Lulzbot Mini 2

A Familiar Design

Apart from the LCD at upper right, the LulzBot Mini 2 looks nearly identical to its predecessor, the Editors' Choice LulzBot Mini.

It's an Open Frame

The Mini 2 is surprisingly quiet for an open-frame 3D printer.

Build Area

The LulzBot Mini 2 has a build area of 7.1 by 6.3 by 6.3 inches, 20 percent larger than that of the original LulzBot Mini.

Extruder Assembly

The Mini 2's hot end (the extruder nozzle) extends only a short way below the extruder assembly, minimizing the risk of an accidental burn.

On/Off Switch and USB Port

The on/off switch and USB port are in front of the printer and easily accessible.

LCD With SD-Card Slot

The Mini 2 has a built-in LCD with an SD-card slot in its side for direct printing.

Filament Spool

The filament-spool holder folds upward when in use, and it can fit nearly any size of spool.

The Filament Feed

Filament is fed from the spool down into the extruder assembly, where it is heated to its melting point.

About Our Expert

Tony Hoffman

Senior Writer, Hardware

Since 2004, I have worked on PCMag’s hardware team, covering at various times printers, scanners, projectors, storage, and monitors. I currently focus my efforts on 3D printers, pro and productivity displays, and drives and SSDs of all sorts.

Over the years, I have reviewed smart telescopes, iPad and iPhone science apps, plus the occasional camera, laptop, keyboard, and mouse. I've also written a host of articles about astronomy, space science, travel photography, and astrophotography for PCMag and its past and present sibling publications (among them, Mashable and ExtremeTech), as well as for the former PCMag Digital Edition.

The Technology I Use

I have a Lenovo ThinkPad T14 laptop that's my work daily driver, an HP Pavilion Aero 13 as my primary personal laptop, and an Asus ProArt P16 for detailed photo work. (I also have an older Dell XPS 13, which now stays at home full-time.) For storage testing, I rely on our three custom-built Windows testbeds in PC Labs, as well as a 2024 MacBook Pro.

My primary home monitor is a BenQ EX2780Q, a gaming monitor with a great sound system and excellent image quality. I use that panel for writing, watching videos, and working with photos. I also have an HP 27 Curved Display—one of the first general-purpose curved monitors—which I have paired with an Acer Aspire desktop computer. My multifunction printer is an Epson Expression Premium XP-7100 Small-in-One. I also own an Epson Perfection V39 flatbed scanner, which I use for photos and short documents, and a Canon Selphy CP1300 small-format photo printer for turning out snapshots.

My first cell phone, in 2006, was a Motorola Razr; since then, it’s been all iPhones—I currently have an iPhone 15 Pro. I use my iPhone a lot for casual photography, though I also use a Sony DSC-RX100 VII and a Canon G5 X Mark II for everyday shooting. For much of my travel photography and astrophotography, I use either a Sony A7r II or A7 III, paired with a variety of lenses ranging from a Sony 14mm f/1.8 prime to a Sony FE 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G OSS zoom lens. I also pair the A7r with a RedCat 51 for deep-sky star shooting. For astrophotography, I also use the Seestar S30 and S50 and the Unistellar Odyssey smart telescopes, which are essentially astronomical cameras controlled through one’s mobile device.

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