Monoprice mini v2 3d printer


Monoprice Select Mini Review 2022

We reviewed and tested the Monoprice Select Mini 3D printer, and here's why we liked it so much! You'll want this budget 3D printer too after reading this!

By Justin Evans

4

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Let’s 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 be 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 trust it?

Maybe you should. We’re talking, of course, about the Monoprice Select Mini. It’s an absolutely tiny printer designed for people looking to explore the world of 3D printing, without breaking the bank. So how does it hold up? Let’s find out!

Filament Diameter1. 75mm
Extruders1
Supported MaterialsPLA, ABS, HIPS, PVA, TPU
ConnectivityUSB, SD Card
Printing Speed55mm/s
Build Volume4.7 x 4.7 x 4.7”

Table of ContentsShow

    Design

    This printer’s design is about as simple as they come. It has a single extruder, and prints onto a heated bed. The build area is, as you’d expect, fairly small – roughly the size of a can of Coke. Still, this is about average for a printer in this price range, so there 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, thanks to the four-post leveling system, you shouldn’t have to calibrate it too often. Instead, you can focus on the fun part: actually printing things.

    You can control this printer either with a PC or directly, using the built-in screen to select models for printing. There’s also a USB port and SD card slot, and the printer actually includes a USB stick with models so you can get printing right away.

    Printing

    The first thing you should know is that the Select Mini is slow. Its top speed is about half as fast as its rivals, and worse, it tends to fail when running even at that. You’ll be far better served with a slow and steady approach. This seems to create the most 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 see the layers, and intricate details aren’t replicated all that well, but with a little patience (and post-processing), you’ll find you can actually do quite a lot with the Select Mini.

    Budget 3D printers tend to have one characteristic in common: lack of versatility. You can expect to print with PLA, maybe ABS too, 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 you can really go wild.

    Features

    Part of this printer’s appeal is its simplicity. As such, it doesn’t have many advanced features to speak of. Rather, it tries to make things as easy for new users as possible. Take software, for instance: it works with Cura, Repetier, Simplify3D, and most other popular modeling or slicing programs.

    As you grow more comfortable using a 3D printer, you might want 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 changing the hot end to adding wireless functionality.

    If you’ve used a 3D printer before, it’s unlikely that this model will blow you away. It’s aimed at beginners and has a price point to match, after all. However, if you’re completely new to printing and just want something to tinker with as you learn, there are a few models better than this one.

    Cost

    So how much do you think this printer costs? Brace yourself – it actually retails for around $190, making it among the cheapest 3D printers we’ve seen. Now, it’s not available directly from Monoprice anymore since they’ve released the Mini v2 for the same price. However, it can still be picked up by third-party retailers.

    The freedom to use third-party filament means you can keep your material costs down. Evidently, if you want to print often, this will increase to some degree, but since there’s no support for exotic filaments, things shouldn’t get too out of hand.

    This printer is perfectly priced and has enough versatility to corner the low-end market. Frankly, we’re amazed that this isn’t the go-to recommendation for people looking to get into 3D printing for the first time.

    Support

    Despite its low prices, Monoprice offers a 30-day money back guarantee on all its printers. Once you’ve committed to keeping the unit, a year-long limited warranty takes effect. This is pretty good coverage, especially since there’s no risk of breaking anything during assembly.

    On the other hand, Monoprice only offers basic troubleshooting tips and 3D printing tutorials in its support section. You can use the ticket system, email, phone, or live chat to get more detailed help. Our only issue is that the returns link only works on some pages, throwing an error on others.

    Honestly, this level of support was unexpected. Too often, low-end 3D printers try to sell their product and then wash their hands of it. That’s clearly not the case with Monoprice, and for that, we applaud them.

    B9 Creator Review

    Select Mini V2 3D Printer – Monoprice Europe

     

    The World's #1 Selling 3D Printer*

    Too often, getting a low-cost 3D printer means getting a box of ill-fitted parts with poorly written and incomplete documentation. You end up spending hours on the internet, searching forums and asking for help to get the printer assembled and operating properly.

    That isn't how Monoprice operates and this 3D printer is a perfect example! This printer not only comes fully assembled, it has already been calibrated at the factory. All you have to do is perform a quick check to verify that the print bed is still leveled, in case it shifted during shipping, then load the included MicroSD™ card, load some filament, and start printing the preloaded model. Nowhere else will you find a 3D printer ready to print out of the box at such a low price!

    *Q1'17 according to CONTEXT


     

     

     

     

     

    Open Source

    Best in Class

    Ready to Print

     

    Open Source: The heated build plate and wide range of extruder temperatures allow this printer to work with any type of filament from any manufacturer. Additionally, the ability to use free, open-source software allows you to tailor your 3D printing experience to your personal tastes.

