Frank, Gary, and Mary came together at a South Melbourne lot on a Friday morning. They formed a three-unit construction team with a mission to build two new homes for Habitat for Humanity. These robotic construction workers, each with their charming nicknames, were at the forefront of a new 3D printing technology being used on the Space Coast.

The Key Players in the 3D Printing Process

"Frank" is the remarkable 3D printer itself. It deftly hoists a large mechanical arm, pouring concrete to form the walls of the future homes. Alongside it is "Gary," its little brother, responsible for mixing and pumping the concrete. Completing the trio is the large material delivery truck, "Mary." Remarkably, the entire operation can be managed by a small team or even a single person.

The First Home and Its New Owner

Once the construction is complete, one of the homes will be sold through Habitat for Humanity to former Cocoa resident Mariah Humphries and her 4-year-old daughter, Ava. This is a significant step in providing affordable housing to those in need.

Apis Cor's Role in 3D Printing Homes

Apis Cor, a Melbourne robotics technology and manufacturing company, has taken on the challenging task of 3D-printing two neighboring homes for Habitat for Humanity. Macedonia Community Development Corp. of South Brevard will lease one of the units to a low-income tenant. This collaboration between the two groups aims to make affordable housing more efficient and accessible.

Although they have worked on housing projects together in Brevard County before, this is their first venture with Habitat for Humanity. They see this as a promising opportunity to revolutionize the way affordable housing is built.

Anna Terry, the executive director of Space Coast Habitat for Humanity, views the 3D printing model as a potential blueprint for the future of affordable housing. "This is the beginning of a future where innovation and compassion work hand in hand," she said. "At Habitat, affordable housing is not just about providing a roof; it's about building the foundation of stability for life."

Comparing 3D Printing to Past Advances

Terry drew a parallel between the technology used on Friday and past advancements. Just as nail guns have made driving nails more efficient than using a hammer, 3D printing may be the next step in quickly building more housing. "The future isn't something to wait for; it's something we create together now," she added.

Apis Cor CEO's Vision

Apis Cor CEO Stefan Safko envisions his company as a crucial player in alleviating the affordable housing crisis in the United States and Florida. "There are around 4 million units of housing missing from the US market right now. Many builders don't know how to catch up," he said.

He emphasized the importance of robotics in building. "Robotics in building is going to become very important," he added. The 3D printing technology used by Apis Cor can significantly reduce the labor time required, from weeks or days to days or even hours. In fact, their technology can build a home's wall in less than a day.

Funding and Support for the Project

Making this project possible is the generous funding from the city of Melbourne and other private donors. Last year, Melbourne allocated $500,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funding for the Space Coast Habitat for Humanity-Macedonia CDC 3D-homes project. This funding will also support the construction of a third Habitat single-family home on Steele Street in Melbourne's Booker T. Washington neighborhood.

Wells Fargo also contributed $300,000 to the construction costs, further demonstrating the community's commitment to providing affordable housing.

Tyler Vazquez is the Brevard County and North Brevard Watchdog Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. You can contact him at 321-480-0854 or tvazquez@floridatoday.com.