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The Dobot Mooz is a 3D printer, laser engraver and CNC milling machine

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Recently, I’ve been researching 3D printers while considering how one might make my photographic & video life easier. In my search, I discovered that our friends at Dobot were just about to release a new 3D printer, the Dobot Mooz. What intrigued me abouyt it was that it’s not just a 3D printer, but also a laser engraver and CNC milling machine, thanks to interchangeable heads. It’s also modular so you can configure it several different ways.

When I found out that Dobot were going to be attending the BETT Show in London recently and bringing the Mooz with them, I had to go and see it for myself. So, I went to go have a chat with the folks from Dobot, and then tell you guys a bit more about it.

While not strictly photography related, 3D printers have become valuable tools for a number photographers and filmmakers. We’ve written here on DIYP a number of times about 3D printing projects for photographers. There are accessories to help get a little more organised, how to print your photos as 3D lithophanes. tilt-shift adapters, and even entire 3D printed cameras. It’s not much of a surprise that they’ve become popular with as useful as they can be.

Although, officially, this is Dobot’s first dedicated 3D printer, they’re no stranger to the process. Their robot arms, the Dobot M1 and Magician, are capable of 3D printing, too. I actually have a Dobot Magician myself and as a 3D printer it does a rather nice job. I have a couple of photography related projects I plan to do with it in the coming months, and I’ll be documenting the process on YouTube.

That being said, 3D printing is not the Magician’s primary designed function, so it’s not perfect, like a real 3D printer. The biggest issue is that there’s no heated bed, which makes it difficult to work with higher temperature filaments like ABS and PETG. This is one of the things I intend to correct with mine in the coming weeks.

The Mooz, on the other hand, is designed to be a 3D printer first. But it’s not just one 3D printer, it’s three. With a modular design, the Mooz can be constructed in three different ways. But 3D printing is not all it does.

Each of the three configurations offers different advantages depending on the task you want the Mooz to perform. First, the Mooz-1z has a single Z-axis motor for quick setup and prints and is also perfect for use with the laser engraving head. The Mooz-2z has a pair of Z-axis motors & supports for a little more vertical precision, control and power when using the CNC milling head. The third is a Delta configuration, which offers certain advantages over the more traditional Cartesian design for some types of print, particularly those printed in vase mode.

Like most commercially available 3D printers available today, the Dobot Mooz comes with a heated bed and supports a variety of materials. There’s PLA for your basic prints, as well as ABS and PETG for more heat resistant application. It’ll also work with the many more exotic materials out there including various metal, wood and even flexible filaments. Of course, the same caveats will apply to such filaments as they do to any 3D printer.

  • Nozzle diameter: 0.4mm
  • Layer resolution: 0.05-0.3mm
  • Nozzle temperature: 190-260°C
  • Heated bed temperature: 50-100°C
  • Max object print size: 130 x 130 x 130mm
  • Print speed: 10-80mm/sec
  • Data connectivity: USB & SD Card
  • Power: 12v @ 6.5A (120-240v AC adapter supplied)
  • Dimensions: 285 x 285 x 318mm

The Mooz is built from machined aircraft-grade aluminium. In my encounter with it during BETT, I got to see it 3D printing and laser engraving with decent accuracy and there was no discernable wobble at all. Everything felt very sturdy and solid, yet ran very smoothly. While laser engraving, the Mooz at the show was surrounded by a protective shroud. This comes included with the printer, and is a lot easier to deal with than the uncomfortable protective glasses that come supplied with the Dobot Magician.

The build plate, though, while heated, is still quite small. You’re looking at a 130 x 130 x 130mm build volume, so you’re not going to be printing a life-size Jabba the Hutt on this thing. Instead, it’s more for smaller, more precision parts. It comes with a fairly standard 0.4mm diameter nozzle, but this can be swapped out if needed, with layer heights as low as 0.05mm. The Delta configuration of the printer also allows you to load up to seven filaments simultaneously for multicoloured prints.

One feature I haven’t mentioned so far is how you actually get files onto the Mooz and how you control it. Like many 3D printers today, you have the choice of either a microSD card or USB connectivity straight to a computer. Control for the mooz is then provided either via a 3.5″ touchscreen LCD, or through software on your computer. The touchscreen LCD is much more advanced than those found on many 3D printers, though, resembling something more like a phone UI. It does make me wonder why they didn’t just give it Bluetooth capability and create an actual phone app, though.

As this is a multifunction unit, the Mooz comes with its own Dobot Mooz Studio software. It’s a specially designed slicer software for laser engraving and CNC carving. For 3D printing, it is supplied with Cura and Slic3r. Firmware updates for the Mooz are also available to download through the Dobot website. And the firmware is regularly being updated in response to user feedback, so make sure to check back every now and then.

