BIQU BX Is a New and Affordable Workhorse 3D Printer with an Exceptionally Light Extruder

Go to any 3D printing forum or subreddit, and you’ll see that most posts from new users are simply asking which printer model they should purchase. That’s a valid question, because there are dozens of models on the market and it can be difficult to determine which one is the best choice for you. Hobbyist 3D printers can range in price from a couple hundred to several thousand dollars, and can have a wide variety of features that aren’t necessarily important. Most new users should probably aim for an entry-level workhorse 3D printer, and the new BIQU BX fits that niche perfectly and has an incredibly light extruder.

The new BIQU BX 3D printer is launching through a Kickstarter campaign and that has already reached more than $160,000 — several times its funding goal. This printer doesn’t have any revolutionary features, but it is based on a tried-and-true design and is built with solid hardware. The layout is similar to the famous Prusa i3 design, which has been used in a huge number of 3D printers on the market today. The BIQU BX even has a few features not found on the current Prusa i3 MK3S, but costs less than a third of the price. While BIQU, also called BigTreeTech, definitely doesn’t have the reputation that Prusa Research is known for, the affordability of the BIQU BX will likely make this a more desirable option for those looking to purchase their first 3D printer.

According to the campaign copy, the BIQU BX has the world’s lightest all-metal direct drive extruder. This keeps the moving weight down, which reduces inertia in order to make it possible to print at higher speeds and with better accuracy. It also has 0.9° stepper motors, instead of the more commonly used 1.8° stepper motors, which further improves the quality of curved surfaces. A large 7” color touchscreen can be used to operate the printer and load files without the need to connect to a computer. The controller board is based on a powerful 32-bit 400MHz processor and has TMC2226 Trinamic stepper drivers that help the printer run quietly. The control board can be expanded by adding a Raspberry Pi so you can take advantage of software like OctoPrint.

Other useful features include a flexible spring steel print sheet to make part removal a snap and auto-leveling to avoid setup headaches. It has a very healthy print volume of 250 x 250 x 250 mm (9.84 x 9.4 x 9.84 inches), a claimed printing speed of 100 mm/s, and an accuracy of 0.1 mm. The hot end can reach temperatures up to 260 °C and the bed can reach 100 °C. It also has a variety of safety features, including protection against reverse drive plugging, heating overload, and power loss.

If you want the new BIQU BX, the Kickstarter campaign will be running until October 29th. Early birds can get an assembled 3D printer for just $309. Rewards are expected to be delivered in January of 2021.