The LEGObot still has some wobble, but Krueger is hoping tighten the X and Y axes soon, making prints more precise
As the 3D printing revolution continues, prices of 3D printers have continued to fall, with devices such as the Buccaneer 3D printer set to sell for under US$400.
But even that is still too expensive for many people – students in particular. That’s why Matthew Krueger, also known asmatstermind at instructables.com, has created a 3D printer for next to nothing from everyone’s favorite childhood toy, LEGO.
Krueger has had an obsession with 3D printing since he first came upon the original Makerbot Thing-O-Matic, but as a student, he lacked the funds to purchase a 3D printer of his own. Since his education was based in engineering, Krueger started making attempts at creating his own 3D printer with limited funds and what he had on hand. After attempts with an Arduino and parallel port, 3D printing on the cheap seemed like it would remain out of reach, but then Krueger pulled out his LEGOs and started building.
What he created is the LEGObot, an NXT-powered 3D printer that is roughly based on the original Makerbot. Instead of plastic, the LEGObot currently prints with hot glue, which although a usable medium, has a rubbery consistency that leads to a lack of practical uses.
Krueger tells Gizmag, “I am currently building a machine to recycle milk bottles into filament, based off of Lyman’s designs. Once I am able to make filament, then I will try to adapt my LEGO printer to use the filament.”
The Latest Bing News on:
3D printer
- 3D-printed NASA satellite marks ‘game-changer’ for space exploration: Michio Kakuon June 30, 2022 at 11:08 am
Michio Kaku, an American physicist and author, argues NASA's introduction of 3D-printed satellites is a "game changer" for the expensive cost of space travel.
- 3D-Printed Rockets Set To Blast Offon June 30, 2022 at 9:32 am
If this summer's Terran1 launch from Cape Canaveral is a success, Relativity Space will be the first aerospace manufacturing company to send an entirely 3D-printed rocket into space.
- Games Workshop: A Bet Against The 3D Printing Clockon June 30, 2022 at 9:00 am
Games Workshop is a juggernaut of high ROICs and stable end markets. What do I see as a serious threat to GMWKF? Is the stock a BUY, HOLD or SELL? Find out.
- 6 Interesting Career Options in 3D Printingon June 30, 2022 at 7:45 am
Want to pursue a career in 3D printing and learn more about the diverse fields available? Here are some potential career options in 3D printing.
- Nexa3D commences shipping of XiP desktop 3D printeron June 30, 2022 at 6:46 am
Nexa3D is now shipping its XiP desktop 3D printer to customers, six months after announcing the Lubricant Sublayer Photo-curing (LSPc) system at Formnext.
- 3D Printed Cartilage Ushers In Ear-a Of Custom Body Partson June 29, 2022 at 11:08 pm
When it comes to repairing human bodies, there’s one major difficulty: spare parts are hard to come by. It’s simply not possible to buy a knee joint or a new lung off the shelf. At ...
- Anycubic Photon M3 3D printer review: The cheapest resin-based printer we’ve seenon June 29, 2022 at 2:57 pm
The AnyCubic Photon M3 is the cheapest resin printer we’ve seen, but beginners will find some issues off-putting, particularly when it comes to software. The Photon Mono X may be a better introduction ...
- 3D Printing Price Increases Continue to Appearon June 29, 2022 at 12:43 pm
Another 3D print company announces significant price increases, perhaps with a secret agenda. Earlier this month we heard from Prusa Research, which explained the tremendous challenges in obtaining ...
- 3D-printed fiberglass pool is now ready to hit America's backyardson June 29, 2022 at 10:45 am
Fox and Friends' showcased the world's first 3D-printed fiberglass pool created by all-American company San Juan Pools; home improvement expert Skip Bedell weighed in.
- How Does 3D Printing Actually Work and What Can You Make?on June 29, 2022 at 7:00 am
D printing has been around since the 1980s and is now accessible more than ever.
The Latest Google Headlines on:
3D printer
The Latest Bing News on:
3D printing on the cheap
- 3D-Printed Rockets Set To Blast Offon June 30, 2022 at 9:32 am
If this summer's Terran1 launch from Cape Canaveral is a success, Relativity Space will be the first aerospace manufacturing company to send an entirely 3D-printed rocket into space.
- Anycubic Photon M3 3D printer review: The cheapest resin-based printer we’ve seenon June 29, 2022 at 2:57 pm
The AnyCubic Photon M3 is the cheapest resin printer we’ve seen, but beginners will find some issues off-putting, particularly when it comes to software. The Photon Mono X may be a better introduction ...
- 3D Printing A Guitar Neckon June 26, 2022 at 5:00 pm
Once imported into Fusion 360, the geometry is tweaked for 3D printing, particularly to fit ... it’s mounted up to a cheap kit guitar for testing. The printed neck works, and it’s given ...
- 3D Printing With Sound, Directlyon June 26, 2022 at 5:00 pm
Canadian researchers at Concordia University want to change how you do 3D printing. Instead of using ... they probably aren’t cheap, but maybe something could be scrounged.
- Development of Application-Specific Grades of 3D Printing Plastics to Drive the Marketon June 24, 2022 at 1:44 pm
DUBLIN, June 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "3D Printing Plastics Market by Type (Photopolymer, ABS, PLA, Polyamide), Form (Powder, Liquid, Filament), Application, End ...
- Understanding the Manufacturing Methods Available for Your DIY Projectson June 22, 2022 at 12:30 pm
Being able to work with new materials opens the doors to countless project possibilities. A toolbox will give you the ability to take things apart and put them together, while a 3D printer enables you ...
- What's Up Doc? Is 3D printing being used for medical treatments?on June 22, 2022 at 1:26 am
The medical use of 3D printing has come a long way in the past decade, and the technique holds a lot of promise.
- Desktop Metal: A Hyper Growth Additive Manufacturing Companyon June 21, 2022 at 1:01 am
Desktop Metal stock is down over 90% from its all-time high last year. Should investors BUY, HOLD or SELL DM stock? Click here to find out.
- Farmers reap the rewards of 3D printing spare partson June 18, 2022 at 9:59 pm
3D printing is saving farmers thousands of pounds by allowing them to make cheap new machinery parts rather than face huge bills for costly replacements. Farm workers have had to cannibalise other ...
- Best 3D printers 2022: FDM & resin printers to help you create at homeon June 17, 2022 at 3:40 am
It’s not the cheapest printer on the market ... Creality is yet another big name in the world of 3D printing, and the Creality Ender 3 V2 is one of the best options for would-be makers on ...