Sask. company set to break record with 3-D printed camper

A project that will stretch the limits of 3-D printing is set to get underway in Saskatoon.

Randy Janes, owner and operator of Wave of the Future 3D is working with Saskatchewan Polytechnic to build a camper using a large-scale 3-D printer housed at Create Cafe 3D Printing on Circle Drive.

“It’ll come off the line roughly around 600 to 700 pounds, with the seats and the kitchen walls and closet walls all printed into place as one uni-body trailer,” he explained.

Janes said he came up for the idea to 3-D print a camper based on his 11 years working as an RV product expert and sales trainer.

The build is set to begin Thursday and is expected to last for about 10 days. People can observe the process by visiting Create Cafe or by checking out a live stream on Facebook.

The trailer will be built using an ErectorBot 3-D printer housed at Create Cafe. Nicknamed “Printron,” the unit is the only one of its kind in Canada and is the largest 3-D printer in North America.

Saskatchewan Polytechnic was brought in to develop high-flow nozzles needed to work with the large volumes of plastic that will be used for the build.

Janes said the trailer will shatter a world record once it’s completed.

“The world record is 82 cubic feet for an indoor print and we’re going to be just over 500 cubic feet,” he said.

Once it’s out of the printer, the trailer will be displayed at Create Cafe, where people will be able to tour the interior.

From there, Janes said the trailer will be taken to the Oak Centre RV Mall in Martensville, where it will be fitted with a furnace, stove and other appliances. The finished model will then be put on display there.