3D printers, especially the FDM type are very popular for their convenience, ease of use and also for the level of price point that some machines are sold for. But, if you want the more capable or convenient in general, advanced options such as Makerbot Replicator Vs Dremel 3D45 are going to be very ideal. They are not cheap however so we have to shop wisely and if you are also interested to get one of them, let’s see what they can offer below.
- In this comparison, we are going to talk about:
- Why FDM Printers are Popular
- What are MakerBot Replicator and Dremel 3D45
- How are the Design of MakerBot Replicator and Dremel 3D45
- How are the Build Volume of MakerBot Replicator and Dremel 3D45
- How are the Building Bed in MakerBot Replicator and Dremel 3D45
- How are the Extruder in MakerBot Replicator and Dremel 3D45
- How are the Performance of MakerBot Replicator and Dremel 3D45
- MakerBot Replicator Vs Dremel 3D45
FDM 3D Printers
FDM printers or 3D printers in general may not be as common as the standard paper printer and while they are called printers, the idea of printing itself is not exactly the same for when we are printing on paper. However, they are very useful and convenient and while the machine itself is more well-known to be a hobbyist interest, they are also helpful in practical situations including in medical and learning purposes. The core idea is to create something three-dimensional based on digital design.
3D printers are separated into various types and mechanisms so they can be based on the material used or the way the machine is operating itself. It is not one machine that can fit all so we have to choose carefully, especially if this is your first machine. Based on the material we have FDM and resin printers while based on the mechanism there are Cartesian, Polar, Delta, and Robotic on the most common types while resin based are usually MSLA, SLA, or DLP.
FDM is probably the most popular among these printer types and it is easy to see why. First the material is solid filament that we must heated to melt and deposit which in general is easier to work with and less messy compared to liquid resin. They are also available in various types with different qualities and mostly very affordable too. Second, the machines can start at a very low price point such as Ender 3 which is currently less than $200 and can already print decently sized objects.
Third we can see the process or FDM printer when in action because they are printing it in a visible manner unlike the resin printers that submerge the model and slowly come out after it is done curing. Fourth is probably for the wide range of options to choose from this category because there are so many good machines to consider based on the budget or on the type of capabilities and qualities that you want, such as the Creality CR 6 SE Vs Ender 3 Pro.
Even with so many advantages, FDM is not perfect yet because the quality of printing can vary widely not only based on the machine but the software and the material itself. This type of machine is also often not as smooth and as detailed compared to resin printers. The machine consists of lots of moving parts and each one of them can play a role in deciding how well the product is printed. It is not rare to replace parts or upgrade right after getting the machine to improve performance.
| Makerbot Replicator | Dremel 3D45 | |
|---|---|---|
  |   |
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| Product Dimensions | 17.36 x 20.79 x 16.14 inches | 23 x 18.75 x 18.75 inches |
| Shipping Weight | 46.85 Pounds | 42.8 Pounds |
| Best offer | Check price | Check price |
About MakerBot Replicator and Dremel 3D45
Depending on how you want the machine to be or what the main purpose is, our choice will vary widely. Those who are enthusiast about the 3D printing itself may choose to go with an affordable printers because they can tweak it or update it later but, if what you are aiming for is a machine that is ready to use and focusing more on the ease of use, we may have to prepare more on the budget because this type of machines are usually quite expensive.
There are so many good options to start your journey with and if you are here then we assume that a convenient machine is what you look for. Brands like FlashForge carry some of the most affordable, convenient FDM printers but for those who are ready to pay for an advanced machine that also boasts the performance and convenience, the MakerBot and Dremel are two promising companies to look at. MakerBot is a very well-known name in additive manufacturing but Dremel is probably more famous for their power tools.
MakerBot Replicator and Dremel 3D45 are two promising options from the lineup and one being introduced by the company that popularized 3D printing itself, it is surely an interesting machine to consider. What makes them not as popular or widely used as, for example, the Ender line is because these machines are costly hence it is probably not as convenient in the pocket for every enthusiast. However, if ease of use is your main concern these machines are among the best.
