Typically it’s the little issues that depend, like a 3D printer that may deal with a full sized SD card. Or has an auto leveling system that will get it proper the primary time with out fussing over Z top.
The Mingda Magician X is a machine that will get lots of the little issues proper. Retailing for $349 on the Mingda web site, it comes with an easy-to-load direct drive, an auto-leveling system that works improbable and ports for full sized SD playing cards or a USB stick. It’s excellent for newbies or makers who wish to spend much less time with a wrench and extra time printing cool stuff.
I had the Magician X out of the field, leveled and printing in about half-hour.That makes it simpler to make use of than most of the greatest 3D printers.
Specs: Mingda Magician X
| Machine Footprint | 460 x 415 x 546mm (18 x 16 x 21.5 inches) |
| Construct Quantity | 230 x 230 x 260 mm (9 x 9 x 10.25 inches) |
| Materials | PLA/PETG/TPU/ABS |
| Extruder Kind | Direct Drive |
| Nozzle | .4mm (Interchangeable) |
| Construct Platform | Coated Glass, heated |
| Filament Runout Sensor | Sure |
| Mattress Leveling | Automated contact sensor |
| Connectivity | SD card, USB stick, USB-C |
| Interface | Shade LED contact display screen |
Mingda Magician X: Included within the field
The Magician X comes with instruments that you must get your printer arrange. There’s additionally a spare nozzle, an additional piece of Teflon tube, and a full sized SD card. There’s additionally a small pattern of white PLA to print your first mannequin.
The SD card has a PDF copy of the guide, a replica of Cura 4.9 and pre-sliced .gcode check information.
The printer doesn’t include a scraper to take away prints or snips to chop filament, however these are simply discovered at your native ironmongery store.
Design of the Mingda Magician X
The Magician X is a lovely trying 3D printer with a slim footprint and clear traces. It has a single ribbon cable as a substitute of bundled wires and a hidden drawer to stash your instruments. It’s so quiet you’ll barely discover it working.
I used to be actually comfortable to seek out slots for each a full sized SD card and a USB stick – an odd factor to cheer for, until you’ve misplaced a tiny microSD on the way in which out of your pc to the printer.
There’s different small touches that make the Magician X enjoyable to make use of. It has belt rigidity knobs when that you must tweak the tightness, a body that cradles the glass plate with only one clip, and a deal with on high when that you must transfer it round.
Then there are the options that give you the results you want behind the scenes – twin z rods for a gentle print, double gears within the direct drive to easily load filament. I did must tighten the grub screw holding a type of gears on early in testing, however after that the printer labored flawlessly.
The auto leveling system bodily faucets the mattress on 16 factors, and I by no means wanted to regulate the Z top for PLA. PETG requires a bit much less squish, so I did use child steps to compensate for supplies as wanted.
My greatest downside with this printer is the coated glass plate, which does its job approach too nicely. Usually, the coating on glass releases when it cools down, however these items retains a powerful grip in your prints. I needed to chuck it within the freezer on a number of events to assist take away delicate fashions.
The show display screen is simple to learn, simple to make use of and has a pictogram fashion menu specified by a smart trend.
The Mingda Magician X follows the present pattern of 90% pre-assembled printers. The gantry slides on to the bottom and is held in place with six bolts. Electrical connections are simple to type out, with most plugs being an inch or two from their connection level.
The ultimate step when assembling any 3D printer is to flip the facility provide change. This Magician X shipped prepared for US energy and the change is hidden contained in the instrument bay. The instructions don’t even point out the change, so I’m assuming they flip it for you primarily based on the gross sales location.
The instructions don’t point out this, nevertheless it’s at all times a good suggestion to verify your elements for extreme wiggle earlier than beginning your first print. Should you discover any unfastened wheels these may be simply tightened with the supplied wrench on the eccentric nuts.
The Magician X has an auto leveling system the place the nozzle bodily touches the construct plate. The printer mechanically warms up earlier than leveling – a pleasant contact.
To stage the printer, choose Degree from the primary menu. After the printer warms up it would faucet 16 factors across the mattress. I didn’t want to regulate the Z top after leveling, however there’s a command if that you must tweak the settings.
Loading Filament on the Mingda Magician X
Loading a direct drive may be very simple. Choose preheat, then faucet the kind of filament you’re utilizing. This machine heats pretty shortly, so that you received’t be left ready lengthy. Insert the filament into the highest loading gap on the drive. Subsequent, faucet the load button on the display screen. Maintain the pace set at regular and improve the quantity superior to 10mm.
Mingda recommends solely going ahead on their drive to keep away from gumming up the extruder with a heat lump of filament. It’s good recommendation, and I’ve gotten into the behavior of pushing filament ahead solely with any direct drive printer. You’re solely shedding a couple of inches of fabric, so it’s not an enormous deal.
The Magician X comes with a replica of Cura 4.9.0 and instructions on the way to arrange a customized profile. The identical instructions apply to utilizing PrusaSlicer in case you like. It’s comparable in dimension to the Ender 3, so I really used my regular Ender 3 S1 profile.
Printing on the Mingda Magician X
I began off with one of many pre-sliced check prints (a flexi deer) and the pattern filament. It turned out nice, however didn’t actually exhibit what the printer can do.
I needed to print one thing magical, so I reached for a Wekster’s mini dude of Gandalf. It’s printed at 200% with a .2mm layer top in Polymaker Slate Gray Matte Marble. Tipping the print again at a forty five% angle averted the necessity for helps on his face and left his hat good and clean.
I ran Maker’s Muse Calibration Fort – a torture check with plenty of print in place elements and overhangs. It completed the print with out subject. Printed at a .16mm layer top with Polymaker Slate Gray Matte Marble.
Cinderwing3D’s Rose Dragon turned out nice in Matterhackers Quantum Pink Yellow, printed with a .2mm layer top.
I examined PETG on this small Greek Amphorae vase by 3D Gi Artwork. It’s printed in Matterhacker’s Translucent Blue Construct Sequence PETG and Protopasta’s Carbon Fiber PETG, with a .2mm layer top.
For TPU, I made a side sphere in Tinkercad. That is Matterhackers Translucent Inexperienced Construct Sequence TPU, printed at a .2mm layer top.
Backside Line
Retailing at $359, The Mingda Magician X is a straightforward to make use of, fuss free printer for makers who desire a deluxe machine with out the deluxe worth. It’s easy to assemble, has a straightforward loading direct drive and an auto leveling system that nails it on the primary strive.
The glass mattress is a bit aggressive for my tastes, however a coating of glue stick helps a bit. I do just like the one clip body that holds the print floor, making it tremendous simple to take away for cleansing or prying off elements.
It’s not as upgradable because the Creality Ender 3 S1 and its big ecosystem of third occasion elements. However it is a nice machine for newbies or superior makers who don’t wish to waste time tinkering with their printer.
Should you’re searching for a cheaper printer with the identical construct dimension, auto leveling and direct drive, try the Anycubic Kobra. Priced at $319, it’s an Editor’s Selection and our decide for Greatest Printer for Inexperienced persons.