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We liked
The XYZprinting Da Vinci 1.0 Jr. is an ideal entry-level printer. It has been designed to be as accessible as possible, from the initial setup through to actual usage and support. The supplied software does the job perfectly enabling the easy opening and export of models ready for printing.
It also has good support for models either downloaded from the XYZprinting website or from other sites such as Thingiverse.com, and your old model files exported from popular programs such as Sketchup.com can also easily be imported and printed.
Print quality at this price is good, but don't expect the high resolution detailed models of the Ultimaker series. Models are well rendered and although layering is clearly visible, detail, edges and corners are all clearly defined.
XYZprinting aims its printers at education and for this market the Junior model is ideal – it enables educators to clearly demonstrate 3D printing technology easily and safely at a great price.
We disliked
Despite the Junior label this printer is still sizable so while it will fit on a desktop it will require a little more space than other printers with the Mini/Jr. tag.
Layers are pronounced and visible which means that if you want a refined model with smooth surfaces you're going to have to spend more time on the finish. The Junior is also limited with the materials that it is capable of printing and although this isn't a huge issue the present range of PLA filament supplied by XYZ is limited.
Final verdict
As a budget 3D Printer there really is nothing at present that comes close to the quality build and well thought out print process of the Da Vinci 1.0 Jr.
Initial setup takes minutes and you can be up and running printing your first model within 10 minutes without issue. The pre-calibrated print bed, choice of direct SD card or tethered printing and easy to use software make it an ideal first printer.
Reservations only crop up when the print resolution is taken into account as although the prints are good especially when it comes to accuracy, when you compare the models to those from other printers, less refined in design and not a great deal more in price, you do feel that the print resolution could have been slightly higher.
But then although there are printers at this price point none come close to the quality of design and build of this machine – plus this is a printer that you'd be happy to let kids use without fear of electrocution or burning.
If you're looking for a budget no-fuss printer that produces good accurate prints, albeit at a low resolution, then you really can't do better at present than the Da Vinci 1.0 Jr. The ease of use and enclosed case design make it an ideal and cheap choice for education, but if you want refined prints, then keep saving your pennies.
