3D printing homes on Earth, someday the moon | 60 Minutes

A Texas company - driven by a mission to create faster, better and more affordable housing - is 3D printing homes. It’s also working with NASA to 3D print on the Moon. Lesley Stahl reports.
#news #3dprinting #construction
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[@User-rka_zykx76]

This is the kind of videos that made 60 minutes watchable

[@eugenecbell]

I used to watch them, but a long time ago when I was a child. The commentator acts like a fool. They need to bring their show into the new century. This story is interesting, but others cover it much better.

[@tonywilson4713]

*AEROSPACE ENGINEER HERE:* this is exactly the sort of story that drive engineers up the wall. Its presented as if this is the latest and greatest wonder tech. ITS NOT - 3D printing of buildings has been around for a decade. As for printing on Mars or the moon that's being done by a number of companies. This is so typical of the *LAZY JOURNALISM* that is so rampant these days. Its basically a 22 minute advertisement. *When flagship programs of major networks are this shoddy how can the media wonder why we have no faith in them.*

[@mikemartin9345]

This is nothing more than a glorified commercial.

[@richardlucht9480]

This founder is just a delight. In this tough world, that’s the people we need. A true innovator who not only dreams of a better world but builds it. Kudos from Germany!

[@HLGTroll]

No kudos they've done too much wrong.. All I can say stay in line and keep doing good

[@JohnOBrien-ze6oi]

I'm a master carpenter that's been building and restoring homes for 43yrs. Nt gonna lie !! I was threatened and close minded at 1st,but after listening and watching... You guys will change the world and are doing it for rt. Reasons and people in need 1st ur bishop is spot on !!and ur doing the lord's work also.madd props Texas and never..never ..never quit!! Sincerely carpenter hurricane surfer and relief contractor who has risen and then done outreach rebuilding after hurricane gone 24 times from outer banks n.c. pratt O'Brien

[@cosmiclouie1]

That dude is a man on a mission. I was enthralled watching this video.

[@icecycles859]

not man he's an alien

[@cami-loo108]

Let's give these young entrepreneurs the ability to change our direction for the good.

[@P.Galore]

The world needs more people like him....an optimistic visionary that's willing to get down in the dirt to make things happen.

[@robinbirkland4005]

I just ran across this today. I think this is one of the best 60 minutes I’ve ever seen. I’m so impressed by Jason Ballard. I had seen the 3D printing before but didn’t know the backstory till now. To take a company to the level he & his cofounders have- is nothing short of amazing. To think a Texan is restoring my hope in humanity -is also amazing! 😜

[@juanlanda2441]

It's doable with a giant computer . But not feasible . It's affordable only to the builder.each house costs half a million dollars here on earth and ridiculously there is no water on the moon the make the cement mix.

[@robinbirkland4005]

@@juanlanda2441did you watch the entire episode? NASA has it figured out. They’ll use a substance abundant on the moon, & no water needed. The substance is manipulated to building material by laser beams. It is wholly feasible. Icon just got 58M from NASA. As well as the military is on board. Not all homes cost $500k to build. The 100 cookie cutters in outskirts of Austin they are developing do cost that much. manufactured homes cost that much anymore. New stick-built cookies are fetching 1M+ in my region.

[@CapinCooke]

@@juanlanda2441 if you watch the complete video you will see in the last ~1/4 that, on the Moon, no water is planned to be used. Robotic arms to place and smooth the fine, powdery “regolith” into shape. Then, high power lasers to melt it into finished, hardened product. I hope they succeed. This whole 60 minutes episode was inspirational!

[@MrThejboe3oh5]

He is robbing people lol.I could see if you were lowering the price of housing..but taking away from peoples feeling of purpose and their jobs to cut costs and then charge the same price?

[@Quetzalc08L]

I live near that 3D-printed community north of Austin and have toured the model home. It's really nice, and those houses should compete very well against the traditional builds that are going up all over town. I hope these guys succeed because affordable housing is going to be a bigger and bigger issue here in Central Texas, along with much of the rest of the country.

