Review: Printrbot Assembled Simple Metal

The Printrbot Assembled Simple Metal is one of those 3D printers that makes longtime makers smile the way classic car people smile at old roadsters. It is not flashy by modern standards. It does not have a giant color touchscreen, Wi-Fi slicing, a camera, an enclosure, or a self-cleaning nozzle that behaves like a tiny robot butler. What it has is a rigid metal frame, a compact footprint, a direct-drive extruder, software-assisted bed leveling, and a design philosophy that says, “Let’s keep this thing simple enough that humans can understand it.”

Released during the early desktop 3D printing boom, the Printrbot Simple Metal represented a major step up from the wooden and laser-cut kit machines that filled maker benches in the early 2010s. The assembled version was aimed at users who wanted to skip the long build process and start printing sooner. That made it especially appealing to schools, hobbyists, small prototyping spaces, and curious beginners who wanted a real machine rather than a science fair project with belts.

Today, the Printrbot Assembled Simple Metal is no longer a mainstream buying recommendation in the same way it once was. Printrbot eventually shut down operations, and modern budget printers now offer larger beds, quieter motion systems, better interfaces, and more automated setup. Still, as a compact, repairable, historically important desktop FDM printer, the Simple Metal remains worth reviewing. It is a snapshot of the moment when consumer 3D printing was growing up, shaving off the plywood, and putting on a metal jacket.

What Is the Printrbot Assembled Simple Metal?

The Printrbot Assembled Simple Metal is a desktop FDM 3D printer built around a steel and aluminum frame. The common model 1403 configuration offered a build volume of about 6 x 6 x 6 inches, or 150 x 150 x 150 mm. That is not enormous, but it is enough for brackets, miniatures, enclosures, replacement knobs, educational models, small cosplay parts, and the classic first-print boat that has launched a thousand calibration debates.

The printer uses 1.75 mm filament and was primarily designed around PLA. The standard assembled version commonly shipped without a heated bed, which immediately tells you what kind of machine this is: friendly to PLA, less friendly to warp-prone materials. It used a Ubis hot end with a 0.4 mm nozzle and an aluminum direct-drive extruder, a practical combination for the era. Direct drive gives the machine a short filament path, which can help with responsive extrusion and easier filament loading compared with some Bowden designs.

Its software-assisted bed leveling system was one of the headline features. Instead of asking users to manually chase the perfect bed height with paper, patience, and mild emotional damage, the printer used a probe to compensate for bed position. It was not magic, and it still required setup, but it reduced one of the most annoying beginner problems: getting the first layer to stick without either floating in midair or being smashed flatter than a pancake under a dumbbell.

Design and Build Quality

The most obvious upgrade over earlier Printrbot designs is the metal construction. The Simple Metal feels more serious than the wooden machines that came before it. Its frame is compact, rigid, and desk-friendly. The powder-coated metal body gives it a durable look, and the exposed mechanics make it easy to see what the machine is doing. For makers, that visibility is not just charming; it is useful. You can watch belts, rods, motors, the hot end, and the extruder working together like a tiny factory with no HR department.

The printer weighs roughly 12 pounds, depending on configuration, so it is sturdy enough to stay planted but light enough to move around a workbench. It does not feel like a toy, though it also does not have the polished consumer-appliance feel of newer enclosed printers. The Simple Metal belongs to the “machine tool on your desk” school of design. It looks mechanical because it is mechanical.

The open-frame layout has pros and cons. On the positive side, maintenance is easy. Cleaning the nozzle area, checking belt tension, inspecting wiring, and adjusting the probe are all accessible. On the negative side, there is no enclosure to stabilize temperature, reduce noise, or keep curious fingers away from moving parts and hot surfaces. For PLA, that is usually fine. For ABS or other temperature-sensitive materials, the open design and non-heated bed are limiting.

Setup: Easier Than a Kit, Still a Maker Machine

The assembled version was a smart option because it removed the most intimidating part of early 3D printing: building the printer before you could use the printer. With the Assembled Simple Metal, users could focus on software, filament loading, bed preparation, and calibration. That made it a better fit for classrooms and beginners than a full kit.

That said, “assembled” did not mean “zero effort.” This is not a modern plug-and-play appliance where the printer sings a little song, calibrates itself, and politely asks what color dragon you want. Users still needed to install host software, connect over USB, check the auto-leveling probe, load filament, prepare sliced files, and learn what a good first layer looks like. The process was approachable, but it expected curiosity.

Common software choices included Repetier Host, Pronterface, and Cura-based workflows. For today’s users, that means setup may require some patience, especially on newer operating systems. Older documentation, community posts, archived guides, and firmware notes can still be helpful, but they are not the same as having an active manufacturer support team. Anyone buying one used should be ready to troubleshoot like a maker, not like someone calling a printer company hotline.

