Monoprice Select Mini V2 - My first 3D printer - Learning about 3d printing

I have never 3D printed... Until now!! this is a voyage of discovery with the Monoprice Select Mini V2... not knowing anything about 3D printing, i decided to jump in and give it a try. After a year or so looking at 3d printers i decided to try it out with an economy grade 3d printer, and later on, if i like 3d printing, get a larger better 3d printer.
This Is not a review of this 3d printer and i have not been compensated for this video , i'm just excited about the prospect of something new!
I learned an amazing amount of new things with this little printer, and that is what this video is all about: LEARNING SOMETHING NEW, and i am excited about the possibilities!! The best, lesson if no other, is to remember that you learn more from failure than from success!
the voyage into 3d printing requires 3 things:
1. the 3d printer, and filament (really only a small portion of the equation)
2. a 3d model of the object to print (make your own or download from thingiverse)
3. Slicing software (a CAM software for 3d printing) i used Cura 3.0 which is free!
All i can say is that i am impressed with this little "economy" printer! For $200 i am impressed with the quality of the printing. however, the printer is noisy and the cantilevered arm is "flimsy" but still it did an amazing job
if you get this printer or any other, be sure to purchase a FULL roll of filament, since the sample the printer comes with is not enough to warm up the machine, i bought a roll of Hatchbox PLA Black and a roll of PLA white to get started.
The large format 3d printers I mention:
Creality 5080
OEM H-10
Modix big 60
Big Rep One
Wasp Delta 3MT
Cronus
The Black Belt
BLB "The Box"
Links:
wire frame skull pen holder - www.thingivers...
T-800 terminator pen holder - www.thingivers...
Witch Cat - www.thingivers...
Money Cat - www.thingivers...

[@robertevans6481]

I see a 3d printed boat in your future.....lol

[@RayMAKES]

That is a GREAT idea!!! wait until i get a BIG machine!

[@Texaca]

@@RayMAKES .... you build one piece by piece, like the way shipyards build ships nowadays, in the "block construction". 😆 Then you epoxy together all the little block pieces together, or use Gorilla glue 😆 I'd buy that for a $1 😆

[@devonarthur2678]

i guess Im kinda randomly asking but do anybody know a good website to stream newly released tv shows online ?

[@majorgustavo1696]

@Devon Arthur flixportal

[@devonarthur2678]

@Major Gustavo thanks, I signed up and it seems to work :D I really appreciate it!!

[@ventbot7476]

I just got this printer, and I agree they sent me a tiny amount of filament. Just enough to print the cat and a couple other small things.

[@RayMAKES]

Glad you liked it

[@thebuda01]

I'm thinking of trying out 3d printing. Thank you for this video. Good to see someone have a few failures, learn, and move on than the usual "it's super easy unless you're a moron" kind of tutorials

[@RayMAKES]

thanks, glad it was helpful

[@DaveWard-xc7vd]

If you have trouble getting the first layer to stick then try running the head at 25% of max speed for the first layer. I also run the head temp at 195-200 for PLA instead of 190.

[@RayMAKES]

yeah the first layer was tricky to get right. i ended up getting a piece of glass to print on and it has worked great!

[@puggster]

Its a decent printer for the money. A few cheap upgrades like glass bed make it very decent. You can even attach a 12v laser etcher to it and cut paper, etch materials n stuff. But just for printing small objects with this is fun, I had the issue of it not sticking and I always use heated bed now. Some pla stick better than others, with a glass bed some glue stick or PVA glue solution to coat the glass works a treat. People use glass for a smoother bottom and cos the bed will warp eventually making print stick problems or uneven bottom layers, but most printers suffer this over time.

[@RayMAKES]

It is a nice little beginners printer... I enjoyed it. Now I'm working on a FT5 300x300x400mm

[@DaveWard-xc7vd]

I purchased one of these off Ebay for "parts only". I managed to repair it and its turned out to be a really good 3D printer. Especially for the $39.99 I paid for it. Shipping was another $18.00.

[@RayMAKES]

That is an excellent deal, what was the problem with it

[@DaveWard-xc7vd]

@@RayMAKES Heated bed wires, clogged nozzle and the thermister heatsink compound was loose so it would go overtemp 999 and shut down.

[@RayMAKES]

that was an easy set of fixes!

[@DaveWard-xc7vd]

@@RayMAKES Yea. I kind of felt guilty.

