It’s a good sign when a printer begins winning awards before it’s released. After its debut at CES 2016 in January, the tiny da Vinci Mini 3D printer from XYZprinting was given the CES Editor’s Choice Award from USA Today and Reviewed.com – undoubtedly generating a good deal of anticipation about the printer’s eventual release. Today, the 3D printing community will be able to start trying out the da Vinci Mini themselves, as it’s now available for purchase.
The diminutive printer was designed for hobbyists, students, crafters, small businesses, etc., and it’s priced to be easily accessible to all of those demographics. At $289.95, the da Vinci Mini is one of the most affordable 3D printers on the market, and early reviews suggest that its performance well exceeds its modest price tag. In addition to the Editor’s Choice Award, the printer also received the TWICE Picks Award for best 3D printer at CES, as well as the Best Choice Golden Award at COMPUTEX Taipei 2016.
“XYZprinting‘s new da Vinci Mini 3D printer, the latest addition to our diverse array of 3D printing products, addresses the needs of 3D printing enthusiasts without sacrificing quality and ease-of-use,” said Simon Chen, CEO of XYZprinting and parent company New Kinpo Group. “No matter your level of 3D printing experience, the da Vinci Mini is the perfect tool to create high-quality products at an affordable price.”
The da Vinci Mini is 30% smaller than the da Vinci Jr. 1.0, but has the same 5.9″ x 5.9″ x 5.9″ build volume. It’s easy to use, with auto-calibration, automatic filament loading, and single-button printing. Colored LED lights indicate print status, and Wi-Fi connectivity allows for easy, mobile printing.
Features include:
- Printer dimensions: 15.75″ x 13.23″ x 14.25″ (400 x 336 x 362 mm)
- Weight: 24.25 lbs (10kg)
- Build volume: 5.9 x 5.9 x 5.9 inch (15 x 15 x 15 cm)
- Resolution: 100-400 microns
- Nozzle diameter: 0.4 mm
Safety features include an aluminum print bed with increased heat diffusion to prevent the risk of burns when removing an object. It’s an eco-friendly printer, with biodegradable and non-toxic filament, and it’s simple enough for beginners while still offering high quality. XYZprinting has always been an education-friendly company, and the da Vinci Mini is especially ideal for classrooms. Zack Boettcher, a teacher at Milliken Elementary School in Colorado, says his students love the da Vinci printer they’ve been using in the classroom.
“For my classroom, 3D printing has been utilized as an exciting learning incentive for kids; where the winner gets to make their own print,” Boettcher said. “Last summer, when it came to 3D printing, students were as engaged with the reward as they were with the lesson plan. My students got very excited whether it was just watching the da Vinci Mini print or experimenting with a design. With the da Vinci 3D printer, as a teacher I was able to bring outside of the box problem solving skills to my students with the cool factor beyond the traditional classroom.”
An even smaller and more affordable 3D printer will be hitting the shelves in about a month. The da Vinci miniMaker, which was introduced this summer, is available for pre-order now at a special price of $229.99 (full retail is $249.99). It’s specifically designed for young children, and will be released on October 21st. Discuss in the XYZPrinting da Vinci Mini 3D Printer forum over at 3DPB.com.