Rather than a machine that is designed for enthusiasts, we do think the MakerBot Replicator and Dremel 3D45 are more suitable being in the classroom or owned by students and teachers who need the machine to build models related or used in the learning or teaching process. Since these machines are no fuss, we can concentrate more on the main purpose of the printed products itself than having to manually level the bed or adjusting the filament every so often.
MakerBot Replicator and Dremel 3D45 Design
Checking on the machine, the most noticeable difference between MakerBot Replicator and Dremel 3D45 is probably the setup because Dremel is a fully enclosed machine while MakerBot leaves all of its three sides without any cover. These machines are storing the filament inside so they can give you that clean and neat look. They are also coming with a small touch-screen at the front for the machine’s navigation across the features and ability. Build quality is impressive and these machines are decently sized as well.
One of the best things with expensive machines is you don’t have to assemble them because this is what we must do with typical affordable printers; there must be some parts that need manual assembling sometimes including the build plate itself. The setup is also easy because the machine is made ready to use and we only need to choose the material then start printing shortly.
MakerBot Replicator and Dremel 3D45 Capacity
When it comes to 3D printing we have to consider the printing capacity the machine is capable of because not all of us are going to print the same object and use them for the same type of application. In this part both MakerBot Replicator and Dremel 3D45 are small compared to typical entry-level FDM printers because you are limited to only 11.6 x 7.6 x 6.9 inches compared to 10 x 6 x 6.7 inches so when in application, these machines are good for making small objects like prototyping.
MakerBot Replicator and Dremel 3D45 Building Bed
Moving to the building bed, the most noticeable difference besides the fact the Replicator is slightly wider is because this machine also doesn’t have a heating bed, unlike the 3D45 which is already coming with the function. These machines’ building bed is moving along the Z axis so the X and Y are staying at one level. The bed of Dremel is also removable, easing the removing or cleaning process when needed but we are more concerned about the non-heated bed of MakerBot.
On the ease of use both MakerBot Replicator and Dremel 3D45 are not fully automatic either because the machines will still need assistance from you when adjusting the height and level but, it is helped a lot by the system to tell you what needs to be done to perform it correctly.
MakerBot Replicator and Dremel 3D45 Extruder
Moving further, let’s check on the extruder this time and MakerBot has something interesting here with a magnetically attached Smart Extruder which makes it easy to remove for troubleshooting purposes so there is no need to disassemble it. On the other hand the 3D45 is boasting an all-metal extruder which is claimed to be clog resistant and is able to be heated up to 280 degree to accommodate a wider range or filament materials. It is not as easy to remove like the Replicator but certainly has the charms.
MakerBot Replicator and Dremel 3D45 Performance
Lastly for the experience, both MakerBot Replicator and Dremel 3D45 are working very well when it comes to ease of use but also not perfect. Replicators don’t have the heated bed so you may need to add raft to prevent warping and for ease of removal. The 3D45 is impressive when paired with Dremel’s EcoABS but not for the Nylon and third party filaments. MakerBot is probably the most versatile here as it can perform well across materials even though the level of details is not impressive.
Makerbot Replicator vs Dremel 3D45
The MakerBot Replicator and Dremel 3D45 are ideal machines in your makerspace and in learning settings. These are very convenient considering 3D printers require lots of adjustment and maintenance often but you can start almost right away with these printers. In comparison the Replicator has a larger build volume but is not fully enclosed and the extruder is lower in temperature than 3D45. However, it performs well across third party typical filaments while Dremel seems to be optimized more for their own filaments.
Conclusion
Both are good machines depending on which seems to fit in your preference better. Personally we recommend Dremel 3D45 if you will be investing on their filaments because the result is good and this machine is also currently cheaper.