    Best in Class:  An improved version of the best selling and best community rated 3D printer in the world, it is also the best community rated 3D. It features an all metal nozzle, insulated heated built plate, upgraded cooling, 3.7" IPS color screen, and wireless, Wi‑Fi® connectivity.

    Ready to Print: Unlike most other low-cost 3D printers, this printer ships fully assembled and has already been calibrated at the factory. We even include sample PLA filament and a microSD™ card with preinstalled models, so you can start printing right out of the box!

     

     

    Features


    • Fully assembled and factory calibrated so you can start printing right away
    • Insulated and heated built plate with pre-installed build mat
    • Nozzle cooling fan and main board cooling fan
    • Includes accessory kit
    • All-metal nozzle
    • Wi‑Fi®, microSD™ card, and USB connectivity
    • 3. 7" IPS color screen
    • Windows® and Mac® compatible
    • Compatible with Cura, Repetier, and other software

    What's in the box


    • 1x MP Select Mini 3D printer
    • 1x Filament holder
    • 1x AC power adapter
    • 1x AC power cord
    • 1x Micro USB cable
    • 1x MicroSD™ card
    • 1x Plastic bed scraper
    • 1x Bed leveling hex wrench
    • 1x Sample PLA filament

     

    Extruder Type Single Extruder
    Printing Technology FFF
    Supported Filament Size 1. 75mm
    Supported Filament Types ABS, PLA, Wood Fill, Metal Fill, and others
    Max Extruder Temperature 482°F (250°C)
    Max Platform Temperature 140°F (60°C)
    Nozzle Diameter 0.4mm
    Max Printing Speed 55mm/sec
    Layer Resolution 0.1mm
    Build Area 4.7" x 4.7" x 4.7" (120 x 120 x 120 mm)
    Build Volume 103. 8 cu-in (1728 cc)
    Connectivity Micro USB, MicroSD™ card
    Offline Printing Yes, with MicroSD card
    Supported File Formats .stl and .obj
    Supported Operating Systems Windows® 7 and later, Mac® OS X®, Linux
    Supported Software Cura, Repetier-Host
    Display Type Wide viewing angle color LCD screen
    Max Power Consumption 120 watts
    AC Adapter Input Power 100 ~ 240 VAC, 50/60 Hz
    Input Power 12 VDC
    Dimensions (H x W x D) 13. 5" x 11.3 x 7.5" (343 x 287 x 190 mm)
    Weight 9.9 lbs. (4.5 kg)

    Support Files:

    • User's Manual  (Oct 12, 2018)
    • Manuel d'Utilisateur (Français)  (Jun 22, 2018)
    • Benutzerhandbuch (Deutsch)  (Jun 22, 2018)
    • Manuale Utente (Italiano)  (Jun 22, 2018)
    • Manual de Usuario (Español)  (Jun 22, 2018)
    • Software Package (Cura and Repetier)  (Jun 15, 2016)
    • Updated profiles for the latest version of Cura  (Oct 26, 2017)
    • Updated firmware version 30 for the V1 version of the printer with firmware version less than v30  (Feb 9, 2018)
    • Updated firmware version 40 for the V2 version of the printer with firmware version greater than v34  (Feb 9, 2018)
    • Updated firmware version 41 for the V2 version of the printer with firmware version v40. If not already at V40, upgrade to v40 first.  (Mar 1, 2018)

    Refer to the following link for detailed firmware update instructions:
    https://mpselectmini.com/firmware/motion_controller

    SD™ and microSD™ are trademarks or registered trademarks of SD-3C, LLC in the United States, other countries, or both.

    Wi‑Fi® is a registered trademark of Wi‑Fi Alliance.

    Microsoft® and Windows® are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.

    Apple®, Mac®, and OS X® are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.

    How long will it take for my order to arrive?

    After the order has been placed, shipping takes about 5-7 business days. Our warehouse is located in the Netherlands.

    How much do I have to pay for shipping?

    Shipping costs to Finland, Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Andorra, San Marino, Vatican City, France:

    • Orders above 30€: Free Shipping
    • Orders below 30€: 3,79€

    For deliveries to Cyprus, Malta, Norway, Switzerland, shipping costs vary by weight:

    • 10kg – 4. 99 kg: 7,68 €
    • 5kg – 9.99 kg: 8,79€
    • 10kg – 19.99 kg: 11,33€
    • 20kg – 29.99 kg: 11,67€
    • 30kg – 39.99 kg: 19,91€

    What are the returns policy?

    You can return your items to us for free within 30 days without giving a reason. 

    How does the return work?

    If you do not like an article, you can return it to us within 30 days of delivery. Please contact us at [email protected] to receive a free return label. Please print the return label, stick it on the carefully sealed package and hand it over to your local post office. Please keep the document with the tracking number carefully.

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    Overview of the budget 3D printer Monoprice Select Mini

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