Monoprice Mp Select Mini 3d Printer V2 Review

Bottom Line

Information technology takes a lot for entry-level printers to ascent to the top. The Monoprice Select Mini might be a few years former, just it'south nonetheless an extraordinary selection for anyone new to 3D printing.

Let'southward say you're in the market for a budget 3D printer. It's tough: there are models that are vastly overpriced, models that have to exist manually assembled from parts, and some that simply aren't good enough to justify even a very low price. What if you saw a printer far less expensive than the rest? Would you lot trust it?

Maybe you should. We're talking, of class, about the Monoprice Select Mini. Information technology's an admittedly tiny printer designed for people looking to explore the world of 3D printing, without breaking the banking company. So how does it agree upward? Permit'southward discover out!

Filament Diameter	ane.75mm
Extruders	ane
Supported Materials	PLA, ABS, HIPS, PVA, TPU
Connectivity	USB, SD Card
Printing Speed	55mm/s
Build Volume	four.7 x 4.seven x four.7"

Blueprint

This printer'south design is about as unproblematic every bit they come. It has a single extruder, and prints onto a heated bed. The build area is, every bit you'd wait, fairly small – roughly the size of a can of Coke. Still, this is about average for a printer in this price range, and then in that location are no complaints on this front.

Since this printer is designed for beginners, we were pleased to see that it ships fully assembled and pre-calibrated. In fact, cheers to the iv-post leveling system, you shouldn't have to calibrate it as well often. Instead, you tin focus on the fun role: really printing things.

You can control this printer either with a PC or direct, using the built-in screen to select models for printing. There's also a USB port and SD bill of fare slot, and the printer actually includes a USB stick with models so you can get printing right abroad.

Printing

The starting time thing you should know is that the Select Mini is dull. Its height speed is nigh one-half as fast as its rivals, and worse, it tends to neglect when running even at that. Y'all'll be far amend served with a slow and steady approach. This seems to create the near consistent, high-quality models.

Now, bear in mind that this is a budget 3D printer. Despite this, we found its prints come out looking pretty good! Sure, you can still run across the layers, and intricate details aren't replicated all that well, but with a little patience (and mail service-processing), y'all'll find y'all tin actually practise quite a lot with the Select Mini.

Budget 3D printers tend to have one feature in common: lack of versatility. You tin await to impress with PLA, perchance ABS also, at best. Incredibly, the Monoprice Select Mini supports both of these materials, as well as HIPS, PVA, and TPU. It's not even limited to using a proprietary filament, so y'all can really become wild.

Features

Part of this printer's appeal is its simplicity. As such, information technology doesn't take many advanced features to speak of. Rather, information technology tries to make things as piece of cake for new users every bit possible. Accept software, for instance: information technology works with Cura, Repetier, Simplify3D, and nigh other popular modeling or slicing programs.

As you grow more than comfortable using a 3D printer, you might desire to add some upgrades. The Select Mini is perfect for this, since its inner workings are easily accessible, and its firmware easily flashed. In fact, we've found guides for everything from irresolute the hot end to calculation wireless functionality.

If you've used a 3D printer before, it'south unlikely that this model will blow you away. It's aimed at beginners and has a price point to friction match, subsequently all. Yet, if you're completely new to press and but desire something to tinker with as y'all learn, there are a few models amend than this one.

Toll

And so how much practice you recollect this printer costs? Caryatid yourself – it actually retails for around $190, making information technology amongst the cheapest 3D printers nosotros've seen. At present, it's non available directly from Monoprice anymore since they've released the Mini v2 for the aforementioned toll. However, it tin can still be picked upward by third-political party retailers.

The freedom to apply third-party filament ways you can keep your fabric costs down. Evidently, if you want to print often, this volition increment to some caste, just since there's no support for exotic filaments, things shouldn't get too out of paw.

This printer is perfectly priced and has plenty versatility to corner the low-end market. Bluntly, nosotros're amazed that this isn't the go-to recommendation for people looking to get into 3D printing for the offset time.

Support

Despite its low prices, Monoprice offers a xxx-day coin back guarantee on all its printers. Once you've committed to keeping the unit of measurement, a year-long limited warranty takes outcome. This is pretty good coverage, especially since there's no risk of breaking anything during associates.

On the other paw, Monoprice only offers basic troubleshooting tips and 3D printing tutorials in its support department. You tin can use the ticket system, email, telephone, or alive chat to become more detailed assistance. Our but result is that the returns link only works on some pages, throwing an fault on others.

Honestly, this level of support was unexpected. As well often, depression-end 3D printers attempt to sell their production and then wash their hands of it. That's clearly not the case with Monoprice, and for that, we applaud them.

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Source: https://www.3dbeginners.com/monoprice-select-mini-review/

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