The world of 3D printing has huge potential. It is being successfully used extensively in a wide range of industries. There may be certain legal and ethical concerns about using 3D printing in some industries. In spite this; there is no denial that it is an extremely useful tool if used well.
3D printing is also called additive manufacturing (AM). It consists of processes that are used to create a three-dimensional object. Different layers of material are formed using computer control to create an object of any size, shape or geometry.
Today, there are various 3D printers available with some affordable basic models. Here is a review of one such 3D printer: the Monoprice Maker Select Plus 3D printer.
Monoprice Maker Select Plus
The Maker Select Plus 3D printer manufactured by Monoprice combines price and performance. It is compact and despite its size, it is capable of high-quality printing.
Features:
- It has a build area of 7.9inches x 7.9inches x 7.1inches.
- The weight of this product is 1.833 pounds.
- It has a printing speed of 70mm/sec.
- The print resolution is 100 microns (0.1mm).
- The following items are included with the product: spool holder, scraper, spool stand, SD card, PTFE tube, 6 Hex key bolts along with a Hex key set.
- It also includes 2 cable ties, print bed mat and a 10m PLA filament.
- There is an AC power cord, USB cable and user manual included as well.
- It comes with a 1-year replacement warranty and a 30-day money back guarantee.
Pros:
Compact size:
The Monoprice Maker Select Plus 3D printer has a small footprint and its compact size helps it to fit perfectly anywhere.
Well designed:
It features a unified design and has an unmatched large build area. It has a metal frame, which makes it long lasting. It is also able to withstand more temperature.
The upgraded LCD menu system consists of a large 3.25inches touch screen. This makes it easier and simpler to use. The knob at the bottom can be used to browse through the menus.
Easy to use:
You would need to get only some basic assembling work done before you can start using this product. The user manual has all the instructions, which you would need to follow to assemble it.
Since it comes almost assembled fully, all you need are 4 screws that you can use to secure the frame of the printer to the base. You will need a couple more screws that will help secure the filament holder. The assembling process is quick and easy.
Prints easily:
The Monoprice Maker Select Plus 3D printer has a sample PLA filament along with an SD card, which contains sample prints to test the model.
The calibration of the printing bed is done manually. Once it is done, you can load the filament in the extruder. It is an Anti-Jam MK10 extruder, which features a 0.4mm nozzle diameter and a resolution of 100 microns.
With its easy setup and 50% faster printing speed, you can be assured of quick and high-quality prints. This product is capable of printing in PLA and ABS filaments both, thus adding to its versatility.
It can be used to print with advanced materials such as wood and metal composites, conductive PLA or dissolvable PVA.
Possible to upgrade it:
Since this product is based on open design, it comes with an added advantage of upgrading it if you wish. You can upgrade it so that it can print other kinds of materials.
You also have the option to add parts to the printer to make it better. One such example is using rings to stabilize the printing bed. This will help in reducing the number of times you would need to calibrate it.
You could also add another extruder to this product. This will allow you to print in two colors and using different filament types too.
Multiple software compatibilities:
Another advantage is that this product has the ability to use both open source and commercial software. It is compatible with different 3D printing software such as Cura, Simplify 3D, Repetier etc.
Cura, the free 3D printing software has a Quick Print Mode, which can be used to familiarize oneself with the process of 3D printing. There is a full settings mode that allows more control over the various features.
This 3D printer is compatible with Mac OS X, Windows and Linux operating systems.
Good customer support:
Monoprice offers full customer support before and after you purchase the product as well. You can get in touch with the customer service team for any troubleshooting, or questions about the product.
Cons:
Takes time to adjust:
One of the downsides to this product is the time taken to get used to it.
Location of spool holder:
The spool holder is placed on top of the unit. In some case, it leads to amplification in the shake.
Easy interface:
While many users have loved the easy to use interface, some others felt it was too easy and limiting. They felt that the touch screen interface must have an advance mode to have a better user experience.
Conclusion
The Monoprice Maker Select Plus 3D printer is one of the best 3Dprinters available today. It is an extremely affordable option especially for those who want to know more and learn about 3d printing. It is a great value for money product and will last for a long time to come.
It might not have some of the features of an expensive 3D printer and it has a bit of a learning curve. Once you are past that, it is capable of some amazing work. The time that you spend getting used to this product will be worth it when you see the high-quality printing results.
This 3D printer offers you plenty of options when it comes to upgrading it. It is well designed, easy to use and it assures you of a great printing experience at an unbeatable low price.
Monoprice is known to deliver high-quality products and this 3D printer lives up to that promise. They have a 1-year replacement warranty and 30-day money back guarantee. They can offer you this, as they are extremely confident about their products.
They have an efficient customer service team to guide you before you buy the product. They give you technical assistance as well as customer support to resolve any queries or questions you may have about the product or service.
The Monoprice Maker Select Plus is a great product for your 3D printing needs.
