In an unusual DIY project, YouTuber “Emily the Engineer” has developed a mobile 3D printer that is powered by a petrol engine. The aim was to enable additive manufacturing outside of indoor spaces and therefore without a power connection.
The basis was a decommissioned small engine block from a high-pressure pump, which was coupled to a two-speed treadmill motor. A belt and pulley system was used to regulate the motor speed so that the treadmill motor generated sufficient DC voltage for a compact inverter.
After some adjustments for a more even power output, the improvised generator was successfully set to the required 10 to 17 volts to operate a standard 3D printer. The biggest challenge was to permanently synchronize the motor speed and thus the output voltage with the changing load conditions of the printer.
After numerous failed attempts and the involuntary stalling of various test print objects, it was actually possible to complete a simple calibration cube in the end. However, the surface quality left a lot to be desired due to the vibrations.
You can see all the details of Emily’s project in the video:
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