A robotic 3D printer that exudes cords of molten steel will soon trace out the scaffolding for the world’s first 3D printed bridge, according to the Amsterdam-based inventors of the device.
The project was conceived by Dutch 3D printing company, MX3D, along with the engineering software giant, Autodesk, in order to showcase a new generation of 3D printers that can trace out sturdy yet graceful lines of steel in midair.
“This bridge will show how 3D printing finally enters the world of large-scale, functional objects and sustainable materials while allowing unprecedented freedom of form,” said bridge designer Joris Laarman.
An artist’s rendering shows the robotic printers inching along a partially constructed span, while gradually tracing out the path ahead. Construction will take place over two fateful months in 2017, the designers told Fast Company.
More Must-Reads From TIME
- The 100 Most Influential People of 2024
- The Revolution of Yulia Navalnaya
- 6 Compliments That Land Every Time
- What's the Deal With the Bitcoin Halving?
- If You're Dating Right Now , You're Brave: Column
- The AI That Could Heal a Divided Internet
- Fallout Is a Brilliant Model for the Future of Video Game Adaptations
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time
Contact us at letters@time.com