The CubeX? Duo 3D Printer

First off, I did not buy my Cubex Duo through Amazon.com, I bought it directly from the Cubify website.I am a hardware and electrical engineer with considerable experience using 3-D printers.I ordered my Cubex Duo in early August. It was nearly four weeks before the printer shipped (from the U.K. by 3D Systems) They have no domestic stock. When the printer shipped, it took only a week to arrive, with most of that time spent travelling within the U.K. Once the package was released by Philadelphia customs, it took only one day to be delivered to San Francisco, CA. This is a definite Kudo. The printer arrived with the upper tractor feed belt popped loose and one of the filament feed tubes out of place. It took a few minutes to correct those problems, but they were easy to repair. Other than that, setup was flawless.I loaded the software from the Cubify web site and went through the steps to create a .cubex file. I copied it to the supplied USB stick and plugged it in to the USB port on the printer. (The printer has USB A and B ports, but does not allow you to plug in to a USB port on the host computer. The USB B port is only there for updating firmware. I certainly hope that with Windows 8.1 directly supporting 3-D printers including the Cubex Cube, that Cubify will offer a firmware update that allows direct printing. It is after all, a printer.) Anyway, the printer reported 0 of 0 files on the USB stick. I tried a different USB stick, with the same problem. I tried various permutations of .cubex files and USB sticks to no avail. I called Cubify support and they decided that the problem was the USB board on the printer. They offered to send me a replacement USB board that I could install myself. I am a hardware engineer, so no problem there. After a week, I contacted Cubify again to find out when I would receive my USB board. I was told that the board would take two weeks to ship FROM THE U.K. They do not carry a domestic supply of spare parts. So the first three weeks plus of ownership consist of a useless large white cube taking up space in my office. I emailed Cubify to express my dismay and they agreed to extend my warranty for the time it takes to receive the replacement board.Now, understand that the USB port is the only way to send files to the printer. It makes sense that a check ofUSB functionality would be made before shipping product 5000 miles. This was not shipping damage--the problem could have easily been rectified at the factory. 3D Systems does not think it important to verify all functionality before shipping. This is a definite black mark against them, especially with the price they charge. I am pessimistic that the USB board will actually fix the problem. It could easily be the interconnecting cable or the control board. QED.At this point it looks like Cubify is looking to the goodwill of the press to sell product. They have yet to realize that the only way to stay in business long-term is to provide quality product, fast repairs and outstanding technical support. So far, the technical support is great, but limited by company policy and the availability of parts. Also, 90 days is not enough of a warranty period to work out all the bugs in a system. At the price they are asking, the warranty should be one year. I do not recommend purchasing a Cubify product at this time.

Cubify is the biggest waste of money I have ever seen. The hardware is some of the worst engineered crap I have ever come across. I engineer and build things for a living and am amazed that this thing ever made it out the door at the production facility. It is pretty but it is entirely superficial. The design software is mediocre, the build software is terrible and the machine stopped working within a few weeks. Dealing with the company is very frustrating. They do not like to deal with things over the phone and expect you to send emails to resolve problems. Additionally they expected me to send them pictures and videos of the problem, even after I explained to them what was wrong. They first sent me replacement parts that did not solve the problem, (a 2-3 week wait). When that didn't work they sent me a replacement printer that arrived damaged. Fed up I tried to return the product but they will not refund the money so I am stuck with a worthless printer and am out $3000.

This is my 3rd CubeX the first two were single extruder units and had ordered them directly from 3Dsystems.. Paid their high price! After spending too much for the propriety filament cartridges a few time I converted one to run with a Rambo controller board, it is still working and may convert the other one, however after buying the second CubeX and learning that I could use Cubitmod to use bulk filament that proved to be a very good option without going through the trouble of conversation to the Rambo board! Having said all that.. Aside from dealing with the propriety filament the CubeX printer are well built machines compared to some others I have owned! And so needless to say when I found this CubeX Duo here for only $650 I jumped on that deal!! This unit had proved to be well built and as good as any and for such a great price.. Although if you don't want to do a bit of reading and learn to use Cubitmod then this may not be the printer for you!

This printer hardware is probably a 4 star, the software is a 2 star, and the filament situation is 1 star. Hopefully 3DSystems will put some money into uprgrading the build software to put in better material supports and keep the motors from overdriving occasionally. Also, my printer arrived with a cracked case and nozzle, but I was sent replacements fairly quickly. So make sure and use your machine heavily during your 90 day warranty period. Also, do not buy the ultrasonic machine they sell... It is ~9"x5"x4" and will not be able to accomodate many of the parts you make, as well as the machine is very overpriced. Also, they are telling me no returns on it even though I have not used it... What a load of crap.The filament they make you use for this printer is okay, but I have had an order out since May of this year and still have not received it all. Also, my PLA filament has random brittle spots that break while printing.... This causes my print to stop since it can't feed more filament.I downgraded my review of this printer from 3 to 2 stars due to the filament problems! Please someone hack the filament chip so you can use 3rd party filament!!!Please save yourself the trouble and DO NOT BUY THIS PRINTER.

This printer has a BIG problem, the Cubex software is @#+-*** !!!But if you use it with Kisslicer and Cubeitmod you'll be able to print with a very high quality and you can use bulk filament instead of the expensive 3Dsystem's cartridges.Go to the google groop "Kisslicer refugee camp" and you'll find the downloads and all the informations you need.