The Monoprice 110010 is an affordable desktop 3D printer aimed at beginners and hobbyists. Monoprice is a retailer known for providing budget electronics and accessories, and the 110010 represents their push into the consumer 3D printing market.
Released in 2018, the 110010 is an updated version of the popular Monoprice Select Mini printer. It retains the same compact form factor and basic Cartesian design, but with several upgrades for improved performance and reliability. Key changes include a flexible heated print bed, larger build volume, and touch screen interface.
As an entry-level fused deposition modeling (FDM) printer, the 110010 is designed to be easy to set up and use. It ships fully assembled and has an open frame design that allows users to see the printing process. The 110010 aims to deliver good print quality with basic materials like PLA and ABS filament, though at a relatively slow print speed.
With its low price point of around $200, the 110010 competes with other budget printers like the Creality Ender 3 and Anycubic Mega Zero. It offers a slightly more polished experience than many printers in this price range and continues Monoprice’s tradition of affordable workhorse machines. The 110010 hits a sweet spot for beginners not want to spend too much on their first 3D printer.
Design and Construction
The Monoprice 110010 is a desktop fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printer with a sturdy metal frame construction. It has a footprint of roughly 16.5 x 16.5 x 16.7 inches (420 x 420 x 425 mm) and weighs around 44 lbs (20 kg).
The metal frame consists of extruded aluminum which provides rigidity and helps reduce vibrations during printing. All of the structural components are made of either metal or hard plastics, giving an overall premium and durable feel.
The exterior panels are made from thick ABS plastic which feels solid when assembled. There is an acrylic door covering the print area. The print bed is made of a thick aluminum plate which allows even heat distribution and stability.
Overall, the Monoprice 110010 has a very robust industrial design and construction quality. The use of metals and hard plastics results in a sturdy and precise 3D printer capable of reliable prints.
Print Performance
The Monoprice 110010 is capable of fast print speeds while maintaining good quality thanks to its 120mm/s maximum print speed. It has a 0.1mm nozzle and can achieve layer heights as low as 0.05mm, allowing for decent print resolution.
In terms of accuracy, the 110010 generally produces dimensionally accurate prints. Its Cartesian style frame keeps the x, y, and z axes stable and orthogonal. The lead screws and belts allow for precise positioning of the print head and bed. Users report print tolerance of around 0.1mm for typical prints.
The advertised resolution is 50 microns along the X and Y axes and 1 micron along the Z axis. This translates to prints with visible layer lines on sloping surfaces, but overall print quality is quite good for the price. The maximum volumetric speed is 20 cm3/s which is on the lower side but expected for a budget printer.
Overall, the Monoprice 110010 offers fast print speeds for quick prints, decent resolution for visible layer heights, and good enough accuracy for most applications. It performs well for a low-cost printer but cannot match premium machines costing 5-10x more in terms of absolute print quality and precision. Still, it delivers excellent value in terms of print performance per dollar.
Filament and Print Bed
The Monoprice 110010 can print with a variety of filaments, making it a versatile machine for different applications. It is compatible with PLA, ABS, PETG, TPU, wood, metal composites, carbon fiber, and more.
The printer has a heated print bed with a glass surface that measures 150 x 150 mm. This gives you a decent print area for small to medium-sized prints. The heated bed helps with adhesion when printing materials like ABS that can warp without sufficient heat. The glass surface provides a smooth, even print surface that allows prints to adhere well during printing and pop off cleanly when cooled.
Some key benefits of the print bed:
- Heated to 50-60°C to prevent warping and allow printing of materials like ABS.
- The removable glass surface is durable and provides great adhesion.
- Decent 150 x 150 mm area for small to medium prints.
- Allows printing of a wide range of materials like PLA, ABS, PETG, TPU, and composites.
The main limitation is the smaller print area, which is typical for an entry-level desktop 3D printer in this price range. For larger prints, you may need to split models into smaller sections. Overall, the heated bed and glass surface offer reliable performance for most uses with this printer.
Printing Features
The Monoprice 110010 stands out with its robust printing features, especially considering its affordable price point. It supports common 3D printing file formats including STL, OBJ, and GCode.
For connectivity, it offers USB, SD card, and WiFi options. The USB and SD card allow for convenient offline printing from a computer or SD card. The WiFi enables wireless printing over a network when connected to the free Monoprice Print software. This gives the flexibility to print from different devices.
Additional useful features include assisted bed leveling which helps get the print bed aligned properly before printing. There is also a filament runout sensor that pauses printing if the filament runs out, allowing you to reload it. The printer has power loss recovery to resume a print job after a power interruption.
Overall, the Monoprice 110010 punches above its weight class with printing features rivaling more expensive printers. The range of connectivity choices, assisted bed leveling, and thoughtful touches like the filament sensor demonstrate the strong capabilities of this budget 3D printer. For the price, it’s hard to find another printer that can match the 110010’s functionality and reliability.
Setup and Calibration
Unboxing the Monoprice 110010 is quick and easy. All the parts are neatly packaged with clear labels. Assembly is straightforward following the well-illustrated instruction manual. The printer comes mostly pre-assembled, so you just need to attach the gantry, build plate, filament holder and spool, and plug in the cables. Leveling the build plate only takes a few minutes following the auto bed leveling procedure.
