We highlighted it in last week's Eduporium Weekly with some of the other new tech tools on our store, but we like it so much that we wanted to give the LulzBot Mini 2 its own personal blog. The line of LulzBot 3D printers appear in many contemporary industries, helping STEM professionals accomplish a lot in terms of innovative engineering and, now that it's available in a smaller size, it's a lot more practical for use in STEM education—not that it wasn't before. With such powerful printers available, some may assume LulzBot kits would be expensive, but they're really not, especially compared to other 3D printers that instructors use at both the K-12 and college levels. Coming in at just $1,500 before applying am Educator Discount, the Mini 2 offers tons of value for its price.
As you can imagine, there are upgrades to the second version of the LulzBot Mini compared to the original. Most importantly, it still allows for highly portable 3D printing experiences but its improved hardware also makes that more reliable. With its software known as the Cura LulzBot Edition, the Mini 2 is able to provide faster load times, an updated interface, and a bunch of options for slicing. For those wondering about the cost, the software needed to run this machine is still free and open source. It also has the print profiles for hundreds of project ideas! Anyone interested can download the new software.
Despite its compact frame, this desktop 3D printer helps students and makers take on any manufacturing project. Another feature that makes it a great portable option are the on-board LCD screen, which includes an SD card reader. This allows the printers to function completely independently without a connection to a computer. It was designed to provide makers with a more size-friendly companion to LulzBot's TAZ model, which is quite a bit bigger, but also stronger and more expensive. Since the Mini 2 does pack a bit of extra power into a smaller frame, it succeeds at exactly that.
As can be expected, pretty much all of the differences between the two Mini models are upgrades. Another one of the improvements to the Mini 2 is its internal hardware, specifically to its "brain." The newer model features an Einsey Rambo controller board to give it high-performance operation along with the impressive quietness. This lack of loud noise is something you might not realize you appreciate until you experience it, but it's definitely a nice upgrade as the quiet Mini 2 lets children focus on other aspects of their work while their prints are in progress. It also allows the Mini 2 to boot up quickly so makers can start 3D printing at a moment's notice.
The new Mini also features a modular print bed system, which is actually quite the upgrade to its previous setup. This two-piece replacement then enabled the LulzBot team to do away with those standard heated plates from the original model. This system separates the heater and the print surface, which results in the plate being removable and the print surface expanding to allow for larger prints. Previously available as an upgrade to LulzBot printers, the modular print bed is now a standard part of the printer.
As you can see, there are important differences between your LulzBot Mini and Mini 2, but we're not done yet. Some other improvements include a tool head that's both lighter and faster and the belt-driven Z-axis. The smaller size of the tool head, unsurprisingly, leads to more precise 3D printing due to the constrained filament path, which is especially beneficial when printing with flexible filament. This tool head now moves on that Z-axis thanks to belts on both sides. This is what makes the performance of the Mini 2 both faster and quieter. Finally, the Mini 2 is capable of greater levelling, smoother operation, and, overall, providing a more enjoyable 3D printing experience.
To purchase any LulzBot Mini 2 at a discounted price for your classroom, library, or makerspaces, visit the Eduporium store! Be sure to check out our other offerings from LulzBot as well, including different printers, tools, accessories, and filaments!