TEVO Tarantula Pro – 3D Printer Review

The original TEVO Tarantula came out in 2015, but luckily, there’s an updated TEVO Tarantula Pro version with an enticing price tag that even newbies won’t balk at. It’s a great quality 3D printer that looks fairly easy to assemble. The TEVO Tarantula 3D printer is at the top of the list for budget-friendly 3D printers.

CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

TEVO Tarantula Technical Specifications

• Max Print Size: 235 x 235 x 250 mm | 9.25 x 9.25 x 9.84 in
• File Format: STL | OBJ | G-Code
• Supported Filament Types: PLA | ABS | Flexible PLA | Wood | PVA | HIPS
• Filament Diameter: 1.75 mm
• Printer Speed: 60 mm/s to 150 mm/sec
• Extruders: Titan extruder with Volcano nozzle hot-end
• Extruder diameter: .4mm
• Printing Plate: MK3 Heat Bed
• Control Board: MKS Gen L V1.0, MKS Mini 12864LCD
• Input/Output:AC 110V -240V, 50-60Hz, DC 24V, 8.5A

Design and Features of the TEVO Tarantula Pro 3D Printer

The design and features of this TEVO Tarantula Pro review will give you an abundance of information along with a recommendation on whether this is a solid printer to go with. 

Once you unpack the TEVO Tarantula Pro, you’ll have to do some tinkering. However, after getting things set up you’ll find that it’s ready to go day in and day out.

The best software to use is debatable, but the printer comes with Repetier included on its SD card. However, there are a variety of printing software options compatible with this printer.

Software Options For The TEVO Tarantula

• Simplify 3D
• Cura
• Slic3r
• Repetier
• EasyPrint 3D
• Craftware
• TinkerCAD
• NerfabbBasic

Printing

The print quality is quite good with the Tarantula Pro once its specifications are tinkered with and dialed in a bit.  One of the best ways to test its print capabilities is to print a filament roll holder since one doesn’t come with the packaging. While the printer itself is affordable, there are some accessories you’re going to have to order, or print, on your own.

Once you print the filament roll holder, it should attach to the side fairly easily. There may be some adjustment to make with over extrusion and some retraction; the layer lines will be reduced by keeping your eccentric nuts tight, but not too tight. The printer also works with exotic filaments like copper while keeping quiet throughout the process, so there’s no need to keep it outside or in the basement.

The Tarantula Pro UnBoxed

TEVO puts a lot of thought and consideration into its packaging to ensure the parts of the printer aren’t damaged during transit. The first thing you’ll notice is the thin layer of foam across the top. Remove that and you’ll find a layer of parts within another layer of foam.

What’s Included?

• 13 bags of screws all labeled for assembly
• 1 bag of tools that includes a wrench, zip ties, and an SD memory card that holds the manual and assembly guide along with links to help you build the printer.
• 1 bag of spare screws and nuts
• 2 carriage and hot-end mount plates
• 1 right side of the carriage plate
• Titan extruder
• Hot end assembly
• Heat bed and print surface
• Y axis carriage
• Left side of the carriage plate
• 3 stepper motors with one that includes gears to be used with the extruder
• 2 – 20×40 mm metal profiles
• 2 – 20 x 20mm metal profiles
• Mainboard
• PLA filament sample
• LCD Display screen
• Display flat cable
• Stepper Motor
• Y axis border plate
• Power supply unit
• Front plate
• Power cord
• Belts
• PTFE tubes
• Lead screw inside 1 – 20x40mm metal profiles
• USB cable
• Spatula
• Needle to unclog the nozzle
• TEVO Card

Pros and Cons of the TEVO Tarantula Pro

CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

There are a few pros and cons that come along with using this printer.

Pros:

• It’s a quiet printer to use, while not recommended for bedroom use, it doesn’t have to be set up outside of the home either
• The packaging is great as it reduces the possibility of damage to the printer during shipping
• The quality of the assembly materials is excellent with mostly aluminum parts and very few acrylic pieces
• The instructions are amazing and easy to follow. They come with phenomenal colored pictures, it’s written with good English, and there are links to TEVO’s YouTube page along with a PDF file all on the included SD card
• The cooling fans on both sides allow for faster printing and help maintain the quality of the printer while exercising its safety processes
• The construction is sturdy and allows for minimal movements of the printer while printing

Cons:

• Over tightening the screws will result in layer lines throughout the printing process
• It will take a few hours to assemble, and it’s recommended to watch the videos and follow directions carefully
• It’s a bit small compared to other 3D printers, but it can work for your everyday needs

TEVO Customer Service

While any purchase has significant pros and cons, it’s important to note that with the Tarantula Pro 3D printer, there’s room for improvement within the customer service department. There’s a 1-year limited warranty that comes with the printer. If you happen to be missing parts it’s recommended on TEVO’s site to get the warranty through TEVO Canada to ensure a reply within 1 business day. The Canadian warranty guarantees:

• Free replacement parts
• Free expedited shipping to prevent the 2-3 week lag if dealing with China customer service
• Guaranteed customer support response via email within one business day.

Should you run into any issues assembling the printer or need to troubleshoot it after it’s up and running, the website guides you to links for YouTube pages and other social media forums. There is an option to message them directly via the Messenger app, but it doesn’t specify how long it takes to get a reply to your question. It seems like your best bet when you run into issues is to ask the 3D printer community as trial and error appears to guide the majority of the answers to FAQs. There’s also the SD card and TEVO info card that provides links to files and customer support to help you when issues arise.

Verdict

Overall, if you’re in the market for a 3D printer, the Tarantula Pro definitely isn’t a bad choice to make.  We certainly think that if you’re looking for an inexpensive, high-quality printer this is way to go.  We hope this TEVO Tarantula review has made the decision a bit easier to make.