Well … three days ago I followed the link and checked it out, and passed on providing any feedback. But since you asked:
Like:
Price point
Accepts Gcode
USB port
Wireless is nice (but not essential)
Fully enclosed printing chamber (means ABS is really possible)
Filter (nice feature if printing ABS which smells)
Dislike:
No screen
Size of print bed
Proprietary filament spool*
(or you jury rig other spools to feed thru the exposed side)
No established user community yet
RED FLAG:
Kickstart funding for first time company
I've been 3D printing for about 9 months now. I use my printer for wargaming terrain mostly. I have an 8" x 8" x 8" build area. This allows me to print much larger items as one piece instead of multiple pieces which require assembly.
I like having a screen on my printer, which lets me manipulate settings independent of the saved gcode on the usb drive. I like being able to select which of the many files on the drive to print. I am not a fan of phone-based apps.
For wargaming terrain, PLA is the better filament. No bad smells, does not require an enclosed print area, nor a filter. Fewer things to breakdown.
I like being able to use any filament, and not have to rely on silly special spools (or leave the side hatch open,t hen jury rig other types of spools to feed the machine.
But all that aside, the red flag is this is the first timet his company has tried to produce anything. Check out their timeline. They have a TON of things to sort out, and a number of those could totally derail the entire product launch, because they underestimated expenses to crete an assembly like to make these.
I have not yet run across a kickstarter campaign where the first 3D printer lived up to the advertising. And some have actually folded, never having delivered to customers.
So I would stay away from this company, let them do this without my funds, and then, if they bring it to market, and it works, then lovely. Consider buying one at retail if it still does what you want it to do. Or … back their SECOND campaign, since they have proven they can bring something to market.
But at this point, for that cheap, you are truly just gambling. For 3D printers, Kickstarter really is an R&D effort, not a pre-order. So you are gambling those funds.
With nothing nice to say … I refrained from posting three days ago. But since you asked … there you go.
I would plunk down under $300 USD and get a KNOWN printer, with a larger print bed, that has hundreds of reviews, and a large, established user community, before I would give this campaign a shot.
A strong user community is a HUGE plus. 3D printing is still in the crawling stages. You will have issues. Things will go wrong. And having an established base of users you can reach out to for help is a blessing you will not realize, until the first time you need help, and the LMNOP Model 10-J model of printer you bought as a kit from China has no known user community. But you type in "Need help with Wanhao …" in Google and you will find hundreds of blogs, and likely a
video or two showing you exactly what you needed.
All for what that is worth, from a relative newbie.
Monoprice Maker Select v2 – Paid $259 USD
8' x 8' x 8" build area
Heated Bed
Open source filament
MicroSD memory slot
Huge user community
Not a kit (but some slight assembly required)
discusses the limitations and challenges of working with a low-end 3Dprinter.