Why I'm buying a Mini  

RE: Why I'm buying a Mini

I've ordered a Prusa MINI as my first 3D printer for home, because I want a printer that works well and reliably out-of-the-box. I had previously wanted to add an extruder to convert my mini CNC mill to 3D printer but I don't have the time to do it (or to upgrade a cheap printer).

RE: Why I'm buying a Mini

Thanks for sharing!

RE: Why I'm buying a Mini

Same here. I ordered the mini because as a hobbyst the original i3 was a little bit expensive. The mini comes at a great price, plus its dimensions and its silent operation makes it ideal for an in-house lab. Last thing that made me choose the mini is all the lost time configuring things like hotbed, proper feeder, and buggy software. I just hope that the prints are as good as the ones I see coming out of an i3.

Cheers

RE: Why I'm buying a Mini

At this price point (400 bucks, with filament sensor, I don't get which kind of Prusa customer - existing or previously prospective - would consider this a bad deal) this machine is an absolute no-brainer if the print quality is on par with the MK3S. Which still has to show. I'm concerned about the bowden system in regard to Flex printing and the cantilevered axis in regard to print accuracy.

I am pretty sure chinese cheapo replacement part manufacturers will quickly produce those custom hotend parts as well. Due to it being compatible with E3D nozzles, those are already covered. And judging by the photos and videos it looks like heater cartridge and thermistor are standard ones - or at least the same models as for the MK3S - so there's an abundance of cheap replacements for those parts as well.

There are not many alternate 3D printers with a lower price point that come anywhere close to the ease of use of a Prusa machine (which is one thing I am absolutely not concerned about). The magnetic flexible PEI build plate alone is a killer.

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They claim that the MK3S is there to stay despite the Mini and upcoming CoreXY, but I'm not so sure about that. If the CoreXY ends up being in the price range they target (1200-1500) it is not that much more expensive than the existing i3 if you look at the prices you pay for a Raise3D.

Now I can only talk about my own needs here, but for a print I will either need a large build volume - preferably with special features such as multiple extruders, direct drive for printing Flex, or high temp for specialty materials - or the throughput of an array of small inexpensive printers like the Mini. But usually not both at the same time.

The i3 will be sitting right in the middle of those two extremes, offering a bit of both but being a master in neither. (MMU is crap if you actually want to use different materials, not just different colors of the same material and brand, so that doesn't even count as special feature for me).

Which I think would reduce the pool of potential buyers to those that know they only have space/money for exactly one single 3D printer, and zero plans to upgrade or expand later. And I think this pool of people is also the kind that wants to spend as little as possible first and foremost, so the i3 won't fare too well in their personal market analysis.

Perhaps I am mis-estimating the proportions a bit, but I have no doubt that the Mini and CoreXY combined will massively cannibalize the i3 sales. Maybe it'll still be enough to keep production going, but after both those new printers are out I am sure demand for the i3 will drop a lot even after the initial hype is over.

That being said, I might very well replace my MK3S with a CoreXY if the special features are all right for my taste, to accompany the ordered Mini. Just sucks that I have stocked up on MK3S specific replacement parts... (Build plates, heater blocks)

RE: Why I'm buying a Mini

Usually once you bought a first printer, you also tend to buy a second one (because of many reasons...). I'm pretty sure there is space for mini, MK3 and XL. First buyer will tend to buy mini and second one might be MK3 because of direct extruder, MMU and bigger print volume.

XL on the other hand is special anyway.  It's big, bulky, expensive. Something people will think twice before buying it.

RE: Why I'm buying a Mini

Posted by: @nikolai-r

Usually once you bought a first printer, you also tend to buy a second one (because of many reasons...). I'm pretty sure there is space for mini, MK3 and XL. First buyer will tend to buy mini and second one might be MK3 because of direct extruder, MMU and bigger print volume.

XL on the other hand is special anyway.  It's big, bulky, expensive. Something people will think twice before buying it.

MK XL all the way.  

RE: Why I'm buying a Mini

Posted by: @julianr

[...] They claim that the MK3S is there to stay despite the Mini and upcoming CoreXY, but I'm not so sure about that. If the CoreXY ends up being in the price range they target (1200-1500) it is not that much more expensive than the existing i3 if you look at the prices you pay for a Raise3D.. [..] The i3 will be sitting right in the middle of those two extremes, offering a bit of both but being a master in neither. (MMU is crap if you actually want to use different materials, not just different colors of the same material and brand, so that doesn't even count as special feature for me).

