Treadmill Transformed: Mega 3D Printer Builds a Kayak
2025-06-07
Five years ago, "belt" 3D printers started gaining traction, using a conveyor belt for seemingly infinite Y-axis printing. However, most remain desktop-sized, limiting X and Z dimensions. Ivan Miranda and Jón Schone took a different approach, repurposing a treadmill into a massive belt 3D printer. They ingeniously adapted the treadmill's structure, designing custom steel uprights, heavy-duty linear rails, large stepper motors, and custom heatsinks. Overcoming numerous challenges, they successfully printed a full-size kayak, launching it at Maker Faire Prague.