FBR Limited

ASX:FBR

FBR Limited

ASX:FBR
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Forum Topics FBR FBR Hadrian X build video

Pinned straw:
lastever
Last edited a month ago

A construction automation podcaster had unobstructed access all day so many technical questions are covered.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TN1KXcoUFks

Length: 18 min

  • Hadrian X in action on build 3 in Florida (in the wind prior to the hurricane)
  • a machine walk-around with the CTO, Mark Pivak.
  • walk through of the completed build 2 with the business development director.
Noddy74
Added 4 weeks ago

Thanks @lastever that was really interesting.

A few observations:

  • the truck doesn't need to be sitting on a road or concrete slab. Clearly the ground has to be solid, but they use pads under the wheels and outriggers to create a stable surface
  • at full reach the boom does move a lot, but I was surprised at how exact it was at laying bricks even with that movement. It just seems to be a bit slower as it takes time to "think" about laying the next brick
  • what really surprised me was how long they kept going as the cyclone came in. In the end in was pelting down and the rain was coming in sideways but it was still laying bricks.
  • you still need a decent sized crew to operate it and do the finetuning. The benefit seems to be the speed at which it can put up a building and the lack of wear and tear on labour.
  • its method seems to lend itself (exclusively?) to big-block rendered finishes.

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Scoonie
Added 4 weeks ago

Agree@ Noddy74 with your comments and thanks to @lastever.  for posting. Pretty impressive demonstration.  Some thoughts:

  • Agree just remarkable how the machine boom swayed yet was able to lay the block with accuracy. Also noted they did not have to cease laying blocks to load blocks into the rear of the machine.  
  • No special pad set up to the machine, other than what looks like some old conveyor belt material.  
  • Appeared to work well in the wind in the rain.  Remarkable.
  • The adhesive means contact on contact on the blocks – so the finish you end up with only lends itself to rendering.
  • The FBR supervisor indicated the house they were building was a pre-approved design. So the dimensions meant for the Hadrian block lay they had to cut blocks. If it was customed designed for the Hadrian machine, then there would be no need or minimal block cutting.  
  • Unclear just how much they can reduce the men needed on site.   Clearly many workers needed to do this particular job as they needed to cut blocks and lay by hand the non-standard blocks.  
  • As the FBR supervisor said, Hadrian calls for more accurate slabs than normal. Particularly with respect to slab levels as there is “no give” in the Hadrian system as it is block on block contact. Small adjustments in mortar thickness can be done in conventional laying to compensate for out of level slabs.
  • Noted the house build was a small and near square in dimensions. Maybe this design type is optimal as only needs the one machine setup.


Machine is better suited to blocks rather than bricks as they lay about one block versus around 5 bricks per movement.  Plus the finished product is not architectural and must be rendered.   Looks as though FBR will be competing against a lower quality blockwork build.

Clearly Hadrian not suitable for a brick veneer residential build, most common on the East Coast of Australia. So for this reason and reasons above Hadrian is specialised.

Technically very impressive and I thought the Hadrian management were pretty brave having the video done and released on only the second home they had attempted in the US.  Well done to FBR boys. 

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