[@distorta]

This technology has been around for 5 years now and they haven't done squat but increase margins for developers, they don't care about affordable housing.

[@Dr-Frog]

They only care about maximizing profit margins. I bet they could charge 1/4 the cost if they really wanted to

[@kingdungee85]

​@distorta if it's been around for 5 yrs and all the bad your trying to say about them ... why hasn't anyone else done so?? Lol 😂 they need time to build up the company and make ways to build them faster 🤷🏾 and they also have to buy new equipment I'd assume so they can scale up the business... then they can lower the price or if they get competitors then maybe the price will go down but if it was so easy to start a company like this and make profits then why hasn't anyone else gotten this far or why haven't you 🤷🏾😂😂😂

[@kingdungee85]

​@@Dr-Frogif they could they would but they are a growing company and they have to invest in improving the business and also no one else is doing this like them so they deserve to reap the benefits 🤷🏾 that's why we have patents in this world 😂😂 they are trying to scale up the business which will take plenty money... they are using technology they have so most of what they make as in the printers is something new and most would assume it wouldn't be cheap.... your acting like the guys got 2,000 of these printers lol give them time 🤷🏾

[@chrisbrass8930]

​@@Dr-Frogprofit margins will decline as more builders become involved.

[@jakebe4915]

This episode is why 60 minutes is so wonderful..Bravo to these visionaries.

[@jackfieldsjack1061]

Bravo America

[@JoshuaJames-lz7xp]

👀❤😳🔑🗝️😘🥰😍🤩

[@davidcahan]

It's always hard for me to believe that business people can be altruistic but if these guys really are what they appear to be, they can change the world for a lot of marginalized people

[@alphaframers2372]

Run the CO2 numbers on concrete vs a farmed wooden house. It's a no brainer this is worse

[@user-xn8hc8nc1z]

If we could laser sinter walls out of aggregate on earth like they're proposing to do on the moon, that would take concrete out of the equation.

[@distorta]

The banks own them, they rely on venture capitalists and investment firms controlled by banks. The largest money maker for banks is a mortgage. Why would they let them undermine that racket when they could just increase their margins for developers and banking. The system is beyond broken

[@thegreatestmantoevrwlkthep9986]

They’re not

[@orionishi6737]

They won't. They are gonna sell them to rich white people. Guy talks about things being cookie cutter and then uses this tech to make cookie cutter houses that are still expensive. They will never be made affordable for the average person. If they were they already would be... And they aren't.

[@imthelovestamp]

This guy legit rocks. Hopefully they could scale and the prices come down

[@chark4734]

The definition of affordable housing is NOT 400k. Ha

[@mfpears]

​@@chark4734price and cost are two different things

[@koreanname]

What you need is more actors entering the market, increasing competition.

[@dwaynecoy1871]

@@chark4734- they said "High 400K", so you're looking at about a half million dollars. Why would anyone pay that kind of money for something that looks like sh*t?

[@MrThejboe3oh5]

​@@dwaynecoy1871it's made in the fraction of time.. And at a huge fraction of price but yet the cost hasn't dropped?

[@Sachinrockzful]

I love how peaceful this show is. Always a delight!

[@carpo719]

Definitely one of the anchor shows of this world considering how much is Just huff and puff out there

[@JANN-JAPAN]

In northern Indiana, in the 50s and 60s, a good number of houses were built with concrete poured in to wood forms. My father was fascinated with them. Even in his old age, he was collecting old plans and had voice recordings of him and the man that came up with the idea and built them.

[@boxfox2945]

Wonder' in what shape, are those places now.?

[@JANN-JAPAN]

@@boxfox2945 They looked fine from the road some 10 years back.

[@zenakinne]

They have been building high terminal efficient homes (green homes) for some time. Cement produces high carbon emission. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_impact_of_concrete

[@Me97202]

They *start* at almost a half a million? I thought they were supposed to be “affordable.” Otherwise, I love this concept.

[@NealX_Gaming]

New technologies always start expensive and the price comes down over time. Economies of scale.

