The Cadet 3D printer is a relatively small, padded box that holds the printer and a bag of accessories. In addition to tools like Allen wrenches, a USB cable, a microSD card and card reader, a glue stick, an extra sheet of tape for the build plate, and a small coil of filament are also included. A sticker with a QR code is attached to the top of the Cadet, allowing you to quickly download the user manual.
Design
The majority of printers targeted to the same audience are typically fragile, basic devices. Even worse, it’s clear that no study was done to enhance how people actually use the printer. The MP Cadet is thankfully not one of those 3D printers. Instead, the Cadet appears to be fairly robust, weighing a few pounds more than comparable machines while still being manageable to transport with one hand. ..
The MP Cadet is a great printer for beginners and experts alike. Its user-friendly design and clever placement of the screen and turn-knob make it easy to get started, even for those who are not familiar with printers. ..
Monoprice Cadet review: Features
The 3D printer is designed for beginners, with a few features that are not necessary for advanced users. It is easy to use and has an autoleveling feature which makes minor adjustments to the print head rather than the print bed.
The fused filament printer is a simple to use model that prints quickly and without leaving any residue. The PoloPrint Mobile App is also convenient because it supports wireless printing.
User Interface
The Monoprice Cadet printer is a great choice for those who are looking for an affordable printer that offers plenty of features. The user interface is simple and easy to use, and the navigational click wheel with lighting makes it easy to find what you need.
The LCD on the Cadet printer shows pertinent data while printing, such as the temperature of the nozzle, the speed of the fan, and more. Surprisingly, the power button is found on the power cable rather than on the printer’s front panel. The power cable has a sizable switch on it that can turn the printer’s power on and off.
Monoprice Cadet review: Printing quality
The microSD card that comes with the Cadet prints three demo files that are designed to help you print your own models. The first file is a cat model, and the printer started printing after heating the nozzle and automatically calibrating the Z offset. Since there is no heated bed, the printer will begin printing as soon as the nozzle is heated, eliminating the need to wait for the bed to heat up. The second file is a Fortune cat, and the printer started printing after I added a new layer of paper to my sheet. The third file is an Ear ring, and the printer started printing after I added a new layer of paper to my sheet.
The Monoprice Cadet finished printing the model after around two hours and moved the construction platform to the front of the device so we could take it out. The adaptable build platform looks and feels like a magnet for refrigerators. A strip of yellow tape has been applied to the magnetic surface to aid in the PLA plastic’s adhesion to the otherwise cool and smooth surface. We lightly flexed it after we removed it from the printer, and the print immediately came off. We were left with a finished lucky cat model after the raft was easily detached.
The Fortune cat.gcode model is a good one for evaluating overall quality because it has organic curves, some overhanging surfaces, and a lot of embossed detail (whiskers, nose, etc.). Sharp detail, uniform layer stacking, and the absence of any under-extrusion or banding that might point to a printer mechanical problem. The result of printing without a component cooling fan was made evident by the subsequent print, dragon.gcode. The head and neck of this dragon model are shaped like a wine glass, making it difficult for the printer to cool the layers quickly enough while printing. ..
This led to several uneven layers and a rough surface finish. The underside of the overhangs looked messy and unfinished, but the rest of the model printed well. However, without a part cooling fan, it’s likely that the part will always have some degree of roughness on the underside of an overhang. This type of defect could be reduced by lowering the print temperature and/or speed.
Monoprice Cadet review: Slicing Software
Wiibuilder is a slicing program that is pre-loaded on the Monoprice Cadet 3D printer. It allows users to import STL files, make toolpaths for 3D printing, and export G-code files that the Cadet can read. Wiibuilder also provides estimates for build time and material consumption, as well as a toolpath preview that users can check for any potential issues before printing. ..
In Basic mode, you can change the layer height, speed, infill density, and a few other fundamental variables without delving too deeply into configurable parameters. This is just the right amount of information for a beginner to understand without getting bogged down in all the variable parameters available in Advanced mode. The Advanced mode will let you make adjustments to variables like toolpath width, retraction length, and other settings that are more likely to confuse a new user than to actually produce helpful changes once you’ve gained some experience with the Basic mode. ..
Conclusion
This printer more than fulfilled its intended role as a basic, kid-friendly 3D printer. Even though we did experience a hot end jam, we think most people should be able to unpack and print even if this shouldn’t happen frequently. Our daughter adores “her” 3D printer utterly. She enjoys selecting the material and the model before printing these tiny toys and trinkets herself. As she gets older, we expect that her curiosity will increase and she’ll start to want to model some things. A very competent printer is the MP Cadet. It’s not the cheapest 3D printer available at $250, but it has some nice features and more than holds its own against other printers on the market today."
