The Printrbot Metal Simple 3D fused-filament-fabrication printer kit has a black powder-coated all-metal construction with open platform for fabricating parts up to 6 x 6 x 6 inches (H x W x D) using 1.75-mm PLA thermoplastic filament (sold separately). The printer, which has all components required for assembly, has a steel and aluminum frame for durability and a black powder-coated finish to protect against wear. The printer head moves on the Y (backward and forward) and Z (up and down) axes, while the print bed moves on the x (left to right) axis. The steel and aluminum print bed is warp resistant and includes an auto-leveling probe that works with the user-chosen computer software to provide a level print surface. The hot end has a maximum resolution of 100 microns and includes a fan to help solidify the molten filament as it is extruded onto the print bed. The printer uses open source software and connects to the computer using the included mini-USB cable. Using an SD card (sold separately), the printer can be disconnected from the computer after initialization for untethered printing during long print jobs.

The guide rails have a 12-mm diameter for stability and have linear bearings for smooth vertical movement of the print head. The GT2 belt and aluminum pulley system facilitates precise movement of the print head. The NEMA 17 stepper motor meets the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) standard ICS 16-2001. The printer includes a sample spool of PLA (polylactic acid) filament.

*H is height, the vertical distance from the lowest to highest point; W is width, the horizontal distance from left to right; D is depth, the horizontal distance from front to back.

Fused filament fabrication printers build prototypes and parts directly from computer-aided-design (CAD) data sources by stacking layers upon layers of molten material. The print material is provided in filament or wire form and is fed through an extruder within the print head, similar to how ink is used in a standard printer. A printer with a single extruder can print using one filament at a time; a printer with dual extruders can print with two different materials or colors at the same time. The thickness of the printed layers can be customized for each print, but the thinnest layer that a printer can lay is called its maximum resolution. Choosing to print using very thin layers will create parts with more detail, but will typically take longer to print. To lay the material in the correct way, the print head and bed typically move in a combination of X-axis (left and right), Y-axis (forward and backward), and Z-axis (up and down) movement.

Printrbot manufactures desktop 3D printers and accessories. The company is headquartered in Lincoln, CA.

What's in the Box?

• Printrbot Metal Simple 3D printer (unassembled)
• 12V (60 watt) 5 amp laptop power supply
• Power cord (3-ft. length)
• Micro-USB cable (34-in. length)
• Sample spool of 1.75-mm PLA plastic filament
• (2) wood wrenches
• Auto-leveling spacer