2024-09-19T04:06:06-04:00 https://archinect.com/news/article/150440936/umaine-experiments-with-3d-printed-floor-panels-made-from-recyclable-natural-materials Josh Niland 2024-08-10T11:00:00-04:00 >2024-08-21T15:55:10-04:00 <img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/4f/4fe133de6cc29fce95195cac2e3e082a.jpg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=1200" border="0" /><p>The <a href="https://archinect.com/news/tag/338911/u-s-department-of-energy" target="_blank">U.S. Department of Energy</a>&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.ornl.gov/news/researchers-make-green-floor-replace-steel" target="_blank">Oak Ridge National Laboratory</a> and the <a href="https://archinect.com/schools/cover/9004059/the-university-of-maine" target="_blank">University of Maine</a> are leading interesting new engineering research into floor cassettes made using recyclable natural materials that are strong enough to be used in multi-story buildings. Thanks to experiments at UMaine's cutting-edge Advanced Structures and Composites Center (which previously contributed to our coverage of <a href="https://archinect.com/news/article/150331013/world-s-first-100-bio-based-3d-printed-home-unveiled-at-the-university-of-maine" target="_blank">bio-based 3D printed homes</a>), engineers were able to produce a capable model made from polylactic acid and lumber by-products, such as wood flour.</p> <p>The SM2ART Nfloor cassette components can be 3D printed in roughly two-thirds the time it takes for a typical floor cassette to be factory assembled, thus saving labor costs. Scott Tomlinson, a structural engineer at the Center, shared: "This technology holds a lot of promise for the future of sustainable buildings." The project came together at the initiative of the <a href="https://archinect.com/SHoP" target="_blank">SHoP</a> offshoot <a href="https://archinect.com/assemblyosm" target="_blank">Assembly OSM</a>. </p> <p>The work was also recently on display as part of the ...</p>