Print Quality: Better Than Its Size Suggests

When tuned well, the Printrbot Simple Metal can produce respectable PLA prints. Its rigid frame helps reduce wobble compared with flimsier entry-level designs. The direct-drive extruder gives it reliable filament control, and the 0.4 mm nozzle is a versatile standard size. For practical prints, educational models, mechanical prototypes, and small decorative objects, the machine can still deliver results that look clean and useful.

Layer heights around 100 microns were commonly associated with the printer, while some listings referenced finer capabilities under ideal conditions. In real life, the best results depend less on marketing numbers and more on calibration, filament quality, slicer settings, nozzle condition, belt tension, and bed adhesion. In other words, the usual 3D printing goblins.

The 150 mm cube build volume is enough for many small parts, but it feels limited by current standards. Large helmets, big vases, full-size props, and multi-part furniture experiments are not this machine’s natural habitat. If your dream is to print a life-size dragon skull in one piece, the Simple Metal will stare at you silently and suggest something more reasonable, like a keychain.

Auto-Leveling: Helpful, Not Miraculous

The auto-leveling probe was one of the Simple Metal’s most appealing features. For beginners, bed leveling is often the difference between “I love 3D printing” and “I have invented a plastic spaghetti machine.” The Printrbot system helped compensate for small bed height differences and reduced the amount of manual fiddling required before every print.

However, it was not fully automatic in the modern sense. The probe needed to be correctly positioned and calibrated. Some reviewers and users noted that initial adjustment could be awkward because of the tight space around the probe and wiring. Once dialed in, it helped, but it did not eliminate the need to understand Z offset, first-layer squish, bed surface condition, and nozzle cleanliness.

This is an important distinction for anyone buying a used Simple Metal today. The printer can be friendly, but it still teaches you the fundamentals. That is a strength if you want to learn. It is a weakness if you want a printer that hides every mechanical detail behind a touchscreen and a progress bar.

Filament Compatibility

The Printrbot Assembled Simple Metal is happiest with PLA. PLA prints at moderate temperatures, sticks reasonably well to prepared surfaces, and does not demand a heated chamber. That fits the standard Simple Metal setup perfectly. For school projects, home gadgets, basic prototypes, and decorative prints, PLA is still the obvious choice.

ABS and more demanding materials are a different story. Some configurations and upgrades included heated beds, and third-party listings sometimes referenced ABS compatibility, but the common non-heated assembled version is not ideal for ABS. Without a heated bed, ABS tends to warp, curl, and behave like it has personal objections to geometry. A heated bed upgrade, better power supply, and careful enclosure strategy make advanced materials more realistic, but those additions change the value equation.

Flexible materials may be possible in limited cases because of the direct-drive setup, but expectations should be modest. The extruder and hot end were solid for the time, yet not designed around today’s wide menu of exotic filaments. Wood-filled PLA, silk PLA, and basic PLA blends may work with proper settings, but abrasive or high-temperature materials are not a natural fit.

Performance in Daily Use

In daily use, the Simple Metal is best described as honest. It does not pretend to be more than it is. It prints small objects, rewards tuning, and makes troubleshooting visible. That honesty is refreshing, but it also means you will notice every loose belt, questionable filament spool, dirty nozzle, and poorly sliced file.

Print speeds around 80 mm/s were often listed as a maximum recommended figure, but real-world quality is usually better at more conservative speeds. The machine can move quickly enough for small parts, but pushing speed too far may introduce ringing, under-extrusion, or rougher surfaces. Like many compact printers, it performs best when treated with reasonable expectations rather than forced into a speed contest with newer CoreXY machines.

Noise is another old-school detail. The Simple Metal does not have the whisper-quiet stepper drivers found in many newer printers. Depending on board, fan, and maintenance condition, it may sound like a productive little robot chewing through math. Not terrible, but not exactly library-friendly.

Pros of the Printrbot Assembled Simple Metal

Compact and Desk-Friendly

The printer’s small footprint makes it easy to place on a desk, shelf, classroom bench, or small workshop table. It does not dominate a room, and it is easy to move when needed.

Rigid Metal Frame

The steel and aluminum construction gives it a more durable feel than many early entry-level printers. The frame is one of the reasons the Simple Metal earned respect among makers who were tired of flexy, wobbly designs.

Good Learning Platform

This printer teaches real 3D printing concepts: extrusion, bed adhesion, first-layer tuning, firmware behavior, slicer settings, and mechanical adjustment. For a student or hobbyist, that can be more valuable than a machine that hides everything.

Direct-Drive Extruder

The direct-drive aluminum extruder is simple and accessible. It makes loading filament straightforward and gives users a clear view of the feed mechanism.

Repairable and Modifiable

The open design encourages tinkering. Owners have modified firmware, upgraded beds, replaced electronics, changed hot ends, added handles, and kept these machines alive long past their original commercial moment.

Cons of the Printrbot Assembled Simple Metal

Small Build Volume

A 6-inch cube is practical but limiting. Many modern budget printers offer much larger print areas for less money than the Simple Metal cost when new.

No Heated Bed on Common Versions

The lack of a heated bed limits material options and makes PLA the sensible default. For users who want ABS, PETG, or engineering plastics, upgrades are almost mandatory.

