Dremel - Idea Builder 3D20-01 3D Printer - Silver/Blue

This thing is awesome! Very high print quality and easy printing right out of the box. Compatible with other brands of filaments (Hatchbox). If your print is failing then you probably need to level the print bed.....which is simple. Can't stop printing and the hardest part is prioritizing what you want to print next.

My husband loves his printer. However, the user interface on the computer could be easier to use. It's clunky. Also, the instructions given for changing the filament is not how you are suppose to do it. He had to call customer service, because the filament kept getting jammed after following the document that came with the printer. Customer service walked him through how to change it so that it doesn't completely mess up extruder.

I have used a number of different 3D printers. This is no Makerbot, but it does a nice job of handling every day print jobs. Manually adjusting it to guarantee print quality is a must and one thing the Makerbot does a bit better. The software leaves a lot to be wanted, so find a good one you do like. Getting items to sit flat on the virtual bed for printing is a pain in this one.

Within minutes of setting up the device I was printing my first project. So far no problems with performance or results. The design software (Tinkercad) is free and also very easy to learn. I highly recommend this printer.

The first item printed perfect, second little off...then there was an issue. I called the Dremel Support line and a patient knowledgeable rep talked me through a little adjustment. There are some good pieces of software, MeshMixer and Simply 3D that will add tremendously to the product, especially Simply 3D. Use Youtube to watch a few tips on using the software. Lots of great sites to download things to create, but having the software will help make sure it prints properly, uses less filament, operates quieter and quicker. The printer is an absolute champ once you learn how to make the most of it...but it is also good for some smaller simpler projects too.

My first 3d printer, and it is fairly simple to operate. My only complaint is with the included build tape. After cleaning it after a print i had to add a small film of glue from glue stick to keep 1st layer of filament to stay in place

The Dremel Idea Builder has a slightly industrial feel to the enclosed printer, with an LCD screen on the front to display print status and to allow printer maintenance and adjustments to be made. The bed is plastic and easily removable with a little clip at the front. This helps keep the bed level, as you're not prying things off while it's still attached. There are two plastic stickers that are placed on the bed to help things adhere to the bed. They can be replaced if they are damaged, but they are sturdy and last longer than tape does on other printers. The bed requires some guided manual adjustment with the included instructions. The Idea Builder has a good build size at 5.9" deep by 9" wide and 5.5" tall, allowing for some wider pieces to be build. The small LCD touch screen lets you manage settings on the printer and start prints from an SD card. It also has a USB cable to connect to your computer and prints can be sent directly from the Dremel software. Dremel3D is available on Mac, PC and Ubuntu Linux. The software allows the object to be moved, rotated and scaled before it's printed or exported to an SD card. At that time, the resolution can be selected as Low, Standard or High. The Dremel3D software does not have the option to add supports. Supports will be required for some builds that have overhangs like an outstretched arm or platform. It even mentions picking up Meshmixer and using the tools to add supports to an .stl file. This isn't a very difficult process, but is an additional step and something to learn. If you're a fan of other Dremel tools, it shouldn't be too far of a stretch to think having some more control over supports with Meshmixer is a better option, but it'd be nice to have it built into the software. The printer uses PLA plastic, which doesn't need a heated bed and is more biodegradable and eco-friendly than ABS. During our testing, the Dremel Idea Builder was able to handle a variety of objects with good results. Using models with supports built in made for much better prints when overhangs were present. As with any 3D printer, it did handle some objects much better than others. Simple geometric shapes without overhangs or complex patterns did best. Spheres and anything with little surface area on the bottom of the print tended to release from the plastic bed and end in a ruined print, but this happens on other 3D printers as well. The software is simple to use, but doesn't have any type of library to store stuff you are printing. You'll need to manage your files manually on a computer. The quality is good and I didn't have any bad prints unless there just wasn't enough surface area to adhere to the bed. Overall, the Dremel Idea Builder is a solid printer for makers or those looking to get into printing. The software lacks some advanced features, but makers will find other tools out there to handle adding supports to files. PROS: -- Enclosed printer keeps the noise down a little. -- Build platform is 5.5" x 9" x 5.9", which provides some extra width. -- Support for Ubuntu Linux in addition to the standard Windows and OS X. CONS: -- Software does not allow for adding supports or rafts to a build. You need to use third-party software for that feature. -- PLA filament only. -- Cable got hung up on the inside back of the printer and I had to manually untangle it. It only did this once.

It Takes forever to print 2x2 item close to 68min.