MIT-developed 3D printer can output a fully functional electric motor in a single process — team only needed to magnetize the linear motor after printing, motors cost just 50 cents each

Source: Tom’s Hardware

Image credit: Cañada, J., Bigelow, Z., & Velásquez‑García, L. F. (2026). Fully 3D‑Printed electric motor manufactured via multi‑modal, multi‑material extrusion. Virtual and Physical Prototyping, 21(1).

A 3D‑Printed Linear Motor in Hours

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have created a 3D printer capable of fabricating a fully functional linear motor in just a few hours. The printer, described in a paper published in Virtual and Physical Prototyping¹, integrates four distinct extruders:

• Filament extruder
• Pellet extruder
• Ink extruder
• Heater

Using these extruders, the system deposits five different material types:

• Dielectric
• Electrically conductive
• Soft magnetic
• Hard magnetic (magnetized after printing)
• Flexible

The goal was to develop a multi‑modal, multi‑material extrusion platform that could assemble an electric motor with as few steps as possible.

Speeding Up Prototyping

Traditional prototyping of custom hardware often requires weeks to months, especially when bespoke tools and specialized equipment are needed. This new 3D‑printing approach reduces the turnaround to a single day, making it practical for:

• Rapid creation of replacement parts that are not locally available.
• On‑demand manufacturing that bypasses lengthy global supply chains.

By simply obtaining a schematic or diagram, users can print the needed component on‑site, mitigating delays caused by supply‑chain disruptions.

Outlook from the Research Team

“This is a great feat, but it is just the beginning. We have an opportunity to fundamentally change the way things are made by making hardware onsite in one step, rather than relying on a global supply chain. With this demonstration, we’ve shown that this is feasible,” — Dr. Luis Fernando Velásquez‑García, senior author.

“Even though we are excited by this engine and its performance, we are equally inspired because this is just an example of so many other things to come that could dramatically change how electronics are manufactured.”

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Footnotes

1. Velásquez‑García, L. F., et al. (2026). Fully 3D‑Printed electric motor manufactured via multi‑modal, multi‑material extrusion. Virtual and Physical Prototyping, 21(1). DOI: 10.1080/17452759.2026.2613185 ↩