Student, 14, makes transformer with 3D printer

A middle school student designed and assembled a transformer model with flexible components made by 3D printing in Shijiazhuang, Hebei province.

Zhu Xiaoxuan, 14, was attracted by a TV news item about 3D printing machines in November 2013, and wanted to print his favorite transformer, Optimus Prime, with the new technology, Yanzhao Metropolis Daily reported on Tuesday.

After learning some basics of design software at a local 3D-printer company for two hours, the student spent about 50 hours during his winter vacation to finish the three-dimension design on the computer.

He eventually printed a model of Optimus Prime, which stands 30 centimeters high and has 96 parts.

His mother said Xiaoxuan was not outstanding in his school records. But the 3D-printer company manager, who helped Xiaoxuan print the transformer, said the toy can transform from a robot to a car, a miraculous design achievement for a teenage boy without any structural knowledge.