Monoprice MP Select Mini Pro 3D Printer (UK Plug) Expired

I will preface this by stating I do not have this printer and do not have any experience using it. However I do have experience as a hobbyist who started 3D printing about 6 months ago and have learned a lot through other's gracious help, research, and good old trial-and-error:

1. Decide why you want a 3D printer. Is it because you like tinkering with things (printing spare parts for other hobbies, etc), or is it because you need something that works to make specific items for you (like you are into cospay and need props or you want to print art work or for a business need). This will affect the type of printer that will make you happiest.

The 'tinkerer' will probably get just as much enjoyment out of messing around with the printer and getting it 'right' as they will using the things they print with it. In this case, make sure to get something expandable, that at least uses non-proprietary components and can print easily using open source software like Cura. The best is to have an open source firmware (or capability of upgrading to it, using only software) like Klipper or Marlin. You also want the ability to print different materials like ABS/ASA/PETG which means you need a heated bed, a high temp hotend (240C+) and preferably the ability to add an exclosure.

The 'goal oriented' person will want to get something that is easy to maintain, has as many 'set it and forget' features as possible, is from a reputable brand, and which is really good at printing with the materials most useful to their need. If you need something that will be subjected to unusual amounts of force, or that can sit outside or in water, or that needs to be flexible, or that needs a lot of fine details (like figurines) then you need to find out what material is suited to that and match the printer's features to it.

2. There is a decent learning curve: unless you want to spend around $600 - $1000+ on a printer, you probably will not be able to take it out of the box and put material in it and print and be done with learning about 3D printing forever. It will take a decent amount of time to learn about material temperatures, bed leveling, 3D specific things (like what is a Z level?), slicing software... the list goes on. This is not a laser printer where you don't have to care how it works. The tech isn't nearly mature enough. If you don't want to learn technical things, then instead spend your time saving money because you are going to have to spend way more than $75 for that.

3. Make sure you know that 3D printing involves tiny plastic particles and hot plastic which can emit potentially harmful vapors into your air. I am not scaremongering -- I don't believe that all plastic is toxic or that heating all plastic to a point which allows it to flow will result in toxic material coming off of it -- but I can't prove it. I do know that sanding, filing, and cutting plastic all the time leads to tiny particles of it flying around which you will inhale. I don't particularly care, but you might.

Hope this helps.

120mm x 120mm x 120mm is about 4.7 inches cubed. PLA is the most common filament about $10-15 per 1kg (2.2 pounds) spool.