cube 2
The cube 2 is an older model printer that I have had in my classroom for about 2 years. It is one of the most economical options to get a 3D printer into your classroom. We still use it in my room today and its still running very well.
Pros:
Cost, when I purchased this printer it was about $1400 total and I believe that came with a few cartridges. This model of printer is still available to buy at $1299. I have not used the new model so this review is based on the cube 2 only. The print pad is small but really easy to clean. The adhesive is used to hold the plastic down to the print bed as its printing. When your done you simply run the glass print bed under hot water and it comes off. It is really a high quality printer. I have not had to replace any parts at all in the last two years and I have put it to the test printing with it often. You can also run two types of plastic through the printer, ABS and also PLA. I recommend using PLA as ABS has a much greater shrink factor and I have not had as much luck with it as PLA. Cartridges come in a wide variety of colors giving you options for your prints. The cube is made by 3D systems. This is a company that is a driving force in the additive manufacturing industry. They make large industrial versions of 3D printers that are widely used in industry. I see that as a con because its a good connection to what future engineers in your classroom may be exposed to in their career someday. |
Cons:
The biggest downfall to the cube 2 is the price for cartridges. Like anything that takes cartridges its smart to look at costs of the consumables. This wasn't something I knew a lot about as this was the first 3D printer I had purchased and 3D printing in general was new to me at the time. The cost has come down a bit but they are about $49 per cartridge. And in comparison to the amount of material you get when purchasing another brands Filament at the same price, you really don't get much plastic. This increases the cost per item your printing. It has a relatively small printing surface. This will limit the size of the parts your able to print. The software is pretty user friendly to get your prints ready, however you can't print multiple pieces at one time. Another big downfall to this printer is you can' t pause a print and resume where you left off. For example, if there is an issue or you want to change the color in the middle of the print to give your piece a two tone look, you can't do it with this printer. |
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