Crane WASP
Crane WASP
The 3D printer for house building & construction
The 3D printer for house building & constructionstarting from 160.000 €
starting from 160.000 €
The most accessibile and versatile construction 3D printer
Its main unit can be configured in different modes to adapt to the required printing area and building type
Crane WASP:the 3D printer for houses
Crane WASP is a modular, collaborative construction 3D printing system that reimagines traditional building cranes through the lens of digital manufacturing. WASP has dedicated over 10 years to developing this Patented Technology, fully designed and Made in Italy.
Crane WASP: a 3D printing system capable of printing houses
Crane WASP is a modular collaborative 3D printing system that reinterprets the classic building cranes from a digital manufacturing point of view.
WASP dedicated more than 10 years for developing the combination of 3D printer and pump setup to best perform in all contexts.
Modular system for 3D printed houses and buildings
Crane WASP is easily expandable and adaptable to project needs, thanks to its modular system, which allows additional components to be integrated to increase printing capacity. The basic module enables printing over a usable area of 50 m².
Concrete, Clay, Lime: print your house with the material you prefer
Crane WASP is the only large-scale 3D printer specifically developed to print a variety of mortars based on cement, clay, or lime.
Efficient design and quick assembly
The printer is designed for rapid assembly, becoming operational in just 2 hours, without the need for cranes, forklifts, or additional equipment.
Easy to transport and manage
Its compact and lightweight design makes it ideal for use on a wide range of construction sites, including those in hard-to-reach areas. Built from metal alloys, it combines strength and durability with a lightweight structure that facilitates easy transport and positioning on site.
Suitable for
Residential and Commercial
For residential, commercial buildings and offices.
Residential eco
For eco-sustainable houses built using sustainable materials.
Prefabs and Infrastructures
For modular units and functional structures.
Urban furniture
For functional, modular and aesthetic elements in public spaces.
Modular system for big projects
Crane WASP is easily expandable and adaptable to project needs, thanks to its modular system, which allows additional components to be integrated to increase printing capacity. The basic module enables printing over a usable area of 50 m².
Efficient design and quick assembly
The printer is designed for rapid assembly, becoming operational in just 2 hours, without the need for cranes, forklifts, or additional equipment.
Easy to transport and manage
Its compact and lightweight design makes it ideal for use on a wide range of construction sites, including those in hard-to-reach areas. Built from metal alloys, it combines strength and durability with a lightweight structure that facilitates easy transport and positioning on site.
3D PRINTING INFORMATIONS
Printing volume Ø 8200 mm x H 3200 mm (Ø min 2000 mm)
Nozzle diameter 25 mm – 30 mm – 38 mm
Layer height 12 mm – 15 mm – 20 mm
Aggregates granulometry ≤5 mm
Maximum printing speed 200 mm/s
Maximum travel speed 200 mm/s
Acceleration 20 mm/s2
PHYSICAL DIMENSIONS
Column height 520 cm
Arm lenght 430 cm
Printer weight 700 kg
POWER CONSUMPTION
Input Power 220/240 V 50/60 Hz
Absorbed power < 1.5 kW
INTERFACE
WIFI, USB, LAN
Remote control and easy managementwith CraneApp
We’ve developed a dedicated app to manage Crane WASP with simplicity and precision. It allows you to control printing parameters in real time, monitor progress, and intervene when needed. You can upload G-code files, optimize movements, and operate the machine remotely. The interface is intuitive and suitable for both experienced technicians and new operators. A connected command center for smooth, safe, and traceable printing.
LDM XXL twin screw extruder
The twin screw extruder allows processing of a wide range of slurries ensuring excellent reliability and consistency in extrusion flow.
WASP multi-material pumping systemMotorized lifting system
WASP dedicated more than 10 years for developing the combination of 3D printer and pump setup to best perform in all contexts.
PUMPING SYSTEM SPECIFICATIONS
Load Volume: 80L
Length of supplied hose: 15m
Maximum Pressure: 35bar
Maximum granulometry: 4mm
Maximum flow: 250 l/h
Size (L x b x h): 120 * 140 *150 cm
Size (including loading system) 120 * 200 * 240 cm
Weight: 300 kg
Frame material: Printed steel
Hopper material: stainless steel
Input Power: 220/240 V 50/60 Hz
Absorbed power: < 2.5 kW
Designed for multimaterial printing
Crane WASP is the only system in the world capable of printing a wide variety of materials: not only cement, but also local earth, natural mixtures, and geopolymers. In addition to 3D printable ready mixes this technology opens new possibilities for building in an ecological way, adapting to the context. By using resources available locally, it reduces transportation and promotes circular, sustainable, and conscious construction.
