by hubie on (#74WFD)
MIT researchers recently published "Fully 3D-Printed electric motor manufactured via multi-modal, multi-material extrusion" full text and nice illustrations available at https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17452759.2026.2613185 To do this required modifying a 3D printer, a lot of experimentation with feedstock, and software changes to solve printing problems. When they got done they have something they call a linear motor, but it looks more like a voice coil or solenoid (very short stroke) to me. None the less, it is proof of concept that printing both conductors and magnetic materials is possible.