14 DAY TRIAL // There are plenty of 3D printers to choose from these days, especially if you immerse yourself into the open hardware and DIY world. But building a printer from scratch is not for the faint of heart. Even starting out with a kit can be quite daunting.
That's even worse if the finished result doesn't quite live up to its specs or to your expectations, which is more than likely to happen the first time you attempt something like this.
The new MARK34 from Polish startup Jelwek is perhaps a good choice then for first-time builders. The company opted for something solid and easy to build, while still being open source and cheap.
The printer is relatively compact, at 250x250x265 mm, especially with a print size of 140x155x105 mm. The MARK34 comes with an LCD screen and a built-in microSD card reader. The MARK34 is based on the RepRap Prusa i3, and comes with a J-Head for 1.75mm filament, which should give you an idea about performance. The electronic board is a custom Teensylu 0.8 and the printer uses a MK7 drive gear.
"First child of Jelwek company, designed by M. Brodowski. This printer has H-Bot kinematics and it is directed to people who knows something about RepRap but also for the ones who had never worked with 3D printers before. Uncomplicated, simple construction bulid with two sheets of aluminium connected by threaded rods. That construction guarantees high stiffness and precision," Jelwek boasts in the product description.
The MARK34 is just 1,500 zł, which comes in at $493 or €359, but is not currently in stock. Still, if you're in Europe, it will at least be cheaper to get it shipped to your location compared to buying something from the US. Jelwek offers a one-year warranty for the parts.