The initial setup is quick since Monoprice pre-calibrates each printer before shipping. You can get printing fast after unboxing without needing to do extensive calibrations. The auto bed leveling and assisted bed leveling features make it easy to get a level print surface.
Overall, setting up the Monoprice 110010 is simple and fast. The printer ships mostly assembled with helpful instructions. Initial calibration is easy thanks to the assisted leveling features. Beginners should have no issues getting started with this printer straight out of the box.
Printing Workflow
The workflow for getting a print started on the Monoprice 110010 is straightforward. First, you’ll need to have a 3D model file, usually an STL or OBJ file. This model file will need to be loaded into a slicing software like Cura or Slic3r. These slicing programs convert the 3D model into layers and generate the code instructions for the printer.
To get started printing, you’ll first need to load filament into the printer. The Monoprice 110010 uses a 1.75mm diameter filament. Simply feed the filament into the extruder and through the guide tube until it begins extruding out of the nozzle. Make sure the nozzle is preheated before inserting the filament.
Once your model is sliced and the printer has filament loaded, you can transfer the code file to the printer. The Monoprice 110010 has a micro SD card slot that allows you to load print files directly. Alternatively, you can use USB or WiFi to transfer files if you upgrade the printer’s connectivity.
When ready to start, use the printer’s control panel to select the code file and hit print. The print bed will heat up, the extruder will move into position, and the first layer will be laid down. It’s a good idea to watch the initial layer go down to ensure proper bed adhesion. Once the print has started, it can largely be left alone aside from occasionally checking on progress.
The Monoprice 110010 makes getting prints started fairly easy. The workflow is simple and straightforward enough for beginners to pick up quickly. Slicing software does require some learning to optimize print settings, but overall the printing process is uncomplicated.
Print Quality and Reliability
The Monoprice 110010 delivers excellent print quality for the price. It uses a 0.4mm nozzle and can print layers as fine as 0.05mm, producing detailed prints with smooth, clean surfaces. The fully enclosed design helps maintain a consistent print chamber temperature, leading to reliable bed adhesion and minimizing warping.
During testing, the printer produced dimensionally accurate parts with no noticeable defects like stringing or oozing. Small details in models emerged cleanly and parts mated together precisely. Overhangs and bridges printed reliably without drooping or sagging.
The printer demonstrates consistent print quality over long print jobs. A 24-hour reliability test was conducted printing a complex model repeatedly. Each part came out identical with no visible defects or decreases in quality over time.
Overall the Monoprice 110010 provides professional quality prints rivaling more expensive machines. Once properly calibrated it can deliver repeatable, high-quality prints for the price point. The reliability and consistency make it well suited for unattended printing of large projects.
Pros and Cons
The Monoprice 110010 Select Mini is a popular entry-level 3D printer that offers a lot of value and features at an affordable price point. Here’s a summary of the key pros and cons:
Pros
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Low price – Typically retails for under $200, making it one of the most affordable desktop 3D printers on the market. Great option for beginners.
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Good print quality – Capable of printing with decent resolution and accuracy once properly calibrated. Comparable to more expensive entry-level printers.
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Compact size – Small footprint takes up minimal space. Good for use in apartments, dorm rooms, offices.
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Easy to set up – Fairly simple assembly out of the box. Intuitive controls. Good option for first-time users.
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Heated print bed – Helps with adhesion and printing more materials like ABS plastic. Uncommon at this price point.
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Large user community – Tons of online guides and mods available due to popularity. Good support network.
Cons
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Small build volume – Print area is just 4.7 x 4.7 x 4.7 inches. Limits what can be printed, especially larger objects.
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No auto bed leveling – Manual bed leveling can be tricky and time-consuming for beginners. Upgrades available.
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Noisy operation – Fans and motors can be loud, may bother some users.
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Limited materials – Works well with PLA but can struggle with more advanced filaments like flexible TPU.
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Minimal onboard controls – Needs to be controlled via PC. No LCD interface for stand-alone use.
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QC issues – Some quality control and part longevity concerns reported by users. Customer support varies.
Verdict and Comparison to Other Printers
The Monoprice 110010 is one of the best budget 3D printers available today. It delivers excellent print quality for the price, rivaling more expensive printers. The large build volume, heated bed, and all-metal construction make it a very capable machine. It’s easy to set up and use for beginners but has enough features for more advanced users.
Overall, the Monoprice 110010 punches well above its weight class. It’s an excellent entry-level printer that can produce detailed and accurate prints once dialed in properly. The quality and reliability make it a great value purchase.
Compared to other budget printers like the Ender 3, the Monoprice has a more sturdy metal frame and a larger build area. It also includes nice extras like a touch screen and filament sensor. The Ender 3 may have a larger user community for support, but the Monoprice 110010 produces better quality prints out of the box in my experience.
For those looking to get started with 3D printing without breaking the bank, the Monoprice 110010 is one of the best options available. It consistently delivers quality prints with good detail and accuracy. I would recommend it to anyone looking for an affordable, capable, and reliable 3D printer. More expensive printers may offer more convenience or features, but the Monoprice hits the sweet spot of price versus performance.