[@RaymondHng]

That would be affordable in San Francisco.

[@fouroakfarm]

Median listed home price in Austin TX is $650k

[@chark4734]

@@NealX_Gaming Then DONT call it affordable.

[@JermJr0]

Thats pretty cheap for a home nowadays, and it's using the technology of the future.

[@annemarie1507]

Wow. This almost brought tears to my eyes. With all the destructive turmoil going on in the world, this offers badly needed hope for a constructive future. May we all live to see it happen.

[@missom2817]

Exact same here. This is incredible and will do so much good!!!

[@sunnycali4984]

These guys are not just innovative and cut edge, but they are humble and have a lot of heart. I’d love to have a 3D printed home. Great article.

[@conniewojahn6445]

Only a certain kind of sand can be used in the concrete mix, and there is a world-wide shortage, strange as it seems. There has been some experimentation using finely crushed recycled glass. That would be a win-win because there is a surplus of collected glass in this country. I do so hope this young man succeeds, the US needs him and his houses.

[@JohnSmith-su3ze]

Wood is a renewable resource, concrete is not

[@eponymousIme]

I was wondering about that, too. I've read stories about huge machines showing up at beaches and stealing the sand.

[@JohnSmith-su3ze]

@@eponymousIme I've stories of gangs sending dozens of young children on to the beach and night and stuffing their pockets with sand and then dropping it off at a truck nearby

[@conorlinehan4434]

This is actually one of the few things I’ve seen that is truly incredible.

[@tonywilson4713]

*AEROSPACE ENGINEER HERE:* this is exactly the sort of story that drive engineers up the wall. Its presented as if this is the latest and greatest wonder tech. ITS NOT - 3D printing of buildings has been around for a decade. As for printing on Mars or the moon that's being done by a number of companies. This is so typical of the *LAZY JOURNALISM* that is so rampant these days. Its basically a 22 minute advertisement. *When flagship programs of major networks are this shoddy how can the media wonder why we have no faith in them.*

[@rocketeer6713]

I totally agree!

[@elsabean6791]

Geez, why can’t people ever be positive in the comments on anything that isn’t a celebrity or movie clip?? This is revolutionary technology that will literally change things for the better for human beings and all I see is people complaining. Oh well, I’m excited by it! Good luck to these guys.

[@lo2740]

this is nothing revolutionnary, this is just pure greed and doesnt come close to current nowdays construction technics. In fact this has zero advantage for anyone except the greedy company which want to ever increase already indecent margins. 400K for this crappy construction is a joke. A concrete block cost 2usd and it doesnt take many to build a house. And it is probably faster than deplying this joke.

[@elsabean6791]

@@ErinP123 They put steel in it, first of all. Second, it’s not a continuous sheet of concrete.

[@Rsmith420]

@@ErinP123boomer thinking

[@rykerhasyounow]

​@@ErinP123Which robot are you getting to do this? 😂 The objective is to increase speed and lower costs.

[@star22sally67]

I guess it has a similar feeling to the "solar panel road ways". I can see why people are skeptical.

[@prajwas2004]

This makes me so proud. To be living in a country where engineering solutions are being applied to uplift the weakest of our society! Wish these guys infinite success 🙌

[@_Meaningful_Moments]

It will be really exciting to see how this turns out over time.

[@robertagillis448]

This all excites me at almost 70! What a wonderful future for my grandchildren ❤

[@toddstein74]

Affordable housing starts at $400 thousand 😂😂😂😂😂

[@CeresKLee]

Austin real estate is insane. The median price of a new home is more than $500,000 and raising.

[@280zone]

That's right now, prices will obviously come down as they improve.

[@toddstein74]

@280zone , I hope you're right. Hasn't happened yet. Still paying $5.00 + a gallon of regular grade

[@joshuagreen5820]

Bro California makes $500k sound cheap and too good to be true. We need this technology so badly to workout. The resentment is growing daily in California. If mom and dad didn’t leave you a house or you didn’t buy one 5 years ago. There’s no way a hard working couple can afford a home here. So sad and depressing I can rent a $1.5 million dollar home for $4k a month. Or I can buy a 30 year old single wide for $400k and that doesn’t include the land that it sits on. Just the rights.

