A Fresh LEGO Ideas Submission Builds a Creality Ender 3D Printer Brick by Brick

Fans of LEGO and 3D printing share a common desire to bring new things to life from raw materials. Now, thanks to a recent submission on LEGO Ideas, the two worlds are merging in an intriguing way: with a highly accurate model of a Creality Ender-series 3D printer.

Guris14, the project’s creator, was inspired by his direct experience assembling real prints on an Ender machine, which he has in his workshop. A lightbulb popped off: why not build the printer from LEGO bricks? That sparked the whole affair, and he focused on making the building process as enjoyable as it was precise.

The design is based on the extremely popular Ender 3 V2, and it successfully captures the distinctive boxy aluminium frame in black and silver tones, with splashes of blue detail here and there. You can replicate the mechanics that underpin the Cartesian system, with the gantry gliding over beams that simulate genuine 2040 extrusions, and construct vertical supports to guide the Z-axis up and down, much like a real Ender 3 V2.

On the hotend assembly, there is a blue tube that represents the Bowden setup that feeds the filament to the extruder motor. The build plate moves forward and back along its Y-axis track, and a small angled LCD panel, similar to the one on the original printer, sits in the front right corner. You may even add a spool holder on top, ready for an imaginary reel of filament.

Hidden beneath are small representations of the motherboard and power supply, which add to the overall design without making it appear cluttered. The build plate even has a tiny LEGO logo, which is a nice touch. The model is scaled down from a real Ender 3 V2, allowing it to be conveniently displayed on a desk or shelf, and the moving parts are as expected: the hotend moves over the plate, and the lead screws keep everything stable.

When you put everything together, it reflects the actual challenge of building a real-life 3D printer, as you have to link all of the mechanisms one by one until the whole thing begins to take shape. It’s a great way for complete beginners to learn how 3D printing works, while experienced makers will still be able to enjoy recreating something they’re familiar with.

The submission is now competing for 10,000 supporters on LEGO Ideas before it can ever be considered for production and sale. But, with lots of time remaining (418 days left to get the first 1,000 supporters), there is still time to rally behind it and help make it a reality.
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