MIT 3D Prints Functional Electric Motors

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have developed a novel multi-material 3D printing platform capable of producing fully functional electric linear motors in approximately three hours, at an estimated material cost of 50 cents per unit. This system integrates four distinct extruders to deposit five different materials, including dielectric, electrically conductive, soft magnetic, hard magnetic, and flexible materials, in a single build. The printed motors match or exceed the performance of those made by traditional methods, requiring only a post-print magnetization step. This innovation, led by Luis Fernando Velásquez-García, Jorge Cañada, and Zoey Bigelow, has significant implications for manufacturing, offering the potential for on-site hardware production, reduced reliance on global supply chains, and faster prototyping for various applications, including robotics and medical devices. The team plans to further integrate the magnetization step and expand the platform's capabilities for more complex electronic systems.