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It’s absolutely possible to print Lego compatible bricks with mid-level quality FDM printer on the market today. And not crap either. Usable bricks in a variety
by sircastor 5y ago
It’s absolutely possible to print Lego compatible bricks with mid-level quality FDM printer on the market today. And not crap either. Usable bricks in a variety of shapes and sizes. It won’t provide the exact same aesthetic, but that’s not really the point.
Resin printers can also produce these kinds of bricks, and they’re going to be even better.
The trouble in both cases is volume. It’s time expensive to print these sorts of things. There are already half a dozen Chinese companies selling knockoff brand Lego sets (“Lepin” and “Legi”). You can find large lots of used bricks on eBay for cheap. It rarely makes sense to print a Lego brick unless you’re doing something custom.
- pipeline_peak 5y agoI didn’t know about Lepin and Legi, they’re definitely mirror clones, give or take quality. I underestimated how taxing it would be to accurately print each piece vs an injection mold. From where it stands now, it’s not fully automated anyway. A printed mini figure requires X-Acto knife carving.
- sircastor 5y agoMy Sister and her family put together a knock off Lego Millenium Falcon a couple of years ago. The hazard seems to be the occasional missing piece. From my evaluation, the quality was outstanding - and the product pretty indistinguishable from legitimate Lego. I think Lepin is frequently seized by customs around the world. There are always other brands to take their place though.