A treadmill can serve as a functional base for a large-scale 3D printer, significantly expanding its build volume. This innovative idea was brought to life by Ivan Miranda and [Jón Schone], who transformed a full-size treadmill into a 3D printing platform.
Their approach involved sourcing actual gym equipment and carefully constructing the printer atop it. They mounted linear rails to the treadmill’s frame and added a gantry for the print head, as well as stepper motors. To accommodate the scale of the machine, they designed a custom, extra-large extruder that ensured a satisfactory print speed. The final assembly required fitting modular components and connecting various cables, allowing the machine to function effectively.
Once operational, the treadmill-based printer began producing plastic components, demonstrating its capability to handle significant print volumes. An impressive example of this was the printing of a massive girder exceeding two meters in length, showcasing the potential for large-scale 3D printing operations.
This concept of a treadmill or belt-equipped "infinite build volume" has been explored in various forms since as early as 2017. Over the years, advancements in technology have made such builds increasingly realistic, although they remain relatively rare in the 3D printing landscape.
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