The long-awaited Printrbot Simple v2 is now available for pre-order.
The original Printrbot is considered one of the finest starter machines in the business and the addition of handle meant it was portable too. It was also one of the founding fathers of crowdfunding in the 3D printing business and launched off the back of a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2011. Since then, it has left an indelible mark on the industry.
Now the next generation is on sale and shipping will start at the end of July.
Now it has gone on sale, we have finally got the basic details. It will build on the success of the first iteration, though, and has an all metal construction and a stable platform. It weighs a sturdy 16lb and measures 19x16x20 inches.
“As far as hardware, the new Simple is sleeker, with my usual quirky minimalism,” said CEO Brook Drumm. “Love it or hate it. It dumps the round rods and bearings for all linear rails and carriages. We have improved the zy assembly to be a single block of aluminum- no adjustment or nuance when building it, it’s remarkable simple. But simple is hard. And again, these upgrades are pricey to do, but I think it’s worth it.”
The major details
An aluminium cold zone joins a PTFE transition and the Ubis 13S hotend is fully enclosed to make this printer safer. With a maximum temperature of 520 degrees Farenheit it is limited to plastics like PLA, PET and Nylon, together with a number of compounds.
The touchscreen operation that offers one-touch printing from designs stored on an SD card is also plain to see. The updated electronics are all under the skin, but the Printrboard G2 and Powrboard promise to improve on the outgoing model’s performance. It all looks like a step forward and a printer that should make a splash.
If it improves upon the first generation’s resolution, ease of use and general overall customer satisfaction, then expect it to become a firm favourite.
At $849 with a $50 early-bird discount, it is not the cheapest printer and it will stretch the budget of all but the most committed hobbyist. Schools, small businesses and advanced amateurs know that quality costs, though, and there will be no shortage of customers