Outdated User Experience

Compared with newer printers, the software workflow feels dated. There is no modern touchscreen interface, cloud workflow, automatic input shaping, or polished onboarding system.

Support and Parts Availability

Because Printrbot closed, official support is no longer what it once was. Community knowledge still exists, but buyers should verify electronics, hot end condition, probe function, and firmware status before purchasing used.

Requires Patience

This is a machine for people willing to learn. If you want instant perfection, it may test your patience. If you enjoy solving small mechanical puzzles, it may become oddly lovable.

Who Should Consider One Today?

The Printrbot Assembled Simple Metal makes the most sense for tinkerers, educators, collectors, and hobbyists who appreciate older maker hardware. It is also a good fit for someone who wants to understand how FDM printers work without being blocked by a sealed, proprietary system. If you find one at a fair used price in working condition, it can still be a fun PLA printer and a useful learning machine.

It is not the best choice for someone who needs reliable production printing, large-format prints, modern convenience features, or broad filament compatibility. A current entry-level printer will usually offer more build volume, quieter operation, easier setup, and better support. The Simple Metal wins on charm, repairability, and educational value; modern printers win on convenience.

Buying a Used Printrbot Simple Metal: What to Check

If you are considering a used unit, inspect it carefully. Check whether it powers on, connects over USB, heats the hot end, homes correctly, and performs probing reliably. Look at the nozzle, wiring, belts, rods, fans, extruder gear, and bed surface. Ask whether it includes the original power supply, spool holder, SD card or USB cable, and any upgrades such as a heated bed or newer electronics.

A working machine with documented upgrades is much more valuable than a dusty mystery box. A nonworking Simple Metal may still be a fun restoration project, but only if the price reflects the risk. Remember: nostalgia is delightful, but it should not be allowed to steal your lunch money.

Real-World Experience Notes: Living With a Printrbot Assembled Simple Metal

Using a Printrbot Assembled Simple Metal feels different from using a modern consumer 3D printer. The first thing you notice is that the machine invites you to participate. You are not just pressing print; you are joining a small mechanical conversation. The printer tells you how it feels through the first layer, the sound of the extruder, the way filament lays down on the bed, and the little clues that experienced users learn to read.

The best experience starts with PLA and a simple model. A calibration cube, a small bracket, or a phone stand is a perfect first test. The bed surface must be clean, the nozzle must be at the right height, and the filament path should be smooth. When the first layer goes down correctly, the Simple Metal feels surprisingly capable. Lines bond neatly, corners look controlled, and the printer gives the satisfying impression that a small machine is doing exactly what it was built to do.

Where beginners may struggle is in expecting the printer to solve everything automatically. The auto-leveling system helps, but the user still needs to understand bed preparation. Too high, and the filament looks like loose thread. Too low, and the nozzle drags through the surface like it is trying to engrave a tiny apology. Once you learn the sweet spot, the machine becomes much easier to live with.

One of the most enjoyable things about the Simple Metal is its transparency. If a print fails, the reason is usually visible. A slipping extruder gear, a dusty bed, a loose belt, or a tangled spool can often be spotted quickly. This makes troubleshooting less mysterious. It also makes the printer satisfying for people who like learning by doing. Every failed print becomes a lesson, even if the lesson is occasionally “do not start a four-hour print with three meters of filament left.”

For classroom or workshop use, the printer’s small size is a benefit. Students can see the mechanics clearly, and the open frame makes it easy to explain X, Y, and Z motion. It is not the safest choice for unsupervised young users because hot and moving parts are exposed, but with proper guidance, it is an excellent teaching tool. It shows 3D printing as a process rather than a magic box.

The biggest emotional shift comes when comparing it with modern machines. A new printer may be faster, quieter, and easier. But the Simple Metal has a personality. It asks for attention and rewards careful setup. It is less like owning a microwave and more like owning a small manual lathe: not effortless, but deeply educational. For makers who enjoy that relationship, the Printrbot Assembled Simple Metal remains a charming little workhorse.

Final Verdict: Is the Printrbot Assembled Simple Metal Still Worth It?

The Printrbot Assembled Simple Metal is no longer the obvious beginner printer it once was, but it remains an important and likable machine. Its metal frame, compact design, direct-drive extruder, and approachable mechanics made it a standout in its time. It helped move entry-level 3D printing away from fragile kit culture and toward sturdier desktop tools.

For today’s buyer, the verdict depends on purpose. If you need maximum value, large build volume, quiet printing, automatic calibration, and current support, buy a modern printer. If you want a compact PLA machine with maker history, repairable mechanics, and hands-on learning value, a well-maintained Printrbot Simple Metal can still be a rewarding find.

In short, this printer is not a museum piece, but it is definitely museum-adjacent. It is practical enough to print useful parts and old enough to remind you how far desktop 3D printing has come. The Printrbot Assembled Simple Metal may not be the future anymore, but it helped build the road that got us here.