The Monoprice Maker Select 3D printer is a great 3D printer. It is best suited for both experienced and new users. It’s a printer that doesn’t break the piggy bank yet it delivers great overall print quality. For many 3D printer users, this comes as a great relief. This is especially true since there are many far more expensive models on the market today. This model fits in nicely with the Monoprice line up of 3D printers. The company releases innovation after innovation improving on models as they go. The Maker Select Plus offers its users many features and benefits. Several that are not always found in budget-friendly models. Here we will take a close look at the Monoprice Maker Select 3D printer. When we’re done will give you our opinion on the 3D printer.
Monoprice Maker Select Plus Technical Specifications
- Max Print Size: 200 x 200 x 180mm
- Supported Filament: PLA, ABS, PETG, Nylon, metal composites, wood and more
- Filament Diameter: 1.75mm
- Printer Speed: up to 150mm/s: One Anti-Jam MK10 extruder
- Extruders: One Anti-Jam MK10 extruder
- Extruder Diameter: 0.4mm
- Printing Plate: Heated plate
- File Format: STL, G-code and more
Design and Features of the Monoprice Maker Select Plus 3D Printer
Build Area and Quality
The moment you place your hands on this 3D printer you’ll notice right away that it is solidly built with a steel frame. It’s design is a bit similar to other high performing printers on the market. Like previous models, it features a relatively large build area. This isn’t something you will often find with lower-priced models such as this one. In addition, its larger print area will allow users to produce larger and more complex models.
Filament Materials
Many of the more budget-friendly 3D printers on the market are usually limited filament options. One of the great things about the Monoprice Maker Select Plus is that it provides users with a wide array of filament types. This is possible in part because of its intuitive heated build plate that comes standard with the machine. Not to mention the versatile nozzle design. This printer is able to print with many filament types which include PLA, ABS, Nylon, PETG and many more.
Heated Build Plate
One of the things that we also liked about this model is that it comes with a heated build plate. Heated build plates are typically found on more high-end printers. They make a big difference in the quality of the prints it produced. This is especially true when printing with some materials as an unheated bed can lead to warping.
Print Speed
The maximum printing speed of this machine is awesome. With an impressive 150mm/s it puts even some of the more high-end 3D printers to shame. Of course, printing at such speeds isn’t ideal since the level of quality will be greatly diminished. Even when producing prototypes this speed wouldn’t typically yield a good result.
Software Compatibility
If this printer hasn’t blown your mind yet you’ll be happy to know that its software design uses open source technology. This 3D printer is compatible with several slicing software. It uses both the open-source software as well as the familiar standard G-Code. This is great for users because it provides a lot of flexibility not always so readily available. Some of the software the Maker Select Plus is compatible with includes ReplicatorG, Simplify3D, Cura, and Repetier-Host to name a few.
Touch Screen
The Maker Select Plus features a very easy to use 3.24” touch screen which is nice compared to having to fiddle with knobs and switches. It is certainly worth pointing out that just about every bit of functionality can be tweaked from the touchscreen itself. This will ultimately save users time when they want to enter in their own specific needs.
Connectivity
The design for connectivity with Monoprice Maker Select Plus is simple and straightforward. It features a USB port and SD card reader for loading 3D models. While some other models sport Bluetooth or wifi connectivity don’t get the idea that it’s always better. This simplistic approach to connectivity may not seem ideal upfront but there are some upsides. These types of connections can ultimately mean fewer bugs and print errors. due to disruptions in connectivity.
Printing
You may not be surprised to know that a printer in this price range only has one extruder. However, it’s important to note that this model can print a wide range of materials including PLA, ABS, PETG, Nylon, metal composites, wood and more. You can always swap out the extruder for another. In some cases you may get better results working with various materials and extruder combinations. Overall, the print quality is pretty good with this printer. As we mentioned earlier it is certainly a great option for either beginning or experienced users.
Packaging and Assembly
Each Monoprice Maker Select Plus comes factory calibrated and packaged neatly in a box with several contents. You’ll be happy to know that this 3D printer comes nearly fully assembled. It simply requires 4 screws to secure the frame to the base and 2 screws to connect the filament holder. It doesn’t get any easier than that! Inside the box you’ll find the following items:
- Monoprice Maker Select 3D printer
- SD Card
- AC power cord
- USB cable
- Spool holder
- Spool stand
- Scraper
- PTFE tube
- Hex Key Set
- 6 Hex bolts
- 2 Cable ties
- 10m PLA filament
- Print bed mat
- User manual
Monoprice certainly makes it easy for new users and experienced 3D printers alike to get up and running very quickly.
Monoprice Maker Select Plus Pros and Cons
When it comes down to it this is a great printer. There are always pros and cons when it comes to 3D printers and this model is not different. Let’s highlight some of the things that we loved about the printer and some of the things that we weren’t too crazy about.
Pros:
- Super easy set up right out of the box
- Great touch screen features
- Solid steel frame and sturdy construction
- Relatively small footprint
- Tons of upgrade options available
Cons:
- Can take some tinkering to improve prints
- Requires some patience for new 3D printer users
Conclusion
The Monoprice Maker Select Plus is an excellent 3D printer for its price range. It can print with tons of different types of materials and is pretty easy to use. This is a fantastic option for those who are looking to get into 3D printing. It comes just about put together and has a simple enough design for new users to get the hang of. It’s also a great option for more experienced users as well who already know their way around a 3D printer. With that being said there are also some other great things to consider about this printer. The biggest consideration is the number of upgrades that are available for this model is great. Some of which can be 3D printed.
Last update on 2024-11-05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
