Traditional fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printers like the Monoprice Joule are assembled from black aluminum extrusions, exposed screws, and a few plastic pieces. Surprisingly, the Voxelab logo from the Aquila, from which the fan cover monoprice laptop was based, is still there on the fan cover. It does not have the same polished appearance as new printers on the market that use flat metal bars.
It comes equipped with a plastic extruder that has a monoprice 110010 Bowden tube and useful tension levers to assist in pulling the belts tighter. The wiring is organized and kept under control by being neatly wrapped in black mesh, and a casing placed underneath the construction plate holds both the motherboard and the power supply to create a compact, all-in-one footprint.
I feel obligated to mention that the tensioner for the Y axis was installed on a threaded rod that was considered too long and protruded through the knob. I didn’t notice it till it nicked me. It was fixed using a Dermal cut-off wheel, but this isn’t the hazard I’m used to looking out for when I’m putting up 3D printers.
Monoprice Joule headphones
The printer does not come with its tool storage, but it is possible to create your own using the sample files on the provided microSD card. If you would rather put your spool holder on the side, there is also an alternative bracket available for you to use.
The stepper motors in the Joule are completely silent, but the cooling fan is very loud. It’s easy to tell that the 32-bit motherboard came from Aquila.
Glass headphones
The bed features a coated glass panel secured in place by two clips that can be removed relatively easily. The bed has incredible traction, but the prints need to be chiseled out to remove them. Because it is a do-it-yourself (DIY) kit, the Monoprice Joule requires the user to assemble most of the printer. This will save you money and give you a better understanding of how the inner workings of your 3D printer operate. It took me approximately an hour to set up this machine myself.
The assembly instructions are easy to understand; however, don’t hesitate to contact us if you require further assistance. There is an excellent assembly video available on YouTube that Monoprice can follow. Conveniently, the screws are organized within separate baggies with descriptive names. Because everything is clearly labeled, wiring is relatively straightforward.
Monoprice headband
Bed leveling on the Monoprice Joule must be done manually because there is no built-in application to offer assistance. You must home the printer, turn off the steppers, and then manually move the tool head to each of the four corners. Place a sheet of paper underneath the nozzle, then adjust the wheels until the paper is scraped.
If you require further assistance, a manual bed-leveling guide is available for your perusal.
A problem I encountered with the Joule was that it had weak springs, which resulted in the wheels needing more tension. When I moved the bed by hand, it was too simple to accidentally knock it out of its level. This can be readily remedied by installing new springs; Creality printers have suffered from the same problem for a long time, and the components for repairing an Ender 3 are interchangeable. I suggest you purchase an Ender 3 upgrade kit from Amazon (opens in new tab), which will correct frequent faults before they wreck your new printer.