The modular design of the Dobot Mooz is an interesting move. It’s probably the first printer of its kind in this respect, at least it’s not something I’ve seen before – and no, DIY build kits don’t count. But this modular design does allow for the three different configurations. The Delta configuration is only really suited for 3D printing, particularly in vase mode. The single Z-axis Cartesian Mooz-2 mode will be good for either 3D printing or laser engraving. The dual Z-axis Mooz 3 mode is for when you want to use the CNC milling head or just want to take fewer chances with accuracy when 3D printing.

While the laser engraving and CNC milling facilities are definitely going to be a bonus for some users, I’m not sure they’d help me. I can already laser engrave with my Dobot magician, and CNC milling isn’t something I really need. For others, though, they’ll be big selling points for the Mooz. So, those aren’t so much a problem, as simply not of benefit to me. If you need those abilities, though, the Mooz does seem to perform rather well. All of the items I saw made by the Mooz at the BETT show looked great.

As far as 3D printing goes, yes, the build volume is a little on the small side. It would be nice if it was a touch bigger, say 200 x 200 x 200mm, but for many uses, the small volume isn’t going to be much of a problem. It hasn’t been one for me so far with the Dobot Magician which has a similar build volume. Sure, it’s nice to be able to print huge sometimes with something like a Creality CR-10, but unless you’re a 3D printing addict, you’re not usually going to need many items that large. Most items are quite small or are made up of smaller components that you glue together afterwards anyway.

With a footprint of only 285 x 285 x 318mm, the Dobot Mooz is small enough to fit on most desktops right next to a computer without getting in the way. But, it’s also large enough to still be able to give you some useful prints. So, if you’re looking for something to make battery holders, tethering cable clips, flash brackets, action camera mounts, or lens cap holders, the Mooz could be a great option for you.

For me, if I didn’t already have the Magician, I’d possibly consider this, it’s a small but versatile machine. But as I do, I think my needs are a little larger now. I do still need a 3D printer, even though the Magician does a good enough job for my requirements. But I also want something I can customise a little.

What can I say? I’m a tinkerer.

The Dobot Mooz is available to buy now in three varieties. For 3D printing along, there’s the Mooz-1z, which contains the single Z-axis support for $559. The Mooz-2z contains dual Z-axis supports and is $699. The full Mooz system allows you to build the 1z, 2z and Delta configurations along with the laser engraving and CNC milling heads and costs $799.

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  • loxmyth

    They really need someone to translate their script into idiomatic English, rather than well-pronounced gibberish. I know it isn’t fair, but lack of attention to detail in the video makes me worry about whether their manufacturing or support will fall down similarly.

  • MisterWU

    I am sick to see in 2018 people still designing new 3d printer with a moving bed.
    This is engineering blasphemy, giving poor quality prints and very slow print speed.
    And the worst is that people buy it are thinking is good. Damn sad!!!

    Please if you don’t have at least one PhD in Engineering (better two) don’t answer just to show how dumb you are.

    • Mike

      The fuck are you on your high horse about. Calm down.

    • Una Tao

      Thanks for your opinion about 3d printer, MOOZ is different from common 3d printer, it’s designed with linear guideway, which can provide more stable and precise result. About the speed, it can be adjustable from 10-80 mm/s. About the quality, don’t take my word, join this mooz group to check the 3d printed objects to check: https://www.facebook.com/groups/242934739571669/, thanks!

    • Michael Armani

      Part of getting a PhD is learning how often you can be wrong and being humble about it so that you can open up your views and learn more. And seeing how fact technology moves, the expertise gained during a dissertation degrades every day. You need to maintain that knowledge.

      I run a 3D Printer company, and I see merits to both designs. Having one axis moving is great when it’s highly geared, and a relatively small build volume. It’s also easier to isolate issues when axes aren’t coupled together, thus helping make cheap printers that are good for the price;

      On the other hand when a printer gets large, I agree, a big moving bed is costly as the acceleration / weight really affects print quality in numerous ways new people don’t understand, yet they will say that it’s the greatest; And that’s the final lesson about business – it doesn’t matter that you are right, what matters is what the people feel when they buy, and if they feel they are right about a moving bed they won’t buy your product. Maybe that’s why none of the top 1000 richest people has a PhD?

  • Did you try it out on a Mac, John? On previous dobot equipment, I’ve found the Mac drivers challenging.

    • Nope, not tried them on a Mac. They were all standalone Mooz units at the show running off SD. I’ve only tried my Magician on the PC at home.

      Remember that little Windows tablet? I think that might become a full-time partner for my Magician.

  • David Harpe

    There’s a Facebook user’s group where lots of discussion about the Mooz is going on. I bought one during the kickstarter (Mooz-2) and after being 3 months late received it in February.

