Pros & Cons
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- Low price.
- Prints with either PLA or ABS plastic.
- Unusually sturdy steel frame.
- Good Help resources.
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- Setup may be tricky and time-consuming.
- Some STL files require special processing to print well.
- Only a small starter supply of filament is included.
Solidoodle 2 Pro Specs
| 3D-Printing Technology | Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) |
| Dimensions (HWD) | 11.5 by 11.7 by 11.7 inches |
| Frame Design | Open |
| Materials Supported | ABS |
| Materials Supported | PLA |
| Maximum Build Area (HWD) | 6 by 6 by 6 inches (HWD) |
| Number of Extruders | 1 |
| Number of Print Colors | 1 |
| Primary Interface(s) | USB 2.0 |
| Top Print Resolution | 300 |
| Warranty (Parts/Labor) | 2 |
| Weight | 17 |
The Solidoodle 2 Pro 3D printer has a consumer-friendly price and does well in consistently printing out plastic objects from CAD files. Solidoodle targets this product toward an eclectic mix of users, from tech-savvy consumers all the way to professionals. Based on the amount of troubleshooting I had to do in getting it up and running, it's suitable for experienced users rather than typical consumers. Anyone setting the Solidoodle 2 Pro, if their experience is at all similar to mine, would need to be very patient and liberally avail themselves of Solidoodle's extensive help resources before being able to print with it. But once my test unit was up and running, the Solidoodle 2 Pro performed like a pro, consistently printing out objects of decent quality with few misprints.
There are several models in the Solidoodle stable. The Solidoodle 2 Pro has a few advantages over the base model in its line (Solidoodle 2, $499 direct): Its build platform is heated, and it has an upgraded spool holder and power supply, plus interior lighting. The Solidoodle 2 Expert ($699) adds a cover and a front door. A third-generation model, the Solidoodle 3 ($799), has a larger (8-by-8-by-8-inch) build platform.
View All The Solidoodle 2 Pro is nothing if not sturdy. Its open, nearly cubical steel frame, 11.5 by 11.75 by 11.75 inches (HWD), is built to last. The company says the frame can support the weight of a 200-pound man even while printing (no, we did not test this). Its build area is up to 6 by 6 by 6 inches, slightly larger than the 3D Systems Cube 3D Printer, with a build area of 5.5 inches in each dimension.
Final Thoughts
Solidoodle 2 Pro
The bargain-priced Solidoodle 2 Pro 3D printer presented more of its share of setup problems in our testing, but once up and running it printed objects of decent quality with few misprints.