The First Automated Rammed Earth House Building Machine - Form Earth
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- Опубліковано 14 бер 2020
- Learn more - formearth.com/
Music by WOLFGANG PANDER; Ain't Pickin Up (Feat. Feelø)
We are looking for support from investors and to hire engineers. Please visit www.formearth.com to learn more. - Наука та технологія
I think this is great. My issue with rammed-earth has always been the labour cost. Once the bugs are out, I think this concept is a winner!
id totally buy one of these machines.
Amazing, you just solved the only or biggest issue/hurdle with rammed earth construction
Brilliant! Bet the demand for these are going up as it's such a popular and desired structural material. This should reduce the expense of labor costs substantially. Well done!
Finally !!! A step in the right direction, I have been waiting years since building my first rammed earth by hand (NEVER EVER AGAIN). Thank you. I'm loving it.
I'd love to see the joints or how this will be handled when building adjoining walls. Nice Work!
For once in my life, I am glad someone stole my idea
😂😂🙏🙏
??
Mate I'm about to start building a rammed earth house and gotta say, hats a bloody winner.
Amazing. There is so much potential for that type of machine!
fantastic design, congratulations!
Great concept. It just needs to be tweaked to work around rebar and other customizations related to plumbing, electrical, and/or insulation.
Neat to see a machine for this.
Interested to see how it will work with a longer wall, it is a great design!
Hi Royal, long walls are built like the wall that is perpendicular to the other wall; that is one endplate is removed and the machine is positioned colinear with the wall already built.
@@davidnfreeman Hi, are both endplate can be removable , for erecting wall on top of open window for example , or only one ( actuator on other side ? )
i don't exactly how you replace formwork after lifting, i d'ont understand how you release or lock framework ( considering impact force of rammer ) , it seems you release formwork by corner ?
there are som lacking of technical details to really appreciate this system in situ, from an architectural point of view
i know here it's an old system, but the new one according picture seems to be a closed system ( permit only individual wall with same size ? )
don't misunderstood , i really enjoyed this system, innovating, but from arhitectural point of view , i have many questions :)
@hab keys Hi Hab,
Both endplates are removable on the newer version which we are starting to build at the moment, a rendering is on the website www.formearth.com.
The endplates on the new machine version can be placed inwards, so a shorter wall section can be built. With this machine a minimum section length (to be varified in testing) could be 1m all the way up to a 2m section in 100mm increments.
The formwork is released by spreading the two formwork surfaces with toggle and clamping bar (powered by a geared electric motor).
The endplates are linked to the formwork surfaces so that they accurate outwards at the same time.
We are working hard to bring this machine to the market and provided all the necessary technical details and instructional documents. For now, I thank you for your patience and hope we can work together in the future.
You are welcome to ask for clarification here or you can reach out on WhatsApp +61 403 362 574 . Happy New Years, and I hope you have the best year you have ever had!
@@Formearth What about space for pipes, does your machine account for that?
@@JD-zh1el chase them in after the wall is finished like plumbers already do now with brick walls
This is a very cool concept. I hope you can develop it further and bring it to market! Great Job!
Good plan!
nice! good work
Beautiful
I'm curious if you are going add the capability to put insulation in the center. Built-in plumbing and electrical sounds tricky to pull off with this kind of a machine, looking forward to seeing a potential product
Hi Natalie, all great ideas which we may incorporate during later designs, although wires can be chased into a wall and seamlessly repacked with earth. And if the walls are to be lime & sand plastered then it's even easier to chase in wires and plumbing. Please visit formearth.com to learn more and contact me directly if you have questions.
c'est absurde de vouloir intégrer des réseaux dans un mur un terre battue
A great build. Have you considered a keyway foot on the compactor? How is it holding up in this day after tomorrow climate?
Very inspiring
Good work
Would it be possible to build this machine a bit cuved to build a round structure?
How would you install the High R insualtion sandwich that is needed to obtain R-60 walls..? Will that be a possibility?
