Dremel Digilab 3D45
Researched by Ric Ruben · Build volume 10 x 6 x 6.7in · FDM
An easy-to-use, classroom-built FDM printer with strong safety features, best kept to Dremel's own filaments.
Full Review
At first glance, Dremel is a brand known for its power tools and home improvement — the American company has been producing cutting-edge power tools for consumers with a passion for home improvement and innovation since 1932. Branded as Digilab, the manufacturer has expanded into a collection of 3D printers that have become hugely popular within the education community, and the 3D45 is designed to be easy to use and dependable, two critical factors for classroom and workshop settings.
Once you receive your package, you should be able to get your first test print up and running within 30 minutes.
Priced at $1,799, the 3D45 is positioned as an affordable option for buyers that require safety and reliability in the classroom or workshop, backed by Bosch sensor technology and UL certification.
Specs
Top Features
Dremel has done an amazing job for consumers by introducing a machine capable of printing materials that require higher temperatures, including Nylon, polycarbonate, and the more eco-conscious EcoABS. Build volume is 10 x 6 x 6.7in on a heated bed with a removable build platform. Bed leveling isn't fully automatic — it uses a two-point system, guided by a well-designed UI on the printer's IPS color touchscreen — but the process is very manageable.
The 3D45 prints with 50-micron resolution and a full enclosure that keeps the build chamber temperature steady, with a transparent door that can be opened mid-print to observe or adjust. An RFID reader recognizes proprietary Dremel filament and adjusts printer settings automatically, which is convenient for students who need to start a project instantly. The setup itself is user-friendly and takes just a few steps.
720p Integrated Camera
The 3D45 includes a 720p camera, useful for creating time-lapse videos of longer prints, or for monitoring and controlling multiple machines at once through Dremel's in-house slicer software, Dremel Print Cloud. It's easy to use, though it can bring up the occasional lag. The 3D45 was also built using Bosch sensor technology and UL certification, and includes carbon filters to reduce harmful VOC odors from melted plastic.
How Does It Print?
The 3D45 is compatible with a range of advanced materials, and Nylon and Eco-ABS prints are what this machine proves itself to offer. Filament loading is simple, with a clip that keeps the spool in the right position as it feeds into the extruder. Printing with ABS produces an amazing, nearly flawless result — a very smooth surface with rare layering issues. Eco-ABS test prints, including a complex “Mechanic Girl” model included on the product's SD card, come out with very high precision and detail, courtesy of a result shared by All3DP.
Nylon is a tougher story: test prints didn't turn out as well as the Eco-ABS ones. Users running Nylon may need to increase bed temperature for the first layer to stick properly, and layers not sticking together can cause prints to break apart when removed from the bed. Makers and teachers are better off focusing on Eco-ABS for a smoother printing experience, and shouldn't expect the same quality from foreign materials as from Dremel's own PLA, PETG and Eco-ABS — which, while a bit pricier, are worth it for the print quality.
Educational Ecosystem
Dremel has carved a niche for the 3D45 within the education market, with a curriculum spanning subjects from mathematics to biotechnology for learners from elementary school through college. Educators get a syllabus of STEM lesson plans that are easy to use and adjust for any classroom's learning curve, while the hardware itself is designed to make setup and printing intuitive and consistent — leaving students more time to explore lesson content rather than troubleshoot the printer. Dremel's Print Cloud gives students and teachers a shared place to monitor the printing process.
Related: read our full guide to FDM (Material Extrusion) 3D printing.