Fluid power, or what is more commonly called hydraulics, is the use of keeping fluids under pressure in order to generate, control, or transmit power. Hydraulics is used in a range of industries and applications, but it is perhaps most common in the construction industry for heavy machinery like excavators and wheel loaders. These large-scale machines are essential to constructing our modern world, and so far there isn't anything that is able to match the hydraulic powered equipment. Power and productivity have been the primary concern for the industries that use these systems. However with growing fuel costs and tightening emissions regulations the industry is finally starting to design more efficient systems, and large-scale industrial 3D printing is playing a role in those designs. 

3D printing steel.The world's first 3D printed excavator has been set to be on display at next year's CONEXPO-CON/AGG and IFPE 2017 being held at the Las Vegas Convention Center from March 7th to the 11th. As the largest construction show in the Western Hemisphere, the 3D printed excavator is going to be presented to some of the most important people in the industry, and could very well be the future of hydraulic-powered construction systems. The excavator will also be the first large-scale construction and machinery application of 3D printed steel, and will be central to the shows "Imagine What's Next" theme. The show attendees will also be able to see a second excavator being 3D printed live on the show floor. 

The excavator was developed as a joint collaboration between the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), National Fluid Power Association (NFPA), Center for Compact and Efficient Fluid Power (CCEFP), Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and the National Science Foundation (NSF). Two separate research teams of graduate engineering students from Georgia Tech and The University of Minnesota will be adapting the basic design of current excavators and developing new and more efficient designs using additive manufacturing processes and technologies. The team from Georgia Tech will be designing the boom and bucket, which will feature integrated hydraulics that will decrease the weight, manufacturing materials cost and maintenance cost. The University of Minnesota team will be designing a hydraulic oil reservoir, heat exchanger and cooling system that will reduce the size and weight of the excavator while increasing the efficiency. 

In addition to the partnerships with Georgia Tech and the University of Minnesota, AEM, NFPA, CCEFP, ORNL and NSF are also inviting any undergraduate engineering students from any US university to enter a nationwide contest to design and 3D print a futuristic cab and human-machine interface for the excavator. The only requirement for the designs is that they both need to be aesthetically pleasing and functionally designed. Any students interested in submitting their designs for the excavator cab can visit the Center for Compact and Efficient Fluid Power website. All entries will be judged by a full panel of industry experts, and the winning design will receive a $2,000 cash prize. The designer or design team will also win the chance to go to Tennessee and visit the Oak Ridge National Laboratory to observe them 3D printing their winning design. Discuss in the First 3D Printed Excavator forum over at 3DPB.com.