The World’s first 3D Printed STEEL bridge is now open in Amsterdam

November 16, 2021

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Earlier this year, Queen Maxima helped open the first 3D printed stainless steel bridge in Amsterdam. The bridge is the brainchild of MX3D, a Dutch company that has developed a proprietary software to turn an ordinary welding robot into a high end industrial 3D metal printer.

Originating six years ago, the plans for the bridge took shape in 2015 when MX3D proposed the idea of 3D printing a metal bridge on-site. Working alongside Autodesk and the city of Amsterdam, MX3D devised several design concepts. After securing a location in the Red Light district, they carried out detailed digital site modeling, taking into account design constraints, such as the dimensions and strength of medieval canal walls, 3D printed steel limits, on-site assembly, city regulations, and engineering considerations.

Teaming up with acclaimed designer Joris Laarman, known for his iconic “bone chair” design, MX3D sought to incorporate volume optimization principles into the bridge’s design. However, they later collaborated with engineers at Arup on a sheet-construction approach after encountering challenges. Stress analysis software played a crucial role in shaping the bridge’s asymmetrical form, necessitated by the misaligned bridge heads.

MX3D Software

The company’s revolutionary software, Metal XL, played a pivotal role in calibrating materials, performing feasibility checks, slicing the design, planning toolpaths, monitoring the process, and generating comprehensive reports. This novel printing method, known as robotic wire arc additive manufacturing technology or WAAM, utilizes a 6+ axis robot and a MIG/CMT welding machine to deposit metal layer by layer. Although this bridge was constructed using stainless steel, the WAAM technology can also print carbon steel, duplex steel, aluminum, and bronze. Despite the thin walls, the bridge’s overall shape ensures its strength, with dimensions measuring 41 feet (12.5 meters) and a weight of 9,920 pounds (4,500 kg). The actual printing process took six months, and its installation was completed in 2018, following a three-year wait due to canal wall renovations.

Defining Characteristics

The bridge’s unique futuristic design, though not biomimetic like the Bone Chair, exhibits a language of its own that complements Amsterdam’s Red Light District vernacular architecture. The decision to leave the steel bridge unpainted and raw adds to its authenticity, with the metal reflecting the colors of the sky during the day and the red lights at night, creating a transformative visual experience.

While some may question the bridge’s short lifespan of just two years before restoration, its significance lies in pushing the boundaries of new technology, offering potential changes in design and construction processes. The team’s claims of hyper-efficiency and minimal material use through robotics further highlight the bridge’s pioneering achievements.

Downsides

However, the project is not without its downsides. Feedback from visitors, like Nicolas from our YouTube community, has raised valid observations about the bridge’s uneven layering and lack of concrete’s directionality. Additionally, the curved handrails have become a receptacle for trash, and there’s a significant misalignment between one side of the bridge and the pavement, hindering wheelchair accessibility.

Conclusion

Overall, it’s essential to understand that this bridge represents an experimental first iteration of an exciting new technology. While it may currently be more time-consuming and costly, its potential to revolutionize the future of design and construction makes it a groundbreaking achievement in the field of 3D printing and steel fabrication.