[@CeresKLee]

@@joshuagreen5820 i read that why California is losing population.

[@carmnsandiego]

Now that’s a model company of the bright future of USA. Refreshing to watch!

[@nexgen-3d-printing]

I design and build 3D printers using 3D printers, I don't see this being very hard to do, larger scale will have its issues, but the additive manufacturing is still the key, I would also 3D print the roof on a separate pad and lift with a crane and drop in place, also a trailing arm system with a scraper to trowel the wall flat would also be something I would incorporate into the design, some people wont like the layer lines, if you got the system right, the end result would look a little like preform, and with a master plasterer you could have a lovely flat finish.

[@ismailnyeyusof3520]

This channel is so good, with high quality, upbeat and informative videos. Well done 60 minutes.

[@orinhickman1721]

I think all the curves are cool and all, but if you made your homes square and modular, you could build a machine that could pour the concrete in the shape of a square without the need for a 3D printer. You would probably be able to use one small machine to build homes as large as you want.

[@StayBassd]

not pretty/desirable

[@gailhunter-wi6db]

Nah,,don,t, think so,,,

[@jessejerabek3372]

Awesome work, love the progress and iterations. A true innovative product!!

[@richardyuen4352]

Wow! What a beautiful fall, white water stream and bridge. Thank you!

[@ElPolloPolloPollo]

As someone who has recently gotten into design in auto desk fusion and 3d printing, I’m amazed by this and think it’s awesome. I hope the costs can come down for ppl in the future. I know nothing about the cost of materials obviously, but 400k for a house built in 2 weeks seems like a lot. But then again, at the moment, they must covering their costs for their free homes built, which I think is a great thing. I know with 3d printing at home, cost of material becomes a lot less if things are designed without the need for supports to handle overhanging material that needs to be printed. These homes resemble ideal printing scenarios at home from what I saw in the video. Hopefully if more companies begin to do this, there will be more opportunities bc sadly for some people, 400k is too much to own a home. But I don’t by any means reject their mission. This is incredible.

[@tommclain8893]

Absolutely fascinating while solving a myriad of weight, resource issues with virtually indestructible formation and foundation. The world should be excited for this. These designers are geniuses.

[@chris10hi]

Love it, something inspiring that humanity needs to do more of.

[@antoniohuntley5]

Everyday day throughout every 60mintues I hear that clock ticking the world moving while I’m sitting still walk around

[@mlo9534]

His good energy is infectious. Wish him and his team the best.

[@gaiustacitus4242]

Over the past six years, ICON has built 100 3D printed homes. The pricing for these homes starts in the high $400,000 range. This is a novelty technology with a limited future.

[@twiggs24]

That breakfast area in the 3d printed house looked amazing

[@americanpancakelive]

Jason is an amazing person. Passionate, driven, visionary seeded by doing the right thing for people and for the planet. Him merging his ideas and compassion with others who are like minded brought a tear to my eyes. Being a little contrarian for a moment, there is a huge construction industry that is going to push back and people's jobs are at stake, still I am hope both succeed.

[@orpheuscreativeco9236]

Conceptually cool, environmentally impractical. I really do love the idea but concrete isn't the 'environmental' answer. Berm homes, mud brick, hemp blocks, geodesic domes, and many other techniques are much more sustainable. 🤷 Just saying. I do appreciate these guys chasing and developing their dreams. Super awesome feat. 👍

[@28blooddog]

A fellow homie from East Texas, I salute you man, y’all are doing all the good! o7

[@travishunter8573]

My main thing is how does a full concrete house withstand changes in temperature and things like earthquakes. Theres a reason we dont just make concrete boxes to live in.

[@MadStyle1911]

These 3d printed homes has concrete formulated for such a thing along with how 3d printer method is used also increases the durability of the home where traditional concrete/rebar homes will fail overtime due to constant temperature changes.