Binders
Clay, aerial or hydraulic lime, cement.
Aggregates
0 – 5 mm, important to use materials with a well-balanced grain size curve to avoid problems with segregation of material during pumping. Indicatively, a maximum of two parts (by weight) of aggregates for one part of binder is needed.
Fibers
0 – 30 mm, are usually used for two purposes, to control shrinkage or to increase the technical performance of the material. Both natural and polymer fibers can be used.
MATERIALS
Earthen mixer
Concrete
Mortars
Plaster
Cement-based materials
Lime-based materials
Fiber-reinforced mix
WASP tested mixer to prepare your 3D printing material: Mixer 80
This durable, compact mixer is engineered to deliver outstanding performance and versatility. Its dual helical mixer ensures rapid and homogeneous mixing, making it ideal for various applications. The mixer is equipped with a convenient speed regulator, allowing precise control over mixing speed, and features a manual rotation reversal function for enhanced flexibility.
Key Features
Speed regulator for precise control
Manual rotation reversal function
Easy shaft replacement for different material viscosities
Electronic water dosage control system
Durable and compact design
Ideal for 3D printing applications
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Technology Sequential mixing
Capacity 70 L
Power consumption 5.4 A
Motor power 1.1 kW
Relational Speed 28 to 80 rpm
Dimensions ( l x w x y ) 88 x 120 x 120cm
Weight 100 kg
MATERIALS
Earthen mixer
Concrete
Mortars
Plaster
Cement-based materials
Lime-based materials
Fiber-reinforced mix
NOTE
The Mixer 80 is not part of Crane WASP and can be purchased as optional
LDM XXL twin screw extruder
*included
The twin screw extruder allows processing of a wide range of slurries ensuring excellent reliability and consistency in extrusion flow.
Multi-material pumping system
*included
WASP dedicated more than 10 years for developing the combination of 3D printer and pump setup to best perform in all contexts.
Mixer-80 to prepare your material
*optional
This durable, compact mixer is engineered to deliver outstanding performance and versatility.
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Trusted by the pioneers
Sustainable construction
Compatible with both sustainable and traditional construction materials
Crane WASP is the only system in the world capable of printing a wide variety of materials: not only cement, but also local earth, natural mixtures, biopolymers, and geopolymers. A technology that opens new possibilities for building in an ecological way.
CraneAPP
Remote control and easy management with CraneApp
We’ve developed a dedicated app to manage Crane WASP with simplicity and precision. It allows you to control printing parameters in real time, monitor progress, and intervene when needed. You can easily upload your codes, optimize movements, and operate the machine remotely.
3D home building
What are the benefit of building a home with a 3D printer?
- Digitalization and Scalability: Each project can be printed anywhere in the world by simply sharing the digital file. This enables a distributed and highly efficient construction model.
- Design Freedom: Overcome the limitations of traditional formwork: complex geometries, organic shapes, and fully customized designs are now achievable.
- Precision and Waste Reduction: 3D printing follows the digital file with high fidelity, ensuring excellent build quality, less material waste, and greater reliability throughout the process.
- On-Site Efficiency: The Crane WASP system requires only three operators for setup, printing, and disassembly. Fewer personnel mean lower labor costs, improved safety, and simplified logistics.
- Sustainable Materials: It promotes the use of earth-based mixtures, lime, and other locally sourced natural materials, reducing environmental impact and adapting to various regional contexts.
Compatible materials
Cement based materials
Fiber reinforced mix
Concrete
Mortars
Plaster
Lime based materials
Earth based mix
Proprietary Materials
FAQ
What are the Advantages of Crane WASP?
The Crane WASP 3D printing system stands out from other products due to a range of innovative factors, including its sustainability, flexibility, and efficiency:
Material versatility: Its ability to print not only cement but also natural materials like local soil.
Design: Its crane-like design ensures versatility and easy mobility, allowing it to be used in hard-to-reach locations where large, fixed machinery cannot reach.
Energy consumption: Additionally, Crane WASP features low energy consumption and a modular system that can be resized, offering customizable solutions based on the specific needs of customers.
How many people are needed to operate the machine?