    The printer is a jack of all trades but a master of none. On the 3d printing side there are frequent reports of nozzle jams (some quite spectacular), although it will kick out a good print from time to time. I bought the Mooz-2, which is the standard XYZ configuration derided by MisterWU :-). If you pop for the Mooz-3 you get a delta configuration which alleviates the moving-Y concerns, but those are not shipping yet.

    I have not personally used the 3d printing module because I already have two other printers, but based on all of the issues people are having I don’t think I’m even going to try.

    I bought the Mooz for the CNC and laser. Disappointed on both fronts. The laser is really underpowered. It ships with a 400mW laser, which is only good enough for basic etching on the softest of materials. By way of comparison a cheap import I picked up on Amazon for $100 has a 1W laser, which is perfect if you want to etch and even cut thin paper (only reason I’m not using it is bad mechanicals).

    The CNC is noisy and also flakey. Even after a good zeroing it doesn’t seem to exactly center, and the cutting head is noisy and underpowered.

    The software provided is abysmal…very basic and quirky with frequent crashes. Makes using the Laser and CNC functions difficult.

    All in all it’s not a particularly good value when you add it up. For $600 you get something that’s not particularly stellar at anything it does. If all you need is a 3d printer $600 can get you into numerous options which are far better. A $200 asian import laser cutter and a $300 dedicated CNC will do far better at those tasks.

    And I’m not sure if the flaws can be easily corrected. Based on the failures being seen in the Facebook group I think the 3d print head is fundamentally flawed…the housing causes issues both with printing and maintenance/recovery from jams. The laser would require a hardware upgrade and since I’m already into it for $500 not one I’d be willing to do unless free. The CNC also feels like it needs hardware improvements (stronger motor/etc.) although in fairness CNC is the area I have the least experience so maybe all it needs is just software.

    Customer service has been poor. During the shipping delays communication with the company was spotty at best, and it was left to a few clever users in the Facebook group to figure out a way to determine from UPS when your printer might arrive. Most of the useful help is coming from the user group, the company is not participating very much.

    It was a good idea and looks really cool, but not a tool I can count on at this point and expensive for what you get. Will probably either part mine out or sell it.

  • potato

    In respect to bed moving & lack of PHD, one should not forget it’s a low budget printer with a small build profile and an expensive frame with a target emphasis on precision and stability.

    So first of all the “issues” of a moving bed is negligible due to build size and style of construction in contrast to typically belt driven, flexible frames where such an issue is more pronounced. Secondly having a stationary build plate and having massive, solid pieces of metal moving around instead, which would be several times heavier than a solid 130mm cube of plastic, is now the smarter option?

    Pick any technology, there will be a bleeding edge option that has all the bells and whistles, but doesn’t necessarily meet requirements, whether that is budget, weight, practicality and so on. To make the bed stationary would require an additional rail, metal /supports and circuitry planning, and most likely beefier steppers.

    Also last time I checked, Delta printers have stationary beds so I fail to see how the Mooz (3) doesn’t tick your box?

    The quality of printing is great and compared to most alternative printers of a similar price bracket much better out of the box. The rails & level of precision /repeat-ability is fantastic and certainly does it justice.

    However the print bed is nothing but a disappointment. Sure, most print beds on low cost printers are hit an miss between each machine, but for something that is mostly metal, why they decided to use a plastic build plate that doesn’t appear to be reliably flat is beyond me.

    Laser is a disappointment on the basis of power alone, and it looks in your photo they are still using 1.6w while they supplied 0.5w to customers.. There’s also debate as to whether the blue laser shield is even rated to block the laser radiation and appears to be just blue acrylic, which considering the laser is blue, unlikely to have blocked any laser light whereas another colour would have at least had a bit more of an effect even if it’s not intended for a laser.

    This is concerning also if the laser is 1.6w as they indicated such shield would need “upgrading” for the more powerful laser, thus, they have dangerously exposed people and themselves to the laser…

    As per the CNC, havent used it, but can’t see how it is under powered. It’s a cheap 75$ attachment including a CNC base plate, chuck and motor and specified only for milling woods. Most CNCs in such a metal frame would at least be advertised to do aluminum, so clearly people’s expectations are wrong.

    That said, Mooz is a 3 in 1, and much like you can bring a multi-tool to work, use the blade to cut open boxes, screwdriver to screw equipment into place, the tiny scissors to cut labels or what not, the grips to do up nuts /bolts, it’ll never compete with a tool dedicate to the task, especially one sold for the same price. At least wake up an be realistic.

    Every printer, even the super popular ones have a plethora of issues, have had several iterations to the designs to fix said issues that are added without any advertising (i.e. two different customers could have the same machine with different parts in them) and have been in the industry for several years now and yet people still need to make “necessary” alterations.

    Mooz is new on the field, will make much the same mistakes but instead of a completely cheap piece of flimsy crap, at least there is some quality behind it for the price. It’s just a shame the build size is so small.

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