MAKE | Cube

With wi-fi printing and OK print quality, the reliable, easty-to-use Cube makes a move for the mainstream.

Torture test print. Click to view large.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT HOBBYIST 3D PRINTING, the name “3D Systems” doesn’t immediately come to mind. The company is trying to change that with the Cube, its recent entry into the low-end fused-filament fabrication market.

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3D Printers Buyer's Guide — 15 Reviewed
Getting Started in 3D
Learn the Software Toolchain
3D Design for Beginners
3D Printing without a Printer

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We want to hear from you! Share your experiences with this machine, what you like, what you don't like, where you think our test team got it wrong. We hope you’ll join in the discussion. We’d also love to see the things that you design and print out.

Primo Features Wireless printing, touchscreen interface, great manual, easy filament install, “magic glue”
Print volume 5.5″×5.5″×5.5″
Print speed 15mm³/sec
Print material ABS (proprietary cartridge)
Resolution (z-axis) 0.01″/0.25mm (10mm)
Machine software Cubify Client Software
Slicing software Cubify Client Softwarer
OS supported Windows(XP/SP3, Vista, 7)
Open Source No
Price as tested $1,299 assembled
Pedigree Similar to PP3DP Up
Print without PC? Yes, wi-fi, USB stick

10 Responses to Cube

mark on November 21st, 2012 at 11:56 am said:

Now that they have filed suit against Formlabs and Kickstarter these losers have shown they do not belong in the maker movement.

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tps on November 21st, 2012 at 7:01 pm said:

well, most anyone who has been following 3d printing knows that the Cube is a ripoff of the Up! 3D printer…

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rajesh madkikar on November 24th, 2012 at 5:12 am said:

It is really great achievement in engineering designs and developments

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- mark on November 25th, 2012 at 5:56 pm said:
  
  They wrote a patent about how to stack layers so it wouldn’t slump, paid some shyster to file it and then screemed DIBBS!!!
  Face it, the patent system is a failure in the modern world. None of the patents issued are really new ideas, just idiots trying to plant a flag.
  Heh, I invented the number 3 so don’t you dare use it!!!
  morons.
  
  Reply ↓
- mark on November 26th, 2012 at 12:17 am said:
  
  They wrote a patent about how to stack layers so it wouldn’t slump, paid some shyster to file it and then screamed DIBBS!!!
  Face it, the patent system is a failure in the modern world. None of the patents issued are really new ideas, just idiots trying to plant a flag.
  Heh, I invented the number 3 so don’t you dare use it!!!
  
  Reply ↓
Chris on April 16th, 2013 at 1:48 pm said:

This is a solid little printer. It is *very* simple to use. There are barely any “knobs” to tweak. It’s good for someone that just wants to reliably print things without babysitting the printer. The ABS does have warping issues even with the heat bed. The big problem is the “razor blade” model. The printer is not that expensive, but they charge $49/0.7lbs of filament! (compare to $31/2.2lbs of Octave 1.75mm filament). That’s 5X the price!

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- Chris on April 24th, 2013 at 2:39 pm said:
  
  It turns out there is a way you can use spool filament instead of the expensive proprietary 3D System cartridges (http://www.howmuchsnow.com/cube)
  
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david gentner on April 27th, 2013 at 11:16 pm said:

The cube is a piece of crap. It prints about 1 out of 4. The plastic doesn’t stick to gather. Most pieces warp. The cube ext. is another way to have to use the cube software. All in all the worst first printer.

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- Jim Braselton on May 18th, 2013 at 11:51 am said:
  
  David is right. Personally, I love the machine. But, usually to get a good print takes two or three tries. That does waste a lot of resources. He is right: you have to make one or two prints that may not turn out well until the second, third or fourth turns out perfect. I try to manage the machine when it is starting a new print. David is right–at the least you have to supervise what is going on if you want the results you expect.
  
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Jim Braselton on May 18th, 2013 at 11:48 am said:

I love my Cube. But, I think their shipping charges are *excessively* high for new supplies. By this I mean a few weeks ago I shipped back 4 cartridges for their recycling program. That cost $13.10. I am supposed to receive a credit of $5.00 per cartridge. After the math, you can see I may have saved $6.90, but we’ll forget about the extra trip to the post office and the credit didn’t appear on my account when I ordered today. More difficult for me to digest. Just bought 3 new cartridges and a few bottles of glue for the platform. Shipping costs were $75+. I am not kidding. If they put them in a USPS Priority Mail Box, the cost will be a lot less than $75. I am disappointed.

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