[@user-wm9yd4bj7m]

these guys are awesome thanks for helping the homeless very touching love the new homes

[@kfk256]

God bless, give strength and open doors for passionate well meaning innovators like these guys. The world will be a better place through them.

[@cuzakuru]

Dont get how that tiny rebar not being tied vertically to hold the horizontal bars makes it stronger? Ive been steelfixing and dont know how it holds its integrity with just horizontal bars not being tied. Could we see a integrity test with a sledge hammer possibly?

[@missom2817]

Incredible!!!!! What a fantastic mission!! This will change the world!

[@Sakja]

Those round homes are very nice looking.

[@jjacoby1010]

Well done, 60 Minutes! Great story, well told.

[@therealaboutentrepreneurship]

Talk about having a high fruition factor, this is AMAZING! Looking forward to possibly have some built for affordable housing in my community.

[@jessicatownsendrealtor]

Cutting edge and would be great for your community, indeed.

[@raphaelgerarddelacruz6774]

Indeed, a paradigm shift amin engineering and architecture.

[@mn7803]

I love this episode. it's so emotional watching it!

[@jasonuren3479]

Saw the title and thought '3D printing the moon? Cool!' 😂

[@Worry-Panic]

22:10 that goes hard. I love that

[@LibrasLion]

I love this! Jason is a great guy. Wondering why the houses are in the 400ks if the method is so much more economical

[@Worry-Panic]

I am insanely impressed by those men. I hope they know how amazing they are.

[@shamilpate9778]

Thanks for sharing you witty inventions and ideas with the poor and needy.

[@toomanycats305]

I would absolutely live in one of those!! ❤

[@bassfan71]

This gives me so much hope for the future and the entrepreneurs in America. Love this company and the humble CEO.

[@Wecomenow]

I love fishing too

[@MrNeltoni]

This is the reason why America is number one in innovations. A free mind cannot never be content to do one thing, but rather, the mind is free to expand and come up with new ideas. Love this 3D architectural design. “To boldly go where no man has gone before”, it is now a possibility.

[@edgarzuluaga4896]

Great story!!! An inspiration, Thank you!

[@CalmingWinds]

Good job not giving up on your dream and pushing humanity to the next level!

[@pd1620]

Could you imagine how much they'd charge for a house on the moon with an earth view?

[@toddc2788]

Great journalism!

[@elaineschiefer-feria516]

The goats and sheep are the cutest things 😍🤩

[@MrTabo2023]

Absolutely amazing. I would buy that 3d printed house.

[@BFDT-4]

Insulation? Heating and Cooling? Where is the heat sink? Where is the cooling tower?

[@franciskumtehlang6245]

Great job. Like your humility. Yes ma'am. ❤ this attitude.

[@stevendigiantomasso3985]

Impressive tech- Hemp +Polymer blocks would cost 10 thousand times less and it would remove cos during growth!💪🏼👍🏼 22:27

[@delbertmcfinklestein8576]

This sounds like a great alternative to flimsy, wasteful stick frame construction. As someone who lives in a cold climate though, I'm wondering about wall insulation. Also, I thought cement was very carbon intensive so not getting why it's ecologically better.

[@snatermans]

It is not.

[@delbertmcfinklestein8576]

It is very carbon intensive... "Concrete releases an extreme amount of CO2 each year. Cement is made by firing limestone, clay, and other materials in a kiln. CO2 is emitted from the energy used to fire the material, and the chemical reaction produced from the mixture when it is exposed to heat. According to the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, each pound of concrete releases 0.93 pounds of carbon dioxide."

[@crisnmaryfam7344]

@@snatermans compared to the way stick built construction is done and all the "hidden" costs of it (not just monetary costs but environmental as well) The 3d printed is better, but not by a whole hell of a lot. You have to figure all the tiny costs, one does not associate with the cost of building a house, Such as, the workers gasoline and car maintenance to get to work year after year, to continue making those 2x4's as well as every single other material.

