It’s easy these days for companies to pump out cheap 3D printers to a curious customer base. If you’re looking to get started 3D printing, such an inexpensive investment seems like a safe start. The iNSTONE Easier 3D Printer Kit is just one such 3D printer, marketed to inexperienced makers who want to try out this new technology. Is this 3D printer worth your money, though? Find out in today’s iNSTONE Easier 3D Printer Kit Review.
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Printing Speed
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Build Size
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Precision
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Value
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Design
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User Experience
iNSTONE Easier 3D Printer Kit Review Basics
Unsurprisingly, the iNSTONE Easier 3D Printer Kit features modest specs to go alongside its modest price tag. Starting with its 4.3” x 4.3” x 4.7” build space, this 3D printer falls comfortably in the “mini” category. There’s no heated print bed, limiting you to PLA filaments only. The bed is magnetic and removable, however, which is nice to see.
The iNSTONE Easier 3D Printer Kit’s dimensions measure 7.7” x 7.5” x 10.4” and weighs just 5lbs, in part due to its injection-mold plastic frame. Build speed is pretty quick, clocking in at between 30-200mm/s, erring on the 30mm/s side for higher quality prints. Resolutions range between 100 microns and 400 microns, which is average for this type of 3D printer. Connection options include tethered USB or via SD card. The included SD card is loaded with iNSTONE’S slicing software and some test models for you to experiment with.
iNSTONE Easier 3D Printer Kit Review Pros
Assembled and Ready-to-Print
This 3D printer may be called a “kit”, which usually refers to machines that must be built before using, but in fact, the iNSTONE Easier 3D Printer arrives fully assembled and ready to go. Pop the SD card in, choose a model, load the included filament, and you’re ready to print.
Attentive Customer Support
Despite having a loose-ish grasp on the English language, the customer support at iNSTONE is very attentive. They keep customer support options online, including email and a Facebook page, and are quick to answer complaints or help troubleshoot. This company clearly cares about customer experience, and want everyone to be happy with their 3D printer.
iNSTONE Easier 3D Printer Kit Review Cons
Uneven Print Bed, Overall Cheap Components
One resounding issue that’s repeated across user reviews and even in our own experience, is that the print bed is extremely fickle. If bent too hard when trying to remove a model, it cracks. When installed, it is visibly uneven from front-to-back, requiring some serious troubleshooting to get right because, you guessed it, the iNSTONE Easier 3D Printer lacks even the most basic assisted bed leveling. These problems compound over hours of use.
This problem is also found in many of the iNSTONE Easier 3D Printer Kit’s components, which are prone to failure over time and don’t work very well even when they’re brand new. One user even complained that their extruder nozzle fell off! Not a great sign.
Poor Support Documentation
Both the colorful instruction pamphlet and online resources, such as their website, are woeful. Between broken English instructions and missing steps, it’s difficult to recommend this 3D printer to beginners because of the lack of support documentation.
PLA Only
These days, we consider it downright ridiculous for 3D printers to have such limited filament options. Even if you never print in ABS or other filaments, it’s always nice to have the option. This isn’t even mentioning the fact that PLA-only 3D printers usually don’t have a heated print bed. This oversight means that it’s much more difficult to get models to stick to the print bed, resulting in more mess-ups and frustration.
iNSTONE Easier 3D Printer Kit Review Verdict
The iNSTONE Easier 3D Printer Kit may have passed as a decent mini 3D printer five years ago, but today it’s overshadowed by superior printers cost less and offer more. If you’re in the market for a beginner-friendly mini 3D printer, we suggest alternatives like the MP Mini Delta or MP Select Mini, both of which boast similar build spaces and cheaper prices but include sturdy metal frames, heated print beds, and more filament options. Even a printer like XYZprinting miniMaker provides auto-calibration at a lesser cost. At the end of the day, the iNSTONE Easier 3D Printer is outclassed by better options.