To effectively manage a construction site with a Crane WASP module, the client is required to form a team consisting of:
- One person with specific training on the technology: Site Manager
- Two trained individuals for on-site work: Support Operators
For the key role of Site Manager, a background in civil engineering, architecture, or related fields is required, along with skills in 3D modeling and design.
The Site Manager will be the coordinator of the work around the printer and will hold significant responsibility. During printing, they will supervise the machine’s operation and the management of printing material to ensure an optimal process at all stages.
The Support Operators will be responsible for preparing the optimal printing material. Since any variation in the material can cause more or less severe printing defects, their work is critical and valuable. It is a physical job, so shifts should be organized with different teams working in pairs.
How many square meters can I print?
The Crane system is expandable, and there are different configurations available:
- Single Crane WASP printer, with a printing area of 8.2 meters in diameter and 3.2 meters in height.
- Multiple printing system with 2 or more Crane WASP printers that can print simultaneously.
- Stand Alone Crane WASP with a printing volume of 6,2 meters in diameter and 1,7 meters in height. The more compact version of the Crane WASP that allows for easier maneuverability, especially in indoor spaces. It is designed for smaller projects, such as furniture components and modular parts for buildings. This version allows for simplified ground fixation, making it easier to move in a shorter time. This printer is also less expensive than the full Crane WASP version. It is ideal for companies that want to produce modular components and research centers focusing on studying printing materials.
What kinds of buildings can I print?
The Crane WASP 3D printing system is capable of constructing buildings with a wide variety of ground plans, not only circular, but also rectangular, free-form, or curved layouts. While the circular shape was originally chosen to maximize walkable surface area and minimize wall material using a single printer unit, the system is by no means limited to this geometry.
Its modular and adaptable design allows for printing structures of virtually any footprint and size. Moreover, Crane WASP can be reconfigured during the printing process to accommodate multi-storey buildings, provided the chosen construction material supports such vertical development. This flexibility, combined with its sustainable approach and operational efficiency, makes Crane WASP a standout solution in the field of additive manufacturing for architecture.
How long does it take to 3D print a house?
The time and material required for printing depend on several variables. For example, constructing a wall with a perimeter of 25 meters, a thickness of 50 centimeters, and a height of 3 meters typically takes around 10 days of continuous machine operation. This process consumes approximately 15 to 20 cubic meters of material, depending on the specific mixture and environmental conditions.
Is training and user support provided for operating the machine?
Training is linked to the installation of the machine. The first theoretical phase consists of 3 sessions covering the following topics: machine and instrumentation, materials, and design. The second phase takes place at WASP, where there are 5 days of practical work on the WASP Crane to understand its use, handling, management, and functionality.
WASP provides technical support after the printer purchase, while services for evaluation and design of the structure itself are paid services.
Which materials can be used for printing?
At Zero Kilometer
This process requires specific work to analyze the soil in each area and to fine-tune a printable material. The material retrieved from the local soil must be balanced with other elements to create a robust and useful construction material.
In this regard, it is crucial to conduct research focused on the material before printing any structure that requires mechanical performance.
This approach requires significant research, and during the use of the Crane WASP, some important theoretical foundations are laid out that need to be considered when researching materials.
It is also possible to work with natural materials, similar to earth, but pre-mixed and available in bags. This approach doesn’t require extensive research.
However, this research does not replace certified materials.
Lime-based materials: Lime was the building material used by the ancient Romans, similar to today’s cements. It works well on the machine, and due to its nature, it has an interesting environmental impact, as it requires less energy to produce. There are pre-mixed formulations for 3D printing.
Cement-based materials: This is the current standard for construction. It makes the material mechanically strong and readily available everywhere, but it has a high environmental impact due to energy consumption during production. There are specific pre-mixed formulations for 3D printing.
The Crane WASP technology (like other 3D printing technologies for construction) can manage the printing of cement-based mortars.
Mortars (with an aggregate size up to 5 mm, Heidelberg 4 mm) can be printed, but not concrete (with an aggregate size up to 2 cm), due to how the 3D printer handles the material.
The printing result from a structural point of view requires a different approach compared to traditional reinforced concrete.
There are kits available to optimize the machine’s performance, which allow for specific configurations of the system to work with these materials.
For the best printing results, it is recommended to use cements developed for 3D printing, which are sold by WASP.
Is it possible to test other materials?
Crane WASP is compatible with both natural and cement-based materials, and the system remains open to experimentation with alternative mixtures. To support innovation, WASP offers a dedicated material testing service, enabling users to evaluate and optimize new formulations for 3D printing applications.
