Builder Small Filament
Premium Small Printer Review
Expert review of the Premium Small printer
The Builder Premium Small is a 3D printer with near silent operation and a small footprint allowing it to sit easily on a desktop. It has a unique dual extruder that allows printing with two materials or colours, which can be blended to create further shades, although this can also result in some unwanted colour mixing. The printing progress can be easily monitored and adjusted remotely on a mobile device thanks to the on-board camera. This a good basic machine for small scale printing but is unsuitable for those needing to print larger scale designs
Design
With dimensions of 37 x 38 x 49.5cm, the Builder Premium Small is a compact printer made from white powder-coated steel. Connection is achieved via an SD card, USB or wirelessly. The build volume is 21 x 21 x 20cm. Inside is a heated bed that can reach temperatures of up to 60°C and at the top of the printer is a 4.3-inch LCD touch screen for monitoring and managing the machine. Nozzle diameter is 0.4mm. An on-board camera with the resolution 480 x 272 pixels also monitors progress remotely and can be accessed by using apps.
Advantages
The size and near silent operation of the Builder Premium Small 3D printer means it is easily placed. Initial set-up of the printer is quick and easy, and the printer is straightforward to use. The machine can take a wide range of filaments, allowing greater creativity in designs, while the dual feed extruder allows printing with two different colours or materials and can even mix the colours for further shades. The on-board camera and mobile apps gives the added convenience of monitoring progress when away from the printer.
Disadvantages
The Builder Premium Dual Small 3D printer is a good basic printer, however, added features such as auto-calibration would benefit the less experienced user. There is some unwanted mixing of colours when using two colours. It is not suitable for large scale designs.