[@DaveWard-xc7vd]

@@RayMAKES The company I work for just bought a Fusion 3. I printed the same part with the same slicer settings and the Monoprice finished first. My co-worker couldnt tell which part came off which printer.

[@gonzostwin1]

(Commenting before watching) I'm thinking of getting one. I really want to make light switches with designs on surface or textured with logos or key hooks and one with a magnet holder built in to hold my led flashlight for when I go into the basement.

[@gonzostwin1]

(Commenting after watching) I am getting this printer. It can definitely do what I would need it to do. I'm blown away with the skull and cat. Thank you for your review and honest opinion

[@RayMAKES]

awesome, im glad you liked the video. i ended up giving my niece and nephew this printer but it was a very nice and reasonably priced entry level printer. i have 3 others now that are much bigger.

[@VitaliySunny]

Cool stuff!

[@RayMAKES]

thanks!

[@DaveWard-xc7vd]

I take mine into work for small parts. Im trying to get the company to purchase a couple of them for small prototype parts. We have a Fusion 3 which works so well that its in near continual use. It would be nice to have a couple of smaller printers as well.

[@RayMAKES]

i have 3 at work, all of which are my own... but i think i will need a bigger one soon

[@1607rosie]

I'm in the same boat as you. I inherited a monoprice v2 but am missing a few things to get it going. I want to experiment with this then buy larger format printer.

[@RayMAKES]

Glad you liked it

[@matthile5734]

I’m having a problem getting my filament into the tube because it won’t even go past the lever it just stops before the tube

[@RayMAKES]

I hope you got this figured out

[@smallfilmstudios1481]

how did you change the filament, I'm having trouble with that

[@RayMAKES]

Just make sure it's warmed up

[@allkindsvideos837]

Bro how did u get urs to print mine wont plz make video of the whole set up to get it to print

[@RayMAKES]

it is just as easy as in the video, but if your file is corrupted you will have problems

[@allkindsvideos837]

Thanks bro i figured it out but my printouts keep looking terrible

[@RayMAKES]

It takes a while to get it dialed in. One thing that is always an issue, make sure your slicer has the correct filament size. Every time I've has a problem, it was because the slicer had 2 85mm instead of 1.75mm

[@allkindsvideos837]

Im using the free slicer cura 15.4.6 its still kinda confusing on how to add The supports

[@RayMAKES]

i haven't used the new version yet so i haven't played with the user defined supports

[@calvinhuddleston576]

Is this guy still sticking around and any issues? I am considering getting this but I've noticed a lot of 3d printers have problems with lasting a decent amount of time

[@GadgetGreg]

I have had mine for 2 years!! Check out why I think this is such a great printer :)

[@RayMAKES]

Gave it to my nephew

[@jgarces2011]

What application did you use to come up with the design and what application do you use with the machine? I am new to 3D printing and would like to start. Thank you.

[@RayMAKES]

Sketch up

[@potatodonut8185]

I got one of these but it refuses to read the sd card, I even bought an additional 2gb sd card and it wont read anything, Any advice? its put through cura and its stl, but it cant read

[@RayMAKES]

Sometimes the mini cards have a problem. I got an extension cable and used regular SD card, no issues

[@MNNICEGaming]

what kind of problems did you see with a bad level? my prints turn out stringy and its driving me insane anyone have any ideas ?

[@TheVentureaaron]

I just got one of these too, another video i saw said to set the retraction for PLA to around 4.5 mm and it helps with the string. Another said to turn down the speed of the print and then also to run PLA at around 195. So all things to try.

[@RayMAKES]

bad level will not allow your print to stick... or come off before its finished.

[@joblack420]

Super cool 😎

[@RayMAKES]

thanks, it was a great learning printer.... and affordable!

[@Yatukih_001]

Thanks for this!

[@RayMAKES]

Glad you liked it

[@nicklavorata1653]

Its not a small 3d printer i have the same exact one and i think it is a good size 3d printer

[@RayMAKES]

It's okay, but I want BIGGER!!

[@TheHiddenPearl]

Hi, I have these two questions, if you can help answer, I appreciate: 1- I create pictures on autocad to turn it into format compatible for Cura Slices, but they are flat, how can the 3d printer make it into an object with 3D dimensions? I mean how I can do? the thickness needs to be specified? 2- Does this print have a range of max and min sizes of objects it can bring? well, i would like if there is a details manual about all these, but the manual when I bought the machine does not say or I miss somewhere?