Bravo
FINALLY THE BIGGEST RAMMED EARTH ISSUE IS SOLVED !!!
really nice , but why not include formwork in a structure that thus you're not use some crane to lift formwork, with a self lifting formwork like for bucket sand earth. lifting formwork to replacing it at each rammed lift , is probably comsumming time, to replace correctly at the right height. another things is ramming itself, you're using some jumping jack tamper, but you could probably using simple hydraulic ramming tamper or severals guided on rails, what do you think ? ( or something like martin rauch used for prefabricated rammed earth wall )
Thank you for your suggestions. We will soon design self-lifting machines using a jacking system, these machines will be designed to be removed from the top of the wall by forklift or similar machine. Earth loading is an integral part of our design managed in this machine by a hopper design. Electric motors are an efficient way of converting energy into mechanical work, so, for now, our machines will run on electric systems, though hydraulic or pneumatic might see light in future machines if there is an advantage in an application.
@@Formearth you mentionned some sensor compacity , how it works exactly , i know some ultra sonic sensor mostly used for proximity sensor, but density sensor ?
Hi Hab, Intelligent compaction is used in road construction and can be done during the compaction using sound sensors or accelerometers.
Looks good but it needs a crane to move, which is expensive to rent.. And how do you handle the corners
Hi Praveen, cranes can be expensive but there are many options, one option is build new portable inexpensive cranes, I built the black crane that you can see in the video. Another option is to use a forklift as a crane since the next machine designed has its own lifting winch built in. Another option is to use jacks on the machine to lift it up the wall and use an excavator or other machine to lift it of the wall (the advantage here is the excavators could lift the machine from the side and thus lower than the winch lifting point).
Like plasterboard corners are fragile. An option is to add a chamfer another option a timber end board and another option is to add a steel corner strip and then plaster with lime render.
Cheers David
What's maximum thickness of walls could build and and beveled edges finish would be great, I like you machine, well done ,what's the compression test results?
Like we were getting tests back 3 to 5 x strength of concrete is why I asked about your test results, thanks again and well done sir
Hi Obisam, Compressive strength is related to the material used, though with clay as the binder the compressive strength is usually around 2 MPa and concrete is 10 MPa or more. This machine is a prototype and the wall thickness was 400mm. Bevelled edges is something that can be done, though if the wall is to be rendered in lime plaster a square edge with a reinforcing metal corner strip can be used.
@@davidnfreeman why not add in 5-10% of the mixture with cement? theres literally all pros and zero cons to adding such little cement, but gaining so much more strength and integrity.
Hello@@thekaizer666, using cement coats the clay particles and they loose their cohesive properties, future structures would need additional cement to rebuild with the same material. Earth without cement can be reused or even reincorporated into landscapes without harm. Rammed earth without cement has been used for multi-story structures throughout the world.
This is very very intriguing great idea could really change the building process just the energy usage could be a problem in some cases where this type of building material is used I'd personally love a house made of earth but definitely wouldn't get planning permission where I live
It falls under ( from what i was told a few years ago) the same constructuion statutes as a cement wall form construction,.,Check with your STATE building departments ..Locals will blow you off quicker than a noreaster ....
Oxi os seus pais não deixam vc construir com terra?
Wonder how you use it to build the rest of the wall just besides to then finish up a house.
Hi Mathias, with the machine in the video you can see that it has the ability to build a wall at 90 degrees to another wall. It can also build at any other angle like in-line (collinear). The newer machine that I will release a crowd funding video for very soon is exactly 2m long and can build walls 2m long or shorter sections of walls reducing in 100mm increments down to one meter. Rammed earth walls can be left exposed or they can be rendered with lime. The ends of the wall can be exposed or have timber frames. Hope that helps? If I can answer any other questions please let me know.
Interesting……how do you construct openings within the panel? What about working around services like conduits for lighting and general power? Also most panels require insulation these days….how does the machine work around these items?
Hi Scott thank you for your questions. Unless rammed earth is vaulted then it needs a beam to support the wall above the opening. The machine can start halfway up a wall no problem.
You can chase in conduits after the wall is built and then either compact earth manually into the groove or render over with lime (if you are rendering the wall). It would be simple enough to add the functionality, to the machine, to add conduit during the construction of the wall.
To insulate, two walls each 300mm could be built and insulation placed in the gap. In many countries that have very cold (snow) winters they simply build there earth walls about 600mm thick and the homes are reported to be extremely effective at heating.
@@Formearth a tee lintel is cast for opening greater than 2.0m although you can place deformed steel bar above a blockout style opening for smaller openings less than 2.0 m in length. I am just struggling to see how this would be quicker than a professional team of earth builders. We used to average 16 - 20m2 of wall a day including casting windows, insulation, services, etc. 95% of walls are built as an off form finish for their natural sedimentary beauty. Chasing in services would look hideous and be very time consuming.
