Lemontron: New open-source inverted 3D printer costs $413 to build

The open-source Lemontron 3D printer just arrived, complete with all its build files and documentation. It's got a unique upside-down printing setup and costs around $413 for all the parts. Think of it as a spiritual successor to the 2021 Positron printer.

The design's goal is to make it easy for people to get the parts, mostly from standard suppliers like AliExpress and DigiKey. KB-3D provides the hot end and heated bed, and you'll also need a custom PCB. The frame itself is entirely made of 3D-printed pieces, which you'll have to print out before putting everything together.

Even though the Lemontron prints upside-down, the creator says gravity doesn't do much to mess up how things print. The filament solidifies nearly instantly, no matter how it's oriented. The printer still uses good old layer-by-layer printing logic, but its flipped-around design helps make it more portable than regular models.

While its roughly $413 price tag undercuts many other DIY printers (which usually start at about $699), it's not exactly aimed at beginners because you need another 3D printer to make all the necessary parts. So, it's probably best as a second printer for most people.

The project has thorough documentation with video tutorials and written guides, so builders should be able to assemble the printer without too much trouble.