is already completed, and they aim to complete it by March of 2018. Time will reveal what other fascinating, environmentally-friendly structures will be constructed using 3D printing . + Eindhoven University of Technology Via Phys Images via Eindhoven University of Technology

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World’s first 3D-printed bridge opens in the Netherlands

INFOGRAPHIC: How You Can Save Money and the Environment by Changing Your Font

Did you know that printer ink costs up to thousands of dollars per liter? This pricey commodity is said to be one of the most expensive commercially produced liquids in the world and can cost double or more than high-end luxury perfumes like Chanel No. 5. But if you can’t swap your printer for good ol’ pencil and paper, you can still make a difference in your ink usage and the amount of printer paper used by changing your font and your spelling. Click through to learn more in this infographic by pixartprinting . + pixartprinting The article above was submitted to us by an Inhabitat reader. Want to see your story on Inhabitat ? Send us a tip by following this link . Remember to follow our instructions carefully to boost your chances of being chosen for publishing!

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INFOGRAPHIC: How You Can Save Money and the Environment by Changing Your Font

Tolly the Topiary Cat explores the English countryside as an homage to a beloved pet

Richard Saunders wanted to honor his late, beloved pet, so he took his cat Tolly around the English countryside for a series of quirky adventures. Dubbed the Topiary Cat, the images show the cat covered in greenery and plants and digitally inserted into botanical landscapes. The touching tribute has taken the interwebs by storm.

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Tolly the Topiary Cat explores the English countryside as an homage to a beloved pet

INFOGRAPHIC: 7 cool crafts to make with your home printer

Have you considered using your printer as a crafting tool ? Whether you’re scrambling for some last-minute holiday decor ideas , or are looking for some unique, crafty gifts to make, your printer can actually be of a lot more use than just printing out instructions. You can use it to print on napkins, fabric, waxed paper , or even tissues, and those items can then be used to create a variety of different items. Check out the full-sized infographic after the jump for some cool crafting ideas that you can try out this weekend. Read the rest of INFOGRAPHIC: 7 cool crafts to make with your home printer Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags:

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INFOGRAPHIC: 7 cool crafts to make with your home printer

INFOGRAPHIC: How You Can Save Money and the Environment by Changing Fonts and Spelling

Did you know that printer ink costs up to thousands of dollars per liter? This pricey commodity is said to be one of the most expensive commercially produced liquids in the world and can cost double or more than high-end luxury perfumes like Chanel No. 5. But if you can’t swap your printer for good ol’ pencil and paper, you can still make a difference in your ink usage and the amount of printer paper used by changing your font and your spelling. Click through to learn more in this infographic by pixartprinting . + pixartprinting Read the rest of INFOGRAPHIC: How You Can Save Money and the Environment by Changing Fonts and Spelling Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: fonts , infographic , pixartprinting , printer , printer ink , reader submitted content

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INFOGRAPHIC: How You Can Save Money and the Environment by Changing Fonts and Spelling

California Lawmakers Pass Nation’s First Statewide Plastic Bag Ban

California just scored a major potential win for the environment last Friday, when the State Senate approved the nation’s first statewide ban on single-use plastic grocery bags . The Senate passed the ban with a 22-15 vote just one day after the controversial bill won approval from the State Assembly. If Democratic Governor Jerry Brown signs the legislation into law by September 30, California’s plastic bag ban would go into effect starting July 1, 2015. Read the rest of California Lawmakers Pass Nation’s First Statewide Plastic Bag Ban Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: california bag ban , California plastic bag ban , Californians Against Waste , governor jerry brown , mark murray , plastic bag ban , plastic bags , plastic waste , statewide plastic bag ban

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California Lawmakers Pass Nation’s First Statewide Plastic Bag Ban

Tiny Wedge-Shaped Writer’s Cottage Hangs Off the Hillside in Norway

Read the rest of Tiny Wedge-Shaped Writer’s Cottage Hangs Off the Hillside in Norway Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: asker , cabin , Jarmund/Vigsnæs Arkitekter , JVA , norway , sun shade , tiny cabin , wood architecture , wood cabin , wood house , wooden cabin , writer’s cottage , writers cabin

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Tiny Wedge-Shaped Writer’s Cottage Hangs Off the Hillside in Norway

Open-Source Self-Replicating FoldaRap 3D Printer Prints Objects On the Go

The FoldaRap open-source 3D printer can be folded to fit into your rucksack and prints objects on the go. French designer Emmanuel Gilloz developed the 140x140x140mm device over the course of seven months and has now, thanks to a successful crowdfunding campaign, created new prototypes and beta-testers. Read the rest of Open-Source Self-Replicating FoldaRap 3D Printer Prints Objects On the Go Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: 3D printers , 3D printing , crowdfunding campaign 3d printer , foldable 3d printer , FoldaRap , FoldaRap 3d printer , green gadgets , open source design , open-source 3d printer , RepRap 3d printer , self-replicating 3d printer , ulele campaign

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Open-Source Self-Replicating FoldaRap 3D Printer Prints Objects On the Go

Room11 Designs Light-filled Cargotecture Headquarters for Shipping Container Company

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Room11 Designs Light-filled Cargotecture Headquarters for Shipping Container Company

NL Architects’ Mixed Use Center Mimics Lush Green-Roofed Hills in Xiamen

Read the rest of NL Architects’ Mixed Use Center Mimics Lush Green-Roofed Hills in Xiamen Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: china , green roofs , high rises , mixed use center , nl architects , NL Architects green roofs , residential towers , Shopping center , Soho , Vanke , vanke alley , vankely , xiamen , xiamen north station complex , xiamen railway

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NL Architects’ Mixed Use Center Mimics Lush Green-Roofed Hills in Xiamen

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