Dremel Idea Builder 3D Printer Review

Dremel Idea Builder 3D Printer
In this post I want to focus on the Dremel 3D printer. I've used a Printrbot for several months and have been very happy with it. It's definitely a hobbyist/hacker machine. Many people choose to build a Printrbot from a kit, not just to save money, but also to (forgive me) build one's own lightsaber.

The Dremel uses PLA and a non-heated bed. There's special Dremel 3D Build Sheets, essentially like "BuildTak," that adhere to the bed. You also should (you don't have to, but it's easier) use Dremel's filament. Why?

The Dremel feels more Consumer, or at least, Prosumer. While the Printrbot required a few hours before I was printing a basic object, with the Dremel I was printing within 15 minutes. No joke. Now, for a non-techie that might be an hour or so, but seriously, I unboxed it, leveled the bed, and pressed Build on the touchscreen.

Let's unpack a few things here. No heated bed, use their filament, and just PLA. For the pro this might give you initial pause. But let me tell you - the prints are amazing.

Its a great tool to begin in the 3d world... and will always be there for you when you need it...

The customer support is the best support I have ever seen in a company. We were able to print 15 minutes after opening the box. Great product overall.

Tech specs

General Information

Extruder: Single extrusion

Extruder temperature: Up to 230°C /397°F

Operating Interface: 3.5 inch full color IPS touch screen.

Maximum Build Volume: 9 x 5.9 x 5.5 inches

Layer Thickness: 4 mil | 0.004 inches 100 microns | 0.10 millimeter.

SD Card: Up to 32GB in size /3D20 will not work with SD cards larger than 32GB.

Internal Storage: 4GB

Dimensions

Height: 15.7 in (400 mm)

Width: 19.1 in (485 mm)

Depth: 13.2 in (335 mm)

Weight: 19 lbs 8 oz (8.845 kg)

Filament

Recommended for use with Dremel PLA filaments.

Filament: 1.75 millimeter PLA (Blodegradable/Renewable).