A 650mm thick panel built in three stages is not the answer. It would take forever and be inefficient in labour and materials. Not to mention how you tie the panels together to resist wind loads if build as seperate units.
I wouldn’t completely give up on your idea but it is clear you need to spend time on a residential or commercial rammed earth site to see what is expected in terms of process and finish. Jumping that formwork before the lift is set makes me shiver!!
@@scottghost1 Hi Scott, the beauty of rammed earth is it’s reusable. But if you add cement then it is concrete, I call that dry compacted concrete (or RCC en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roller-compacted_concrete). I am not aware of specific research papers on the effect of steel reinforcing in rammed earth but from what I understand it isn't very effective.
Pisé préfabriqué BONUS #6 - Finitions: This video shows almost seamless compacting of the earth in a groove left as panels of rammed earth are stacked ua-cam.com/video/KWGMm9fIM40/v-deo.html. I also expect some people will like lime render on their walls.
I agree that building two walls could be time-consuming and the complexity of tying them together. I could make a single machine to do everything at once. Though I expect once we know more that insulation in rammed earth won’t be required in most instances.
The immediate strength of rammed earth on compaction makes jumping the formwork immediately fine.
Feel free to check out www.formearth.com and all my contact details are there if you would like to chat.
Cheers, David
@@Formearth all the best I hope it works out for you and you achieve your goals. Scott
Count me in, I'll buy from you garanteed
How do you join the walls to the next segment? You are leaving a gap between since the machine is closed on both ends.
Hi Laszlo, on this test machine one endplate can be removed, the new machine developed will be able to remove endplates at both ends. At time 4 seconds in the video you will see the machine is flush to the other wall (end plate is removed).
@@Formearth Thanks man, great machine.
what is the exact name of the machine? and do you know if it is possible to reach up to 10 meter height?
Hi Mermaidadods 11, I will give you a theoretical answer but without further material science, I can not suggest the correct answer.
The density of rammed earth is ~2ton/m3 and with good material, the wall has a compressive strength immediately after compaction
of ~2Mpa (200 ton/m2).
To calculation the loading of a wall over 1m2 we can consider a column 1m*1m which has a weight of 2ton per meter. Therefore 2Mpa (200 ton/m2) ÷ 2ton/m= 100m high wall.
www.doatrip.de/en/germany/hesse/weilburg/highest-rammed-earth-building-in-germany.html
The machine’s name is still undecided, what do you think of the name Combiner?
Love the idea but not great for all climates, cities, this would work in a factory near a rammed earth friendly soil and mined. A lot of building code uses the square footage is living space. So in the USA this would be a premium product as the building code is written.
It does not use any cement? If it is exposed to water will it crumble?
Hi, the quick answer is no it won't crumble in rain. Long answer:
For earth with poor quality or low percentage clay then there may at times be an advantage to add lime for stabilization. For good earth with enough good clay, the walls last amazing even without a roof. Home walls are protected from most of the rain, and if a wall is really exposed then there will be some natural erosion which may be aesthetically acceptable or the owner may prefer a lime render on these exposed walls. Something to think about, unsealed or gravel roads are made of earth and they last very well in the rain. Sorry for the tardy response.
Rammed earth walls probably shouldn’t be a rush job
Really Great!.. I would like to know about this machineries, in India who is the dealer?..
Hi Suhas, thank you for your comment, the machine is still being developed and not yet on the market.
hi. when is mass production? i want to buy one seriously
Hi Barone, thanks for your enthusiasm, please keep up to date by checking this UA-cam channel, when the next machine is finished, which will be used to build homes, I will be posting a video hopefully within a few months. And please look at formearth.com for further information.
Dah fuck! Someone literally beat me to a punch! Similar idea using pneumatic compactors! Will keep the rest of my ideas hidden not implimented on this design! Well done buds, on the verge to save humanity from concrete frenzy!
where can i access this machine…. i want to build a rammed earth house in victoria australia
Hi Toby,
For building a rammed earth house in Victoria, Australia, reach out to David via www.formearth.com. Our upgraded rammed earth machine is in development, offering improved features for construction projects. Feel free to contact us for more info.
Best,
David
you should send your video to quantum tech hd channel on you tube... for publicity
How and where I get this machines in India , please suggest.
