Electronics retailer Monoprice recently got into the 3d printer business, selling several inexpensive, rebranded Wanhao models under their own label. At CES 2017 Monoprice announced several more models, including some resin based printers and a new $150 delta printer. Hackaday really likes the Monoprice Select Mini and has a review of the new lineup.
At CES last year, Monoprice introduced a $200 3D printer. Initial expectations of this printer were middling. My curiosity got the best of me, and last summer I picked up one of these printers for a review. The Monoprice MP Select Mini is actually phenomenal, and not just 'phenomenal for the price'. This machine showed the world how good one of the cheapest printers can be. The future is looking awesome.
You might think Monoprice wouldn't be able to top the success of this great little machine. You would be wrong. This week, Monoprice announced a bevy of new and upgraded printers. Some are resin. Some are huge. One will sell for $150 USD.
If you've ever thought about getting into 3d printing, this coming year will be the time to give it a try.
(Score: 2) by driven on Sunday January 08 2017, @03:42PM
I had a 3D printer (Solidoodle, who are now out of business) and had the damndest time trying to get something reasonable to print. Funny thing is I got the "beginner" model which didn't come with a heated print bed, and I'm convinced that was responsible for most of the problems I had with prints peeling up. I think they got it back-asswards: a "beginner" model should be _easier_ to use, not harder. Anyway, I sold it and don't expect I'll be buying a new 3D printer until a) they are plug and play, no fiddling, and b) I actually have important things I need to print. In the meantime, I'd probably just send away to an online parts printer. Having said that, the prices really have dropped a lot which is nice to see!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 08 2017, @04:28PM
That's a common mistake that companies make. Beginner models should be as inexpensive as practical, but they should also be as simple as possible.
It should be so easy that even Aristarchus can figure out how to use it.
(Score: 2) by mhajicek on Monday January 09 2017, @02:47AM
In order to make it easier to use they'd have to make it noticeably more expensive. Features cost money.
The spacelike surfaces of time foliations can have a cusp at the surface of discontinuity. - P. Hajicek