Student creates functioning 3D printer mostly out of LEGO bricks for under $180

Adam Turaj, a Mechatronics Engineering student at the University of Waterloo, designed the open-source 3D printer called Studprint for a challenge hosted by Hack Club. The build uses classical LEGO bricks for 92 percent of its structure, including the leadscrews, gantry, and printbed, with only 13 non-LEGO pieces used. The entire project cost $173.35 to build, with the LEGO pieces accounting for $30 of the budget. Alongside the plastic bricks, the device integrates electronic components like a control board, a Raspberry Pi, and five stepper motors to successfully print objects.