Who says you can only build small toys and little trinkets with the current crop of desktop 3D printers? Certainly not this dude, who built the World’s First 3D Printed Kayak.
No, it’s not a toy kayak that can only ride around in pools and bathtubs. Instead, it’s a fully-functional paddle boat that you can use along real bodies of water. Just pick up a kayak paddle, hit the beach, and you’re good to go. Heck, the kayak even has mounting points for cameras, handles, and other add-ons on the bow and stern, so this is quite the elaborate 3D printing project.
Since it’s still impossible to print an entire kayak in one run with desktop-sized machines, the World’s First 3D Printed Kayak uses 28 separate parts, each one sized to fit inside a desktop 3D printer’s build platform. All modules are made using ABS plastic, with brass threaded thermoplastic inserts that allow them to be screwed and bolted together. The hull uses 6mm thick panels, with a built-in rib structure on the inside that gives it strength, all while minimizing the weight and amount of materials used. When fully assembled, the entire thing measures 16.33 x 1.33 feet (l x w), with a weight of 64.58 pounds.
Wondering how long it will take to 3D print an entire kayak? A long time, as it turns out. According to Jim, who built the boat, cumulative print time was a whopping 1,012.65 hours (over 42 days). You can read more about it from the link below.