I don't say it lightly, but the Aoseed X-Maker (which is designed for children) might just be one of the best 3D printers I've ever used.
Yes, I know – that's very dramatic. And no, this doesn't mean it produces the most detailed models. It's not the quickest machine on the block either. But it is easy. Far easier than the competition, anyway. There's a real lack of faff with the Aoseed X-Maker, so if you're searching for a machine to use with your kids, in school, or in a club, this is beyond perfect.
Features & design
While the Aoseed X-Maker is relatively modest so far as features go, it's got all the basics. There's a touchscreen, a heating platform, a flexible build plate for easy print removal, and its own slicer.
However, it does manage to impress with a couple of extra bells and whistles. For starters, it's powered by Wi-fi and boasts power-loss recovery. Crucially, it's levelling free too.
As for the actual design, the X-Maker ticks all the boxes you'd want for a child-friendly printer. Namely, it has an enclosed shell to make sure that little fingers don't get trapped in the machine's workings while it's creating something cool.
Speaking of that enclosure, the X-Maker's aesthetics won me over too. Besides a classy white shell, it has light-up panels at the top and bottom that elevate the design.
Performance
So, first things first; the X-Maker is slow. While it doesn't need to be fast, it can be quite… well, 'pondering' nonetheless. This isn't an Anycubic Photon Mono M5s or a Creality Ender-5 S1, suffice to say. But realistically, if you're buying for kids, you don't need it to be a whippet.
Plus, the level of detail it pumps out with each print is pretty astonishing. Even basic toys, figurines, or dungeon tiles for the best tabletop RPGs come out looking far better with the standard settings than they do on most other machines I've tested.
The software is really easy to use – just load the 'thing' you want, save, and hit go
That's a miracle considering how the Aoseed X-Maker largely deals with all of the settings itself; these are kept behind closed doors. Indeed, the software is really easy to use – just load the 'thing' you want, save, and hit go. That's it. It'll handle the rest.
The supports are easy to remove too. While some machines provide supports that are so strong they're basically impossible to take off, this feels much more like a resin machine. Just peel, and you're done.
Should you buy the Aoseed X-Maker?
Honestly, I wish more printers had the kind of excellent performance that this one does. Yes, it's not going to win awards for speed. But in terms of making excellent prints for kids and showing them the ropes, it's without equal.
Looking for the ultimate child-friendly 3D printer? This is it.
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How we tested the Aoseed X-Maker
I put this 3D printer through its paces for a couple of weeks, tasking it with creating toys from the supplied files as well as my own projects. This included dungeon tiles for D&D, and an owlbear that I made for a colleague.
For more on our process, be sure to check out the GamesRadar+ Hardware Policy.
Looking for more to keep your little ones entertained? Be sure to have a look at the top board games for kids.
