It allows you to understand the inner workings of 3D printing technology and develop your skills in electronics and programming. The applications of a DIY 3D printer are vast.

YouTube channel How To Mechatronics has created a great tutorial with full instructions on how to create your very own Arduino powered 3D wire bending machine.

It's worth pointing out that the Arduino Materia 101 is very similar to Sharebot's own Kiwi-3D printer, in terms of specifications and looks (it's even offered as a DIY kit).

Arduino, the company best known for building and shipping the absurd number of microcontrollers that power many a DIY electronics project, is about to enter the 3D printing market.

Arduino, maker of the open source hardware platform of the same name, is teaming up with a startup called Sharebot to sell a 3D printer for about $1,000.

Open source hardware maker unveils Materia 101, a "precision 3D printer." Read the whole story ...