“Drawing” a lot of attention at the CONEXPO show in Las Vegas in March was a small mini excavator off in one corner. The amazing thing about it was that significant parts of the machine were produced using 3-D printing technologies, which were then integrated with conventional parts to create a functional 5.5-ton mini excavator.
Project leader Lonnie J. Love, a corporate research fellow from Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), says printed components included the cab, which was printed in five hours with carbon-fiber-reinforced ABS plastic; the 7-ft.-long, 400-lb. “stick” at the end of the boom; and a 13-lb. aluminum heat exchanger. They were then attached to other traditionally built components to create a machine based on a Case New Holland 5.5-ton excavator.
The team of Project Additive Manufactured Excavator (AME) was a collaboration between ORNL and industry, academic, and government partners. Check it out below
—ENR and other sources
The 2026 IIBEC Building Enclosure Symposium (BES) is now accepting abstract submissions through January 14, 2026.
The 2026 IIBEC BES will take place at the J.W. Marriott Indianapolis in Indianapolis, IN, October 18-20, 2026. Will you be one of the presenters? IIBEC is seeking technical articles and presentations for consideration. Put your skills, knowledge, and talent to work for your profession!
Submit Your Abstract Today!