For someone who is buying a 1st printer, or has a Pursa and wants something larger, I think you're right. I wouldn't underestimate a large number of buyers who already purchased a low-end machine and want a Prusa for their next. They likely want better quality, but are fine with the existing building volume. A 400x400 printer takes a lot of space that many people simply don't have, even if they'd like one.

I think there's still a niche for the 250mm-ish printer that still fits in a rack or Lack enclosure that will blend into a home, or at least not make it look like a machinery shop. It may be an updated Mk3 with some changes but the best of the battle-tested Mk3 features. 

RE: Why I'm buying a Mini

Posted by: @bobstro

Posted by: @julianr

[...] They claim that the MK3S is there to stay despite the Mini and upcoming CoreXY, but I'm not so sure about that. If the CoreXY ends up being in the price range they target (1200-1500) it is not that much more expensive than the existing i3 if you look at the prices you pay for a Raise3D.. [..] The i3 will be sitting right in the middle of those two extremes, offering a bit of both but being a master in neither. (MMU is crap if you actually want to use different materials, not just different colors of the same material and brand, so that doesn't even count as special feature for me).

For someone who is buying a 1st printer, or has a Pursa and wants something larger, I think you're right. I wouldn't underestimate a large number of buyers who already purchased a low-end machine and want a Prusa for their next. They likely want better quality, but are fine with the existing building volume. A 400x400 printer takes a lot of space that many people simply don't have, even if they'd like one.

I think there's still a niche for the 250mm-ish printer that still fits in a rack or Lack enclosure that will blend into a home, or at least not make it look like a machinery shop. It may be an updated Mk3 with some changes but the best of the battle-tested Mk3 features. 

Great points.  

RE: Why I'm buying a Mini

Posted by: @charles-h13

Posted by: @nikolai-r

Usually once you bought a first printer, you also tend to buy a second one (because of many reasons...). I'm pretty sure there is space for mini, MK3 and XL. First buyer will tend to buy mini and second one might be MK3 because of direct extruder, MMU and bigger print volume.

XL on the other hand is special anyway.  It's big, bulky, expensive. Something people will think twice before buying it.

MK XL all the way.  

😑 It's not "MK XL". MK is an abbreviation for mark. It's a version/iteration statement. Prusa i3 MK3 is version 3 of the Prusa i3 series.

The XL will be the Prusa XL1 (like the SL1) or the Prusa XL MK1. It's also Prusa Mini MK1.

RE: Why I'm buying a Mini

Or Prusa MAX as opposed to MINI? 🤔 

RE: Why I'm buying a Mini

Posted by: @crawlerin

Or Prusa MAX as opposed to MINI? 🤔 

🤣 Mini means small. It's the same mini as in miniature, not as in minimal. MAX wouldn't make sense unless the printer has the size of a building.

BIG would maybe be a fitting alternative.

RE: Why I'm buying a Mini

Posted by: @crawlerin

Or Prusa MAX as opposed to MINI? 🤔 

or Prusa HUUUUGE.  

RE: Why I'm buying a Mini

@charles-h13

BFP 9k (Big Freakin' Printer/Prusa nine thousand). New revisions will go over 9000.

RE: Why I'm buying a Mini

@lichtjaeger

Might be the Mini MK1.  They have not announced the naming convention.  It could always change.  Until they revise, we may never know.  

RE: Why I'm buying a Mini

As far as I am aware, the Mini will simply be known as the "Mini"; there may then be an "S" version of the Mini, possibly followed by the "Mini Mk2".  Likewise the XL will be known as the "XL", with an "S" and "Mk2" versions to follow.

Peter

RE: Why I'm buying a Mini

@pjr

Makes sense.  I am eager to see the beauties in the wild.  

RE: Why I'm buying a Mini

I wanted to get a MK3s but when I seen they announced the Mini, it fitted my budget better and I ordered straight away (within 24 hrs of announcement). I want Prusa quality and on going support so it was an easy decision.

I do plan on making my own clone so that I can learn more about putting a machine together from scratch as I found a wicked set of tutorial videos that show enough but dont fully spoon feed you so it will be a learning experience.

I plan on getting an XL when they drop because I have some large wargaming terrain features I would love to print.... as well as a few "counts as an Emperor Warlord Titan" models....

Fun times ahead.

RE: Why I'm buying a Mini

Posted by: @charles-h13

@pjr

Makes sense.  I am eager to see the beauties in the wild.  

Feeling a bit sheepish 😉

Peter

RE: Why I'm buying a Mini

@pjr

They look great, did you do them ?

Are you a beta tester ?

Out of curiosity, what filament is that and did you use a 0.25 nozzel rather than a 0.4 ??

Cheers

Steve