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USC Professor Unveils 3D Printer Capable Of Building A House In A Day

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A University of Southern California professor has developed a 3D printer that has potential to revolutionize construction.

Professor Behrokh Khoshnevis invented technology called Contour Crafting, a massive printer that he says has the capability of building a 2,500-square foot custom home in 20 hours.

"This is a platform technology with many applications in different domains," he said.

The printer's first and main purpose is for humanitarian projects to build structures when natural disasters hit.

"My true hope is that this technology gets to be used worldwide," Khoshnevis added.

The 3D printer lays concrete and interlocking steel bars to frame the structure and can build a multi-story home equipped with plumbing, electrical work and tile flooring.

Once the printer has laid the bones of the project, human handiwork is still required for work such as installing windows, cabinets and more.

Contour Crafting is still being tested on the USC campus and it will be some time before the printer builds commercial homes in Southern California.

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