MakerBot Sketch 3D Printer Classroom Bundle For Educational Facilities

My son takes a class in 3d printing and I guess they use a printer similar to this one. He said it is an acceptable beginning printer and good for learning. I have searched online and found many options to print and done a few, they seem to go slow but the results are good. I tried a few more detailed pieces, but they didn't come out like I was hoping. I am learning a lot about the different software, hardware and printing and really enjoying experimenting with the printer.

After receiving my 3D45 I was pleasantly satisfied with my purchase.

I own a few 3d printers, some needed assembly and others not. No other printer was up and running as quickly as the Dremel had it on the workbench and heating up in 15 mins, used the supplied USB stick to print a few of the models that were pre-loaded.

Very pleased with the purchase so far. I was able to print right out of the box with the included models (frog) but also with few models directly from Thingiverse (cookie cutters, windup car...) without any issues.

Quality construction. Reliable print quality. Don't have to babysit the machine.

It was well packed for shipment which caused a bit of concern on how to get the packing material out of the machine without causing damage. We quickly found a video that suggested it was OK to gently lift up on the print head module to get it out of the way. Then we were able to remove the last of the packaging.

My first thought is this: If you’re going to spend this much on a 3D printer you might as well go all in, spend another $500 or so, and get the 3D40 model with a heated bed plus the ability to use other than the PLA filament. Of course it all depends on your needs. If you don’t need to build stronger items this one is a good choice, especially for school use. There is a warning if the door is opened during use making it safer around kids. The PLA is plant-based with no noxious fumes .It cost approx. $25 to $30 a reel depending on where you buy it. A good book for beginners is “3D printing projects”. “thingiverse” has a lot of good info. It is easy to find info online on how to finish and paint your projectsThe printer comes well-packed with everything you need to get started, including a reel of PLA. The bed is semi-self-leveling and beeps when it is correct. Re-check the level at least every other time you print. The PLA is loaded on the side, unlike some which have to be loaded on the inside of the printer. The set-up is self-explanatory…select your language etc.You have a one year warranty and lifetime access to Drexel’s customer service.

The only down side is that you have to use the Dremel filaments because they have an RFID chip which for a beginner is OK for you don't have to set up filament parameters. Yes, an expert could bypass the RFID.

To reduce waiting time for the printer to get ready, the align-table feature should be an option. Also, when used in a classroom full of students it takes too long to heat up the print plate. A turbo heat-up would be good.

Received mine yesterday. I can happily report that what other reviewers have said about how quickly you are up and running is no joke! Its the absolute truth. As an owner of (now) five 3D printers, I have grown accustomed to the time it takes to inbox, out the printers together, level again and again, make adjustments for filament types from different manufacturers, see a print fail, try to figure out why, print again... You get the point. All of that vexing tedium was taken out of the equation with this printer. Since setup about 12 hours ago, I have printed the included mechanic statue, the frog, a Star Trek Discovery badge, and am currently printing the lion. After all of that, I have not had to do any major adjustments to the bed level. I have spent maybe 30 seconds total turning knobs slightly. All prints have been free of z-banding, stringing, or other common artifacts of the 3D printing process. Needless to say, this was money well spent!

The 3D Printer is well built and has all the capabilities you need for a hobbyist or a beginner. My 9-year old son came up to speed quickly, and he operates it without adult supervision. Because it is enclosed, it is safer than open models from competitors.

My son enjoys designing on TinkerCad and printing it on the Printer.

Now some things to remember:
Since 3D printing is still not hit the mainstream, this Printer, like many others, needs special attention. We print during the day say we can keep an eye on it.

We had quite a few failed prints, and we were able to reduce those through trial and error. Here are few things we learned:
* When we used Dremel's 3D slicer software, our success rate was much lower. The .gcode files it generates do not work all the time.
* If you use the 3D Cloud software, it creates .3gdrem files, and they have a higher success rate.
* Depending on the design, we need to try out different support types to get it right.
* On Dremel's support team's suggestion, we also had to increase the extrusion head height so the filament does not back up into the head and clog it.

Filament:
Not all filaments are the same in terms of generating quality prints. PETG (esp translucent) gets stuck in the spool a lot, causing failed prints. We have had more luck with ECO-ABS and PLA.

Technical Support:
Dremel's support is excellent. They are quite helpful in debugging issues and very friendly.

Educational material:
The educational material is designed for a classroom setting where a skilled teacher is leading the class. We were hoping we could learn how best to design 3D objects at home but to no avail. There were no instructions on how to get good prints, either. It only includes a series of exercises and is not worth the additional $200.