Hi Ranjandataman, this machine is not yet commercialised, if you or anyone you know is interested in helping please get in touch. My contact information can be found at www.formearth.com. All the best, David
Soooo what if that wall was longer? Or it was a T wall? Or if it was 4m high, ?
Hi Mack thanks for your question, the endplates of the machine are removable so that longer sections can be built. The machine can build walls to any height, within the earth material's structural properties.
@@Formearth what about if the is 4 m high? Love the invention! Soo good. How much would one have to pay for this?
Can it do a over fill?
Or like a window sill?
@@Rammed_earth The next machine which I have virtually completed the design for, but not yet built can build 7m high walls. Because that is as high as the spool capacity on the hopper winch. Except by changing the winch, the same machine could build higher.
@@Rammed_earth The same principles as regular rammed earth would apply; that is you would need a supporting member over the window or opening.
any update on this technology?
Hi mate, thanks for your anticipated question! I have designed a new machine ready to build homes though as yet it's not built. *The machine in this video was only ever designed to build a few walls for testing the machine. To finance the build of this new machine I am working on a crowdfunding video. Please keep an eye on this UA-cam channel for that to be uploaded, hopefully before July is up. Cheers David
Where I can buy the machine?
Hi Alih, the machine is not yet on the market and is still in development. Apologies about that, though I am working hard to change that, so one day, if you can be patient :)
From what I currently understand, CA regulations require that rammed earth walls contain rebar to make them more earthquake resistant. How would this machine accommodate the necessity of rebar?
Hi Russell, thank you for your comment there are a few comments I can make. First, the Freeform was not designed to work with rebar. Tall, rammed earth load-bearing structures are built throughout the world without rebar. I have also heard that rebar in rammed earth rusts rapidly. Also, I would speculate rebar does not bind effectively with rammed earth.
Do you know if the CA regulations are requiring the addition of portland cement? Portland cement stabilised rammed earth is essentially concrete.
@@Formearth Your venture seems like it is floundering. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Innovator%27s_Dilemma. The basic advice is simple: make a very cheap, very bad product that is still actually useful to some customers. Then gradually make improvements over time.
Engineers typically aspire to do the opposite: they almost invariably strive to build a very good product that, oh by the way, happens to very expensive, that has all sort of "bells and whistles."
Don't do that. Why not? It's too difficult, takes too long, will be much too prone to break down (fail), and, like I indicated, would be too expensive if you were to ever actually build it in the first place.
At this point, you shouldn't try to build the product you dream of; instead, you should try to build the simplest, cheapest, product that some customer will pay you money to purchase.
And, oh yeah, if you manage to actually manage to sell a few products then hop on an airplane and fly to Silicon Valley, or New York, or Los Angeles because without venture capital behind you, your company would be trounced by a competitor with venture capital funding. Your product isn't merely a "House the Poor" type of product; rather, it is a classic disruptive technology that will make some investors very wealthy.
How do you put a wall next to it?
Hi, At time 1:40 there is an animation of the machine with one end plate removed. In this way, it can build a wall either colinear or perpendicular to an existing wall.
@@Formearth I missed that. Clever! Well done!
I want to build a house in the UK and wondered where these machines might be available? Do you deliver :). Also, how much would one cost? Seems to solve the labour intensive nature of building rammed walls. Can you change the earth colour as you go along?
Hi the machine is still being developed so is not yet available. Rowland Keable builds rammed earth in the UK his website is rammedearthconsulting.com. There are many earth oxides pigments that could be used to change the colour of rammed earth as you built it, you would probably need to start with a light coloured clay even white. Another option if you want to change rammed earth’s natural aesthetic, is to render the wall with a thin coat of white or pigmented lime. Feel free to visit formearth.com and contact me directly with any questions.
@@Formearth how is the development coming? Any updates?
Hi Fitawrari, thanks for asking! Here is an update, the CAD model of the new machinery is developed now so that it will be ready to build homes. Amazingly the moment it’s made (in real life) there is a home waiting to be built. Early January I will post a video to this UA-cam channel it will be a quick description of the latest machinery and to ask for some crowd funding money to support the development and commercialisation of the machinery. Merry Christmas blessings to you and your friends :)
@@Formearth any chance in the video? :)
Any progress?
Thank you for the question; the new machine design is close to ready to build a home.
