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MakerBot Replicator Mini Compact 3D Printer Review

One of the most impressive compact 3-D printer options available on the market today, the MakerBot Replicator Mini is a game-changing new device from a company that has been producing some of the most widely beloved 3-D printing solutions for years and years now.

When you decide to move forward with a MakerBot device, you are choosing to utilize the latest in cutting-edge 3-D printing technology at a price point that is always affordable.

These units are well-designed, well-engineered, and complete with some of the most impressive technology available – not to mention built specifically to interface directly with all of the other MakerBot solutions that have been made in the past and all that will be made in the future.

If you are serious about investing in this next-generation technology, the MakerBot Replicator Mini is a smart purchase. This is as close to future proof technology as you are going to get in thfuture-proofing realm.

 

Overview

Quite a bit smaller than the more traditional MakerBot options (measuring just 11.6” x 13.8” x 15”), you are going to be amazed at the capabilities of the new MakerBot Replicator Mini. This unit still offers a tremendous amount of build volume – more than 98 in.³ – and thanks to the fused deposition modeling technology built right in you are going to be able to effortlessly rock and roll with high-definition 3-D prints right out of the box.

Sure, there are other solutions available on the market right now promising the moon and the stars when it comes to similar technology that the MakerBot Replicator Mini makes use of. However, none of those other options have the same kind of track record for successful engineering and longevity that the MakerBot units do, one of the biggest reasons you should go in this direction.

Check out the rest of this in-depth review to learn whether or not the MakerBot Replicator Mini is the picture-perfect 3-D printer for you!

 

Initial Impressions

At first blush, it’s easy to kind of overlook the MakerBot Replicator Mini.

As we highlighted above, this isn’t the largest unit available on the market right now (not by a long shot), though it is designed to fit on any desktop space without chewing up a lot of real estates.

But once you get past the relatively compact size you are going to find the same kind of hardware features that make these machines from this company so impressive.

We of course are talking about a layer resolution system capable of producing layers at 100 µm, filament diameter systems that can use filaments just 1.75 mm thick, a smart extruder system built right in, and a print nozzle diameter of 0.4 mm – meaning you’re finished product is going to be printed out in the highest possible resolution available in consumer-grade 3-D printers today.

 

Of course, it’s also advantageous to use the MakerBot Replicator Mini because of the smart design and production software cooked right into this unit. You are going to be able to leverage the MakerBot print system on any Windows or Mac computer, but you are also going to be able to use the mobile application for Android and iOS devices to handle the production AND operation of your MakerBot Replicator Mini device.

It really doesn’t get much better than that, now does it Features

The first standout feature that we want to highlight when it comes to the MakerBot Replicator Mini is maybe not going to seem like a special feature at first until you realize just how truly unique it is in the 3-D printing industry.

You see, every single MakerBot product is designed with one thing in mind – standardized compatibility.

This means that every core component of the MakerBot Replicator Mini is designed to work seamlessly and instantly with any other product or solution produced by the folks at MakerBot. This allows you to effortlessly upgrade your device on the fly and as your budget allows, but it also allows you to take advantage of different system components as necessary without forcing you to heavily modify other out-of-the-box solutions from different companies.

Real standardized compatibility from this device streamlines workflows significantly while also improving the consistency of the finished product produced by these units.

Another cool little feature that the MakerBot Replicator Mini brings to the table is the “grip surface” that 3-D printed objects are going to materialize on. Utilizing advanced chemistry, the engineers at this company were able to design a new material that is 100% level but also chemically bonds to the products that are produced during the 3-D printing process.

This holds them in position without the use of any other “extras” that may throw off the accuracy of your prints – again boosting consistency while improving your finished product at the same time.

 

Pros

The relatively compact size of the MakerBot Replicator Mini makes this the perfect desktop 3-D printer on the market today

New mobile application interfaces allow you to control and design 3-D products and print them from your MakerBot Replicator Mini wirelessly

Designed to interface with all other MakerBot hardware and software solutions, flexibility is king when it comes to this unit

Cons

Like other MakerBot solutions, this unit is a little bit more expensive than the rest of the competition

Best results are going to come from using the PLA filament offered by the MakerBot company (though you can use filament options from other companies as well)

 

Final verdict

Trying to wade through all of the different options available on the 3-D printer market today can be a real uphill challenge.

Thankfully though, the folks at maker but have streamlined the process significantly with top-notch solutions like the MakerBot Replicator Mini, which we consider to be one of the very best desktop-style units available for sale right now.

If you aren’t looking to spend a small fortune on a 3-D printer and do not require an extra-large build volume, it doesn’t get much better than the MakerBot Replicator Mini unit.

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