[@RayMAKES]

Did you figure it out

[@DaveWard-xc7vd]

Did you cut that hole in the wall just so the printer would fit?

[@RayMAKES]

lol, no, that was in there already, the previous owner had a big tube tv in there

[@paulcumber4732]

Have merry Christmas

[@RayMAKES]

+Paul Cumber and you as well!!

[@ShogunJimi]

Ray starts out making a skull - so awesome

[@RayMAKES]

Absolutely!!! no had to go straight for the skulls!

[@sfreedom2007]

Is there a 3d printer that creates the model

[@RayMAKES]

No, you need to make the model

[@davidcoots1686]

you only had to level it over and over because nobody does it right the first time. Home, paper slide, rear left corner paper slide continue in each corner and in the center. home again, repeat. home again. that's how you level a printer. Print a level test. If that isn't consistent you didn't level it properly. Hatchbox filament isn't very good due to consistency issues. Did you prep the print surface? Add a glass for better prints use glue tube for adhesion. Cura as a slicer unless you want to shell out for a better program.

[@RayMAKES]

yes, i added a glass plate and used a glue stick... and then i gave it to my niece and nephew so that they could enjoy it

[@MartynHutchby]

If you're thinking of getting a 3D printer then you need to ask yourself 1 VERY important question ... is it to be a tool or a toy. The distinction: As a toy: you're going to be happy tinkering with it - replacing bits / improving bits ... like with custom cars. You know, just as happy working IN/ON the engine as driving the thing. As a tool: you’re expecting to just make your designs and throw them at the printer. My experience of the Monoprice Mini Select: Its a toy, a £229 toy, but still a toy. In the 6 weeks I’ve had it: 1 - The extruder broke and had to be replaced (upgrade) - £11, 2 - The bearing in the cooling is staring to fail, 3 - Print bed has warped - need a “glass bed upgrade” - still trying to find suitable glass to use. 4 - The build plate temperature sensor has died (as a result of the warping) - new thermistor needed.

[@RayMAKES]

Yes, I agree , this one was Just a toy. I got it to see if 3d printing was something I would enjoy... it certainly is!

[@DaveWard-xc7vd]

Purchase a Fusion 3. $5000.00

[@can3dprint746]

I live this printer

[@RayMAKES]

Glad you liked it

[@hing983]

hi where to buy 3d momoprice bed mate sticker what size mm , i m first time user

[@RayMAKES]

available on amazon, just search for the printer name... i am using glass only now and i love it.

[@gwynethtimbreza1164]

Early squad!where u at?

[@RayMAKES]

lol, what is the "early squad"?

[@mrtamegm]

The small amount of filament was enough for printing the demo one time

[@RayMAKES]

Yeah, I didn't bother with it

[@Pisant1234]

The App on your phone or android doesn’t it’s not existing anymore

[@RayMAKES]

Don't know

[@jasondutt7699]

I don't know what I am doing wrong, al I can print is the CAT. I downloaded other prints from the net but when I go to print they just sit there.

[@RayMAKES]

This may sound silly but did you slice the model?

[@ShockJazze]

Same happens with me.

[@danielelbourne8586]

My first was perfect

[@RayMAKES]

great!

[@domenicofiumarelli8977]

👍

[@RayMAKES]

thanks

[@anantkhanna4954]

if u know 0 about 3d printers, how do u know the name?

[@RayMAKES]

that sounds like a question from a 12YO

[@bb3e2]

Lol

[@Yatukih_001]

He was lucky because he ran into the right USB! Which means his printer, the same as the one I use can read from its files and then print them!

[@Sparatis123]

How much money?

[@GadgetGreg]

The printer is $189. Check out why I think this is such a great printer for the money :)

[@RayMAKES]

$200

[@nickl8985]

"What's in the box??"

[@RayMAKES]

I don't remember anymore

[@1234fishnet]

Look here reprap.org/wiki/P3Steel since you already have a workshop to build the frame. The best way to learn about 3d printers is to build one. I guess mechanics is no problem for you. Look at the KZbin channel from Thomas Sanladerer. Especially his older videos show you everything you need to know. I found everything I needed to start in his videos.

[@RayMAKES]

thanks for the info!

[@joblack420]

Can you make cool mask’s

[@RayMAKES]

im sure i can, but i haven't tried.

[@gizmo_mp3hardstyle856]

Scheiß Englisch Plagen.

[@RayMAKES]

Say again?

[@CTKProductions..]

bla bla bla

[@RayMAKES]

Back at ya