Monoprice offers two desktop 3D printer kits, the Maker Ultimate 2 and the Voxel. Both printers offer exceptional features, but we will be comparing them based on bed leveling, build plates, and filament technology. We will base our recommendation on user skill level and project needs.
Monoprice Maker Ultimate 2
The Maker Ultimate 2 is a desktop 3D printer. It features automatic bed leveling, a glass build plate, and a filament detection sensor.
Automatic Bed Leveling
The Maker Ultimate 2 features automatic bed leveling. It eliminates the hassles of having to manually level through the manipulation of screws and springs. The automatic leveling process makes the bed perfectly level, which ensures that the first print layers perfectly adhere to the build plate. Also, the factory pre-levels each printer it produces before shipping them.
Glass Build Plate
The glass build plate is both heated and removable. It is extremely flat, ensuring the first print layers are perfect. The build plate heats to 100°C, which helps the first layer adhere. It also allows for use of materials such as ASA and ABS.
Filament Detection Sensor
The Maker Ultimate 2 comes equipped with a filament detection sensor. The sensor monitors the filament and when it detects the filament has run out, it will automatically pause printing. This gives the user enough time to reload the filament. Printing will resume exactly where it left off, saving time and materials.
Fully Enclosed Printer
This printer is also fully enclosed. Environmental factors that would normally cause prints to curl, split, or otherwise fail will not be a problem with this unit. The enclosure helps. To maintain internal temperatures, preventing environmental factors like drafts or air conditioning from having any effect on the print. If the door gets opened during printing, the printing will automatically pause.
LED Lights
While normally a full enclosure would make it hard to see the print due to blocking the lighting, the Maker Ultimate 2 comes with a row of LED lights inside the enclosure. These lights help users easily monitor the status of their print.
Other Specs
The maximum build volume is 200 x 150 x 150 mm. Layer resolution is 100 – 400 microns. It supports the use of filaments like PLA, PLA Plus, PET, TPE, TPU, Wood Fill, Metal Fill, ABS, and ABS Plus. Connectivity is through a USB or microSD card.
Monoprice Voxel
The Voxel is a desktop 3D printer. It features a flexible build plate, automatic feeding technology, and assisted leveling.
Like the Maker Ultimate 2, the Voxel is a fully enclosed 3D printer. The Maker Ultimate 2 offers a larger build volume and supports a larger variety of filament types.
Heated Build Plate
The build plate is heated, flexible, and removable. When the print finishes, the user simply needs to remove the plate and bend it slightly to release the model. Users can easily replace the plate if it gets damaged or even swap it for another one to start a new print directly after the completion of their project. The heated build plate can reach temperatures of 60°C.
Assisted Leveling
The Voxel comes fully calibrated and ready to print straight out of the box. Users can easily adjust the distance between the nozzle and the bed via the 2.8-inch IPS color touchscreen UI as necessary, making leveling extremely easy.
OS Compatibility
It is compatible with Windows, including XP, Vista, 7, 8, and 10 as well as Mac OS X and Linux. It features a WiFi radio with a hotspot, a built-in camera for monitoring print operations, 8GB of internal memory, and a USB port.
Automatic Feeding
The printer features automatic feeding with a filament sensor. All users have to do is insert their filament into the printer’s filament loading port and tap ‘load filament’ on the UI. Additionally, the filament sensor identifies when filament levels are low and will automatically pause print progress until the filament gets reloaded.
Polar Cloud Enabled
The Voxel is Polar Cloud-enabled straight out of the box. Users can control their printer from anywhere if there is an internet connection. They can queue print jobs, access unique educational curricula, slice models, and even remotely check in on the print job via the built-in webcam.
Other Specs
The Voxel features a quick-change nozzle. Users can change it out in just seconds without the use of any tools.
The build volume is 150 x 150 x 150 mm. Print speeds go up to 60 mm/s. Layer height goes down to 50 microns. It supports PLA, ABS, Copper fill, wood fill, bronze fill, and steel fill filament types.
Our Recommendation
Clearly, both printers offer a wide range of excellent features; however, we must break down the differences before users decide between the two. The Maker Ultimate 2 offers fully automatic bed leveling, a heated glass build plate that allows for working with ABS, and a larger build volume. We recommend this printer for beginners.
On the other hand, the Voxel features a quick-change nozzle, a filament detection sensor, and access to the Polar Cloud for remote control and monitoring of the printer. We also recommend this printer for beginners.