A fully functional electric motor has been 3D printed in just three hours.
Traditionally, electric motor production takes weeks or even months. However, a new approach developed by scientists has dramatically accelerated the process, reducing manufacturing time to just a few hours.
Engineers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have created a specialized 3D printer equipped with four extruders for filament, pellets, ink, and a heater. The system can print five different types of materials — including dielectric, conductive, soft and hard magnetic, and flexible — building the motor layer by layer.
Using this technology, a fully functional linear motor was produced in only three hours. After printing, the motor required only magnetization to operate. The materials used cost approximately $0.50, and the system demonstrated performance comparable to traditionally manufactured motors.
This breakthrough enables rapid on-demand production of components without waiting for supply deliveries. In the future, researchers plan to print more complex devices, including rotating motors, which could significantly transform electronics manufacturing and reduce dependence on global supply chains.