I am currently running a fundraiser to buy parts to make the new Freeform and write the software to automate the Freeform - that's the machine's name now. Please feel free to check out the new Fundraising video at ua-cam.com/video/vi8zpGqvz3c/v-deo.html . If you would like to contribute to the fundraiser, you can visit www.formearth.com/
Thank you,
David
...whats the cost...
Thank you for your question. Since the machine development is still ongoing it’s too soon to predict prices, though I can provide a few specifications of this prototype machine that may help. The machine's weight is 500kg and most of that mass is in the frame/formwork of the machine, the two actuators moving the formwork are electric and all winches and the compactor are also electric motor driven.
Eureka
How. Much. Prise
It is still a prototype, so I do not have this information. To get the Freeform to market as soon as possible, I am running a fundraiser to build the next prototype. If you would like to donate, please visit, formearth.com/
How much is it?????
Hi, Lindseyasiah the machinery is still in development so its to early to know the price. Thank you, David
What’s happening with this now?
Hi mate, I have designed a new machine ready to build homes though as yet it's not built. *The machine in this video was only ever designed to build a few walls for testing the machine. To finance the build of this new machine I am working on a crowdfunding video. Please keep an eye on this UA-cam channel for that to be uploaded, hopefully before July is up. Cheers David
How much for 1
Hi Bahati, The machine is still being developed and not on the market yet. When more information is available we will be sure to post it on UA-cam and www.formearth.com
@@Formearth thanks for the feedback
2.3kW of electricity is a measure of power not energy. Did you mean 2.3kW hour?
Hi Robert, It's 2.3kWh of electricity, lucky for me I did say the wrong thing, but at least I wrote on the screen in the circle kWh. Thanks for pointing out my mistake though!
Not feasible in first world countries where vertical reinforcing bar is required.
Hi K7gixxer1000 Thank you for your comment. We are not aware of any standard where vertical reinforcing is required for rammed earth walls (if you know a standard please let me know). Additionally, when no cement is used vertical steel reinforcing can be relatively ineffective: * if cement is used it is dry compacted concrete not rammed earth.
@@Formearth i agree without rebar, but you could placing insulated panel, or electrical box / pipe inside wall , of course they are always a way to do differently ( exteriour insulated , special insulated mix, chasing wall for electrical wire ) but to do so , we add some extra work or cancel aesthetic value of rammed earth inside side of the wall , it begins making lot of constraint ,
i know you're engienering some valuable system but only single wall, no ramming top windows, no possibly insulated panel , no box/pipe , without doing old fashion way
you're system are valuable only in certain construction system
perhaps i'm wrong , but you're not clearly talk about what you can do and what you can't with you're system, what desgin are permit or not, i means angle wall, cross wall, open window/door, wiring , all things we must consider in house construction, especially in self constructing mode operantus :)
a 2 or 3 axis ramming ( cnc like ) will be more versatile , associated with a configurable ( one or two endstop ) , and positionnable self lifting auto blocking formwork ( without tie rod ) suitable for at least angle wall ( much more stability ) or straight wall with or without opening , even column, with this type of machine you can response at 80% of demand
that's my 5cent thought :)
@hab we will re-visit CNC style machines over the coming years to establish their value for rammed earth. The current machine design can be loaded on a standard box trailer for transport. The main challenge in my view with CNC style machines is an earth loading system which is small and coast effective.
@@Formearth thanks you very much for yours responses, and your new design will be more versatile i'm sure :) , when i'm suggested a CNC machine , it's like you said a CNC like system , attach or integrated in the whole frame , some indian sri lanka works on a automated slipform for rammed earth, so more project bring new ideas :) and hopefully cost reducing , and happy new year for you , familly and your team :)
Mana project group kulam vallu chesinde ayyuntadi friends. ....AA-062
This is ok...but most rammed earth construction are in areas where labor cost is incredibly cheap.
In countries with high labour costs like Australia, machinery will make rammed earth affordable. In countries with low labour costs, machinery will give people more time to construct other parts of their home while letting machinery do the back breaking work.
martin rauch has allready buildt it.
Shut up and take my money 💸💸💸
Poor Quality Machine
Poor Quality Wall
Humans Need Jobs
Humans Do A Better Job
I like the machine, but I do agree that humans could do a better job. The machine lacks the precision and delicacy of a human needed for high quality rammed earth..