James Bruton from XRobots creates and rides a gigantic LEGO electric skateboard made with 3D printed bricks.

Many people think of 3D printing as a technology of the future, but it can also help recreate nostalgic toys and objects. One application that is continuously captivating makers both young and old is 3D printable LEGO bricks. From building a 3D printer out of actual LEGO bricks to producing DIY LEGO LED lights, the possibilities are seemingly endless.

James Bruton, a maker and host of the XRobots YouTube channel, recently used 3D printing to create a giant LEGO electric skateboard. To bring this ambitious project to life, he printed super-sized LEGO bricks with an authentic look.

The LEGO Electric Skateboard: How is it Made?

In order to create blocks that were big enough to make a functional skateboard body, Bruton took different Thingiverse designs and scaled them up to five times the size. He also used Autodesk’s Fusion 360 CAD software to model a ’80 LEGO-style electric motor casing, wheels, and tires.

The British tinker used red, blue, and bright yellow PLA to print the large pieces, giving them the appearance of actual LEGO bricks. For the tires, Bruton used black NinjaFlex filament (which you can buy at Amazon). All in all, the entire project took around 600 hours in print time.

In addition to the 3D printed parts, the XRobots host also fitted bearings to the rear wheel. This enables the steel rod axle to safely hold two 11.5 Ah LiPo batteries in place. The retro LEGO motor casing contains a Turnigy Aerodrive brushless electric motor that accelerates via a handheld RC trigger.

Bruton’s deck is glued together with a ply board underneath to reinforce strength and make the skateboard ridable. There’s also a steel tube running across the length of the deck, allowing the motorized rear wheel to pivot for tilt-to-turn action.

After showing viewers how he built the LEGO electric skateboard in his first video, Bruton took his deck out for a spin. While the test ride was certainly a successful one, the maker believes that are still areas that can be improved. He plans to continue working on the project and sharing his updates in a forthcoming video.

Until then, you can check out the build process and test drive in the two YouTube videos below.

Source: XRobots