Taiwanese based company, XYZprinting, have recently announced their newest 3D printer, the da Vinci miniMaker aimed at younger students and teachers.

XYZprinting, owned by New Kinpo Group of Taiwan, are working on integrating educational 3D printing technology into their product lineup for the first time with this printer.

The da Vinci mini Maker is predominantly aimed at students and teachers of STEM and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering/Art and Mathematics) subjects but is not restricted to these projects. Simon Shen, CEO of XYZprinting and New Kinpo Group, said:

We’re excited to continue to provide accessible solutions that advance and integrate 3D printing technology into the educational system across grades K-12 and beyond. The da Vinci miniMaker will help encourage, expand, and shape the cognitive skills and abilities of the next generation of engineers, designers, and creators.

More about the da Vinci miniMaker

Last month, XYZPrinting received the Best Choice Golden Award at COMPUTEX Taipei 2016 where they displayed eleven products.

The da Vinci miniMaker shares many similar features to other popular da Vinci 3D printers including a build size of 5.9 x 5.9 x 5.9 inches and an auto-calibration system.

Anyone who decides to purchase one of these printers will also have access to the company’s “Educational Ecosystem”.

This includes the XYZmaker, XYZprinting STEAM, and the XYZ 3D Gallery which allows students to access over 4,500 free 3D models.

However, a slightly irritating feature, is that the miniMaker will only be compatible with XYZprinting’s own PLA filament. The reason behind this (besides a commercial aspect) is a ”safer” environment for the user, which has been tested to ensure it is DEHP and heavy metal free.

If this doesn’t put you off, the printer costs just $229 and, if you’re interested and live in the US, you can pre-order from Amazon. Shipping is expected to begin later this year.