When it comes to desktop 3D printers, the smaller the better for a lot of people. Compact printers have always been popular, and Tiertime’s UP mini 3D printer is no exception. The Chinese printer manufacturer has found a great deal of success in their line of UP printers, and the UP mini has been loved for its ease of use and cost effectiveness. Tiertime has described it as their “entry level” printer, ideal for educators or those just getting started in 3D printing. Yesterday at CES 2016, Tiertime unveiled the new UP mini 2, which should be on the market in the second quarter of this year.
Like its predecessor, the mini 2 is compact, portable, and user friendly – in fact, it improves on all of those characteristics. It’s the first printer in the UP series to have both a touch screen and a WiFi connection, enabling it to be controlled via mobile app and making it even easier to use than the original. The single extruder has a quick change mechanism for easy replcaement, and the printer features onboard file storage and automatically generated, adjustable Smart Support Technology. It’s about as portable as you can get with a 3D printer – the mini 2 sports an aluminum handle for easy carrying. It also comes with a separate spool container, a nifty little case with a built-in toolbox to store your finishing tools.
The mini 2 is about the same size as its predecessor; it has the same build volume of 120 x 120 x 120 mm, with an improved print resolution of up to 0.15mm layer thickness. Like the original mini, the printer is fully enclosed, but its door is now transparent so you can watch the printing process, lit by LED lighting on the inside. It’s eco friendly, with a built-in air filtration system to reduce emissions, and it’s just aesthetically nicer to look at. Like most compact desktop printers, it’s expected to be a popular one for the classroom.
“UP mini 2 has the latest features available on 3D printing market, and it has also fine tuned those features to provide the best 3D printing experience…We have given much thought about intuitive user interfaces to create more consumer friendly 3D printing environment,” said Tiertime CEO Allen Guo. “As a world leading 3D printer manufacturer, Tiertime’s greatest motivation is to meet the increasing demand for consumer 3D printers on the global market. “We believe that UP mini 2 will become the best entry level 3D printing gadget for students at schools, kids at home and 3D printing fans everywhere.”
The UP mini 2 is expected to be priced around $599, the same as the original UP mini printer. A prototype of the new machine, featuring a temporary 3D printed print head, is on display at CES 2016 at Tiertime’s booth, number 72910 in the 3D Printing Marketplace in the Sands Expo Hall. Let’s hear your thoughts on this new machine in the Up mini 2 Forum thread on 3DPB.com.
