The Monoprice MP Cadet 3D Printer is intended for a beginner printer. It is an excellent choice for educational purposes and as an introduction to 3D printing. It is an inexpensive model. Let’s take a look at a few of its specifications, and then let’s see how it performs.
Monoprice MP Cadet Technical Specifications
Max Print Size: 3.9″X4.1″x3.9″ (100x105x100mm)
File Format: .STL., OBJ., .gcode
Supported Filament Types: PLA, PLA Pro
Filament Diameter: 0.4mm (1.75mm)
Printer Speed: 40 mm/s
Extruders: 1
Extruder Diameter: 0.1-0.4mm
Printing Plate: not heated
Design
One thing that we liked about this printer is that it is lightweight and has a small footprint. It easily fits on a desk and does not take up much space. It is made for children and beginners. One thing that we like, with that in mind, is that the bed is not heated, and it has a guard to prevent little fingers from getting too close. However, it is still open enough that they can watch the action.
It is designed to work with WiiBuilder and Cura slicing software. It will accept inputs using microSD, Wi-Fi, WLAN, and USB. It will accept up to an 8GB microSD card. The prints are not highly detailed, but they are smooth and solid. It has a small print bed that is perfect for doing small pocket pets or miniature action figures. It works very well with low-poly designs. It has a maximum nozzle temperature of 250°C. This limits the types of filaments that you can use in the machine. However, you can get PLA and PLA Pro in a range of fun colors.
The printer is lightweight, but it feels sturdy. It has an enclosed metal case that protects the moving parts. The moving parts and hot end are enclosed by a metal shield. One thing that we like is that there is an on/off button right on the power cable. You do not have to unplug it every time.
Another plus is that print bed is easy to remove. You can remove it from the printer to remove the designs. This is another feature that makes it an excellent choice for children because they can remove the print bed and take the model off by themselves. Because the print bed is not heated, they can do this safely. The print bed is held in place with magnets, and it is flexible, so you can pop the prints off easily. Overall, this is a well-designed printer, especially for children and beginners.
Features
This is not the most feature-rich printer on the market, but it was not designed to be. It is made for the beginner, so they kept the bells and whistles to a minimum. In our opinion it is the world’s easiest to use 3D printer. It is a nice, straight-forward unit. However, it has autoleveling, which is a big bonus. You do not have to spend time dialing in the print bed to the precise position. It uses sensors to sense the print bed and makes small adjustments in the print head, not the print bed. You can be a bit off, and it will be able to compensate. You do not have to make any manual adjustments, except for an easy calibration when you first set it up.
This printer uses fused filament fabrication, and the layers are undetectable in the final project. Considering that it does not have a heated bed, this is always a concern. However, this model does nicely in that respect.
As far as being easy to use, this printer is about as easy as it gets. All you have to do is to select your source on the screen and then select your model. You simply tell it to print, and the printer does everything else. The model is easy to remove and comes off clean.
It works with the PoloPrint Mobile App, which is available free from the Apple App Store and Google Play. It can print from Wi-Fi, which also makes it nice.
Printing Performance
This printer is inexpensive and made for beginners, so you might be wondering how well it does. The print speed is relatively slow at 40mm/second. However, it is also fun to watch, and the kids can see how the process works.
As far as detail goes, this one is not capable of creating highly detailed prints. It works best for low poly figures. For someone who is just starting into 3D printing, this is an excellent place to begin practicing modeling. You can start with something low poly to see how the modeling process works. This is the best 3D printer for teenagers who want to get started into the maker world. This is also an excellent choice for teacher snd educators.
The printing goes relatively smoothly, and he Monoprice MP Cadet works perfectly right out of the box. However, when there is a print failure, it is a major failure. One of the problems that we encountered was the model sliding around a bit on the print bed, which led to a clogged nozzle that had to be cleared. For the most part, it works flawlessly. Using the provided glue stick on the print bed before printing seemed to fix the problem.
Packing and Assembly
The Monoprice Cadet is shipped fully assembled. It is ready to print as soon as you take it out of the box, making it the world’s easiest to use 3D printer. It only weighs a bit over 6 pounds, so it is lightweight. It comes nicely packed with plenty of padding to protect the unit during transport.
All you have to do to begin printing with the Monoprice MP Cadet is to take the printer out of the box, connect it to the free wireless app, and you can begin. This is one of the key advantages of this printer for a beginner. It is autoleveling, which eliminates the need for a lengthy setup.
The following comes in the box.
- 3D Printer
- 1 Package of starter filament
- 1 AC Power Adapter and Power Cord
- 1 USB Cable
- 1 micro SF Card and Card Reader
- 1` Platform sticker
- 1 Stick of glue
- 1 1.5mm Hex Wrench
- 1 2.0mm Hex Wrench
- 1 2.5mm Hex Wrench
- 1 Phillips Screwdriver
- 1 M6 Brass Nozzle
- 1 8mm Wrench
- Quick Start Guide
One thing that we like about this printer is that even though the tools needed are common ones that most people would have, they included them anyway. This way there is no waiting to begin printing. They made the experience perfect for gift giving because the child can begin printing as soon as they open the package. They do not have to wait if the proper tools are not available. This is important to the total experience of 3D printing for a first-time printer.
Support
Monoprice Customer Support is easy to reach by visiting the Contact link that is located at the bottom of the web page. You can contact them by email, by mail, and by phone or FAX. Their operating hours are Monday-Friday from 6 AM to 5 PM. They also have a live chat available from 6 AM to 6 PM Monday through Friday. They have multiple ways to contact them, and they have a physical location, too.
Pros & Cons
Let’s summarize the pros and cons of the Monoprice Cadet 3D printer.
Pros
- Small footprint and lightweight.
- Easy to use for beginners.
- Safe for smaller children.
- Works consistently to create good models.
- Easy to choose and print a model.
- Flexible, removable bed.
Cons
- Not suitable for highly detailed models.
- Does not use a wide range of filaments.
- Smaller print bed.
Verdict
When you put it all together, the Monoprice MP Cadet is an excellent choice for children or the beginner who is just starting out. It does an excellent job of printing small, low poly figures. One of the best features of this printer is its ease of use. There is no assembly required, and it is ready to go right out of the box.
It is easy to print a figure and is as easy as using a regular 2D printer. You simply select what you want, and it does the rest. The feature that we liked best was the autoleveling feature. There is no hassle and mess involved in getting started printing with this machine.
The Monoprice MP Cadet is not a professional-grade printer that can quickly churn out highly detailed objects. It is designed to have a bit of fun and get started into the world of 3D printing. When used as stated, as a beginner machine, it is an excellent choice. This printer is designed to spark interest in 3D printing, so the manufacturer made it easy to use. In our opinion, this is one of the best 3D printer for children.
Last update on 2024-04-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