[@big_nickos5609]

Bless this man 🙏

[@shirleyashanti3031]

Awesomeness and integrity come together ❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@hedgehogform]

It's cool and all but I couldn't imagine cleaning the walls. All that dirt is gonna get stuck in the cracks.

[@afyrestorm]

Could always cover and make the wall flat after the fact.

[@hedgehogform]

@@afyrestorm True. Could always use sand paper or something to make the wall flat.

[@s.l.8054]

I absolutely love the idea of 3D printed home. Hopefully we can focus more on building homes on earth vs the moon but I hope this company is wildly successful

[@jrkc9218]

Good for him and the earth. I want one!

[@marks.texeddyii6016]

Sign me up ! This is way cool I was in the industry to build homes Had to leave it no money Now there’s a way to really go way far and everyone gets a place solid, permanent great home pads. Future buildings that’ll stay for a lot longer than what we build now.

[@axien3159]

Great story. Noble work! Higher vision.

[@msmarisol14]

I believe in him. It’s a beautiful vision and I wanna belong to that world he’s creating. Thank you Jason! 🙏❤😘

[@Palidor19]

This is what our future should be: not what is going on in Earth now. This is the story that should show what humanity is capable of. I’m crying tears of joy

[@tacolover5000]

good. im happy they took my suggestion

[@katherandefy]

Wow it’s his mission. Like well I am impressed by that. Because he is seeing this through and it certainly seems like the right time to happen. I feel hope.

[@ryangrant6089]

This way if you have a house project, the first thing you need to procure, is a concrete wet saw.

[@michaelwni]

I would suggest applying some type of material on the walls for aesthetics. Stucco outside and plaster inside maybe?

[@CEELOW3000]

Groundbreaking technology

[@Echo-yr1cr]

Well done documentary. Wow.

[@user-bb2nb5lj9j]

This Man is amazing he never gave up

[@karenblake4440]

This has me very excited for so many reasons!

[@FBandSpin]

Omg. All I can say is thank you and love

[@chileshemubanga3594]

Here in Africa homes are always made with either clay or cement.just not 3D printed.great innovation man!, you're a genius!

[@richardgottschaldt2478]

Outstanding work and idea to make the future of mankind better!!

[@MrTabo2023]

Scale in orders of magnitude will make housing cheaper in the long run. The use of robots and AI will make it super efficient. The future will be great.

[@lo2740]

you must be living in a fantasy world, "robots" and "ai" have nothing to do with =contruction job, they have nothing to bring and will not improve anything.

[@joeljong931]

The launch pad idea is cool, though moon living habitats most likely have to be deep underground to deal with many meteorite impacts like satellites/astronauts have to avoid or deal with in space.

[@education.online_frevryone]

10:51 … lovely!

[@patriciajump9511]

We used to build houses out of cinderblocks. Cheap. People could build their own. 3D concrete printed houses must be not the same thing, but I would like to understand the difference.

[@SalManila1]

HERE in S. E. ASIA our houses are made of concrete blocks. Wooden stick houses would not survive our typhoons.

[@kyshac81]

It’s the same thing

[@Pr0toPoTaT0]

I love the guy's whole texas appeal! God theyre respectful!

[@Darkstar301]

About 5 years ago they were talking about this and they said they if it takes off it will be cheaper to live but as things go I don’t believe that at all

[@deejayrelapz6903]

this guy is the reason i study this field

[@GlennRobinson777]

Inspirational! Keep it going!

[@AB-sy4gx]

Amazing. Looking forward to his homes in California.

[@tyzxcj34]

This is amazing! Way to go

[@ryan2130]

3D printing is definitely the future of house building. There's no tools or assembly required when an object is 3D printed. That's just progress. People always come up with thoughts to do something faster or make something better. Even the 3D printers themselves will get faster and better.

[@willardchi2571]

Those wall look like they will need frequent dusting or more likely vacuuming. Can't they create a smooth, flat surface on the interior walls by troweling on some kind of plaster-like material? A smooth flat surface would make painting and repainting the walls easier too.

[@liferx4343]

That "bead" look of the walls would drive me crazy. I suppose you could dry wall over it.