The real problem with the CR-10mini Video

Get a CR-10mini for $350 on GearBest when you use the coupon code cr10mini3d, or buy it on Amazon.

I did promise in my March MadMess introduction video that these reviews would be rapidly produced. I hope that doesn’t result in an unwatchable video.

It doesn’t help that there’s not much to say about the CR-10mini. It’s cheaper and smaller than it’s big counterparts, but it works and it also shares all the same faults. And, yes, the CR-10 line has faults, but it’s still a printer I feel good recommending.

Since I don’t have much to say about this printer, maybe I’ll tell you about my hardware review process. In the last video a comment suggested I have a standard method of testing my printers. And, yes, that would be a good idea. And while that’s a good idea, there are a couple of reasons I haven’t put much effort into developing something like this yet.

  1. No one set of tests will test all the functions of all printers. What standard print item could I have that would test the capabilities of a Monoprice Select Mini, Davinci Color, and CR-10S? Each of these printers serve vastly different purposes.
  2. Trying to be thorough is why these printers aren’t getting reviewed. It’s true, I haven’t given the CR-10mini a complete run through. If it weren’t for March MadMess it would still be waiting for a review video. For instance, I haven’t done a long, big print on it yet. It’s hard, sometimes, to fine the time with a upload schedule, a still-new MakerSpace I’m developing, and cool projects that I really want to be working on. Maybe this is on me. Maybe I just need better time management. I don’t know.
  3. I don’t need 20 Groots. While I’ve previously asserted that useless prints have their place, any standard set of test prints would mean I’d have a copy of the same thing for every 3D printer I reviewed. I can not imagine what I need that many copies of. Maybe something small, like part of a set of building toys, but even then it doesn’t test endurance. So I have no idea what it would be.
  4. I need a better shed. In my current setup I can test one, maybe two printers at a time. If I had the space that I could line them up and run them one after another, then maybe I’d be able to test them better. I’m doing the best I can with what I have though, so for now…
Still, developing a standard wouldn’t be a bad thing, so maybe I’ll give some time to developing a standard. Despite my excuses above, I still think it would be a good idea. So I’ll happily take suggestions. What do you think would be some good, standard, test prints?

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