Thingiverse User Shares Files to 3D Print a Moving Toyota 4 Cylinder Engine 22RE

Formnext Germany

Share this Article

en2While 3D printing enthusiasts cover the gamut with a wide range of projects from gaming figurines to avante-garde dresses and shoes, most of the serious automotive 3D printed parts and components we report on are left up to the big guns in the automotive industry. They have access, obviously, to powerful industrial 3D printers that these days are pumping out more and more 3D printed parts, leading to faster production times, greater efficiency, easier quality assurance of methods, and most of all — a more attractive looking bottom line.

As with many different types of innovation, groundbreaking production of parts often begins in the more industrial sectors with giant companies encompassing vast resources. Inevitably though, brave and creative souls decide they want to see if they can take a crack at it too, and from there — barriers are broken — and amazing products are made in home workshops and garages.

I’ve never met a car enthusiast or mechanic who didn’t love a project or a challenge, and timeframe is usually not a concern, as their idea of relaxing is tinkering with a large metal vehicle — or in this case — building parts for one. Auto enthusiast Eric Harrell, also a Thingiverse user, is a mechanical engineer who decided to try his hand at designing and 3D printing a Toyota 4 Cylinder Engine 22RE. Composed of 80 separate 3D printed parts, the engine took about 60 hours or more for design time, and over 72 hours to 3D print. While that might sound like a staggering amount of time, keep in mind that the end product is an engine.

twoHarrell mentions that this is a complex design and it will require a commitment to taking quite a while to complete. Using SolidWorks, Harrell had to deal with capacity issues for his 3D printer, so he scaled the files to 35 percent. Using PLA filament with his RepRap original Prusa, Harrell recommends expecting to use about 1kg of filament for the complete print. Since it is a challenging project and requires skills and equipment, Harrell warns that you do need to pay attention to the limits of your 3D printer in terms of how well-calibrated and ‘robust’ it is, with the option of scaling files down further; however, smaller parts could be become an issue.en3

Rubber bands were used for connecting the fan pulley and electric motor. Harrell was not able to find pre-made springs at the right size, but improvised as follows, with the note that he would appreciate input from anyone in the community that does know of a spring that will work: “Valve springs were made with 1/4″ ratchet extension as a mandrel and 0.023″ steel mig welding wire. The outer diameter of the spring should roughly be 0.470″. Each spring has 10 loops, and you need to just stretch it long enough to keep the valve closed.”

With all the files available for download from Thingiverse, this is definitely more than a weekend project, unless you plan on entirely giving up on sleep, and while it’s challenging — what a reward at the end to build your own engine. It’s important to note that there could be various kinks that need to be worked out due to variations in 3D printers and materials. The files are also still somewhat of a work in progress, Harrell warns.

While it does take many hours to 3D print, the engine can be printed in installments, producing a fully rotating model, with a working crank, pistons, and valve train — with valves that open and close. Except for several bearings and fasteners, Harrell points out that all the parts are 3D printed.

Is this a project you would feel comfortable taking on? Have you 3D printed automotive parts or components previously? Tell us about it in the 3D Printing Your Own Toyota 4 Cylinder Engine 22RE forum over at 3DPB.com. Check out the video below as well as some additional images:


three

en



Share this Article


Recent News

Lawmakers Reignite Effort to Block Online Sharing of 3D Printed Gun Files

Juggerbot 3D and ORNL Collaborate on 3D Printing of Thermosets and Thermoplastics



Categories

3D Design

3D Printed Art

3D Printed Food

3D Printed Guns


You May Also Like

3D Printing News Briefs, June 11, 2025: Sustainability, Automotive Tooling, & More

We’re starting with sustainability news in today’s 3D Printing News Briefs, as EOS has strengthened its commitment on climate responsibility, and Zestep is making 3D printing filament out of eyewear...

3D Printing 50 Polymer Stand-In Parts for Tokamaks at the PPPL & Elytt Energy

Of all the world’s things, a tokamak is one of the hardest, most complex, expensive and exacting ones to make. These fusion energy devices make plasma, and use magnets to...

3D Printing News Briefs, May 17, 2025: Color-Changing Materials, Humanoid Robot, & More

We’re covering research innovations in today’s 3D Printing News Briefs! First, Penn Engineering developed 3D printed materials that change color under stress, and UC Berkeley researchers created an open source,...

Featured

Firehawk Aerospace Partners with JuggerBot 3D, Gets $1.25M from AFWERX for 3D Printed Propellants

Texas-based Firehawk Aerospace, an advanced energetic materials firm that works with aerospace and defense applications, announced a strategic partnership with JuggerBot 3D, an Ohio-based large-format 3D printer manufacturer. Together, the...