Robo 3D is an established and well respected 3D printer brand based in the U.S.
It was founded in 2012 by Coby Kabilli, who was a bioengineering student at the time, and his friend Braydon, who wanted to create an affordable 3D printer that was easy and simple to use for educational and starter purposes.
Robo 3D started on Kickstarter with their first product, the Robo 3D R1, which is the product we’ll be reviewing today.
Robo 3D has come a long way since their start-up days and have now become a leading brand in the 3D printing industry that produce quality products for professional, classroom, and at-home environments.
Key Features
You’ll get all of the below included with your printer:
- Power cable.
- Spool of filament.
- Quick Start Guide.
- SD card.
- One-year subscription to Autodesk Fusion 360.
- Tool kit.
Specifications
Build Area: 8 x 9 x 10 inches
Print technology: Fused filament fabrication
Print Size: 10 x 9 x 8 inches (254 x 228.6 x 203.2 millimeters)
Print Head: Quick-change nozzle
Print Speed: Up to 50 millimeters a second
Filament Types: PLA, ABS, T-glase, laywood, HIPS, and other Flex Materials
Layer Resolution: 50-300 microns
Extruder: Single extruder
Nozzle Diameter: 0.4 millimeters
Supported Operating System: Windows, Linux, Apple iOS, and MacOS
File Transfer: 3D Printing from SD card
Firmware: Closed Architecture
Warranty: Six months
Lifetime Support: Included
Robo 3D Printer Review
If you’re not the most informed on this niche, then the Robo 3D Printer (find it here on Amazon) is an ideal choice as a starter product in 3D printing.
Easy Setup
It’s so easy to use and will not take long at all to set up and work out the basics; it should only take about 30 to 45 minutes.
The printer comes with a USB flash drive that comes with a quick-start guide that has videos to show you how exactly to set it all up and work the functions.
These videos are also available on YouTube if you want to watch them on a tablet while you set up and are so much more helpful than just following a written guide.
Customer Support
If you’re still really baffled by the setup or have any other questions about the product, you can contact the Robo team, who can give you detailed guidance information on whatever you need.
Their support team is not just customer-service based, and they actually have a good understanding of 3D printing to help any beginners with the printer.
The Robo 3D Printer will automatically calibrate once it is set up and can begin printing within less than 30 minutes.
Convenient Size
The build is a good size for a 3D printer of this price point and measures about 8 x 9 x 10 inches.
It allows you to print a full range of shapes in various sizes and won’t limit you to tiny prints (which is what you’d expect for a lower-priced printer).
The printer weighs 21 pounds and is compact enough to fit on desks and counter tops across the home.
If you’re buying this printer for a child, then we’d recommend an adult help with unboxing, placing, and setting up the printer as it may be too heavy for them.
Value
One of the best things about the Robo 3D Printer is how affordable it is. It truly is great value for money when you consider the printer’s capabilities.
It’s a reasonable price for anyone who’s looking to get into 3D printing but not willing to break the bank on something they’re not quite sure about yet.
Compatibility
The printer is compatible with all Macs, Windows, and Linux operating systems and will work with all open-source CAD software.
The printer, however, does come with a one-year subscription to AutoDesk Fusion 360 to get you started.
The printer is also compatible with all universal cartridges, so you are not just limited to using one vendor for your supplies, and you’ll be able to grab them from anywhere.
There are PLA and ABS filaments available on their website if you’re looking for some, however, you can print with any type of 1.7 millimeter filament from any brand.
The Robo 3D printer also comes with a spool of filament to get you started straight away so you won’t have to wait around.
Features
The printer comes with a heated print bed for ABS prints and helps keep the base of the prints warm while the top is being printed.
This prevents the base of the print from warping. It’s got the versatility of different settings that can suit leisurely or more small-business settings.
You have the option to print faster, which lowers the resolution quality. However, if you want to print something at the highest quality it will take more time.
The model is pretty quiet when it’s printing so won’t require you to have a designated room away from everyone to print what you need.
The printer has automatic bed leveling but will sometimes require a bit of tweaking to keep the head clear during the leveling phase of printing.
However, I don’t really mind as most 3D printers on the market will require your presence while it prints.
Due to the Robo 3D being a model built for starters in the industry, it doesn’t possess any of the extra connectivity or features that the newer models have, like USB, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth.
The R1 only has standalone connectivity through the SD card. However, if you’re just getting to terms with this machine, then it won’t be a major downside.
Limitations
While I do love this trusty little 3D printer, there will get to a point where it limits itself in terms of quality.
For the price you pay, you won’t be getting professional-grade printing (what you’d use in a high-tech work environment).
So if that is what you were looking for, then the Robo won’t be for you.
However, as previously mentioned, if you were looking for your first Robo 3D Printer to get into this area and get to grips with everything, it’s a great option.
You can always upgrade once you feel you’ve outgrown this one.
Repair Options
If anything ever happens to your Robo 3D printer you can book in a one-on-one repair session with a member of their technician team on Skype to help you do it at home.
This saves you having to send it off and wait for it to be repaired and shipped back.
If any major repairs need doing, Robo 3D are happy to repair it or replace it themselves.
The model comes with a six-month warranty and lifetime support, so you’ll always have help if needed.
Pros:
- Easy to use.
- Quick and easy to assemble.
- Affordable.
- Versatile.
- Great customer support.
- Video guide included.
- Software included.
- Large build area.
- Quiet.
Cons:
- Mainly marketed as a starter printer.
- No extra connectivity.
What’s to Love
The printer offers excellent versatility. You’ve got a full range of brands available to choose from in regards to your operating system, software, or printing materials.
It’s compatible with pretty much all brands, so you can buy what you need anywhere and everywhere without having to order from one specific brand and be limited.
I love this as I hate having to wait for materials to be shipped from a specific brand.
If I can go out to a store to find everything I need, it saves us so much time, and I’ll consistently use the 3D printer.
The customer service is faultless, from what I’ve experienced anyway.
The customer service support team is knowledgeable about the models and can give guidance and advice if there are any faults.
This compares highly with other brands’ customer service teams that are primarily built of agents, who have no knowledge and just don’t want you to leave a bad review or demand a refund.
Robo 3D truly cares about their customers and wants their experience using their products to be seamless.
They’ll even recommend added components from other brands if you’re trying to achieve something with the model that it doesn’t currently offer.
The tech team is only a Skype call away if you need to repair minor things on your printer.
Some may not like having to fix it themselves, but I personally like the challenge and think it shows dedication and care of the brand to personally help its customers.
Final Thoughts
All in all, the Robo 3D R1 Printer is a great value for money and is especially good for those starting in the industry.
It’s easy to use and the set-up process is seamless, so even those who have never used one before will feel comfortable.
The printer has some excellent features that any 3D-printing enthusiast would need.
While I don’t think this would work in a professional setting, it surely is an entryway for those who’ve never been able to afford tech of this sort before with a reasonable price point.
