Wanhao USA Releases Their Newest 3D Printer, the Duplicator i3 PLUS

As the desktop 3D printing market in Europe and North America slightly wavers between success and failure, the companies conquering this emerging technology in Asia have painted a clear picture: 3D printing is their future. This particularly rings true in China, where the 3D printing market that has doubled year-by-year, and is projected to reach $1.5 billion this year. Companies like Raise3D, Wanhao, and CTC Electronic are following in the triumphant footsteps of the Taiwanese-based XYZprinting, a global desktop 3D printing leader with an extensive line of products.

Although the Chinese 3D printing company Wanhao may have their roots in Asia, they’ve also found a market for themselves in North America, thanks to their official reseller, Wanhao USA. Last year, they released the Duplicator i3 3D printer to the continental US, a machine that is highly regarded for providing a quality print at an affordable cost of $375. The printer is a derivative of the popularized Prusa-style 3D printer, an open-source design created by Josef Prusa. After 16 months of fine tuning and modifying their Duplicator i3 printer model, Wanhao has recently devised the Duplicator i3 PLUS, an enhanced version of their already successful desktop 3D printing platform.

The latest Wanhao printer was officially made available by Wanhao USA this past Friday, costing just $499 with free shipping. The Duplicator i3 PLUS has a build volume of over 200 x 200 x 180 mm, the largest of any 3D printer in its class. The new steel framed 3D printer is equipped with an integrated electronics cabinet, a full-sized SD card slot, as well as an on-board 3.25” touch screen display panel. The simplistic and ‘open-minded’ style of the 3D printer makes it easy to observe and modify to the user’s delight.

In addition, the Di3 PLUS build surface will include a heated bed plate and a Wanhao Adhesive Sheet. According to Wanhao USA, the printer has a layer capability of 100 microns, and is compatible with a wide range of materials, from standard PLA and ABS to specialized filaments like NinjaFlex, carbon fiber blends, conductive, and many others. Those who purchase the Di3 PLUS through Wanhao USA will receive a one-year free parts replacement warranty, free in-shop service, and either 10 feet of standard PLA filament or two 1kg spools of black PLA filament.

On the software side of things, the Duplicator i3 PLUS is compatible with almost any 3D printing software on the market. Whether it’s the specialized CURA “Wanhao Edition” or any other type of software, the Di3 PLUS was engineered to accept them all. Working with the most widely used file types, the Di3 PLUS is compatible with a multitude of software platforms, including Microsoft Visual Studio, CADRazor, Thingiverse, Sketchup, Blender, FreeCAD, Autodesk, and Solidworks.

According to Wanhao USA, their new printer is already in extremely high demand, but will not start shipping until July 11. The Duplicator i3 PLUS seems like the ideal 3D printer for the beginner or hobbyist, or those just looking to cultivate their inner maker without having to make a costly investment. Are you thinking about purchasing one? Let’s discuss this new machine further over in the Duplicator i3 PLUS 3D Printer forum at 3DPB.com.