LulzBot TAZ SideKick 747 Reviews: See Why 0 Shoppers Rated It 0 Stars!

LulzBot TAZ SideKick 747: A Robust Choice For Professional 3D Printing Needs

The LulzBot TAZ Sidekick 747 enters the market as a versatile and professional FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) 3D printer designed for an array of users from beginners to advanced professionals. What makes this model notable is how it targets prototyping and engineering applications with a prebuilt assembly that requires no setup, straight out of the box. Rooted in American engineering and built in the USA, its blend of solid specifications and advanced features suggests a printer that's both dependable and functional for various educational and industrial environments. Does it really live up to its specifications in delivering precise and efficient prints? Let's delve deeper into the details to find out.

Detailed Specs & Features

Based on its engineering data, the SideKick 747 flaunts a compact yet capable footprint, with a footprint dimension of 18.9" width, 17.32" depth, and 18.11" height, making it a fit for most desktop spaces. It supports a respectable build volume of 482.3 cubic inches (9" wide, 9" deep, and 9.25" tall), ideal for mid-sized projects without consuming excessive space (2.27 sq. ft. footprint). From a power perspective, it operates on external power supplies with a wide 100-240 volt input and draws up to 350 watts, which situates it comfortably within most workshop electrical standards. Its operating environmental range is quite standard, with a temperature range between 41-113°F and humidity tolerance of 20-80%, adaptable for varied climates in typical workshop settings.

The printer utilizes a direct drive extruder with a replaceable hotend that handles filament diameters of 1.75 mm and supports multiple nozzle sizes, including an optional wide spectrum from 0.25 mm to 1.2 mm diameters, allowing for both fine detail and faster prints. The extruder's temperature range, from a minimum of 248°F to a scorching maximum of 554°F, makes it compatible with advanced filaments like Nylon and ABS, alongside beginner-friendly PLA. Despite its single extruder setup, it boasts support for a variety of materials, including flexible, wood-infused, and specialty filaments, plus compatibility with third-party filaments, which is a notable plus for experimental and budget-conscious users.

Its build plate is a smooth, removable two-part PEI and glass combination with auto bed leveling capabilities, which allows improved first-layer adhesion and reliable print stability. Coupled with an open Cartesian frame design, this facilitates easier access but lacks an enclosure, meaning temperature control inside the chamber is not available. The printer integrates cooling fans to maintain optimal print quality and has firmware update capabilities to keep the machine's performance current. Connectivity is straightforward with USB and SD card options, supporting familiar slicers like Cura and Simplify3D, which maintain a user-friendly but professional workflow.

User Experience & Performance Based On Specs

Design & Build

The SideKick 747 features a sturdy yet streamlined Cartesian frame, measuring under 19 inches in width, depth, and height, suitable for desktop use without dominating the workspace. Its weight of approximately 28.65 pounds ensures it's solid enough to remain stable during operation without being cumbersome to move if needed. The choice of an open frame design is a double-edged sword: on one hand, it allows easy access for nozzle changes and filament handling, but on the other, it exposes prints to ambient temperature fluctuations. Despite this, the auto-bed leveling system improves ease of use and precision, crucial for maintaining consistency when printing various materials.

Performance

While the official max print speed isn't specified, the machine's 100 micron print accuracy confirms its capability for detailed prototypes and engineering components. PEI surface build plates improve adhesion, minimizing print failures, especially on larger prints. At a typical noise level of 55 decibels during operation, it won't disturb your office or classroom environment. This printer boasts no spaghetti or fault detection features, nor recovery from power losses, which means print failures could happen if interrupted, but its robust construction and heating elements with overheat protection and auto shutdown mitigations provide safer operations.

Camera / Display / Audio Quality

It is important to note that the printer has no touchscreen display or built-in camera, making remote monitoring and interaction limited to basic USB or SD controls. However, its firmware supports updates and API/SDK integrations, so industry professionals can potentially develop custom remote-control solutions. Sound-wise, 55 dB noise is low but perceptible in quiet spaces, typical for FDM printers of this class.

Extra Features

The SideKick's toolhead modularity stands out by supporting attachments like laser cutters and CNC tools, an interesting addition that expands its workshop utility beyond 3D printing. Its integration with print farm management software further confirms its professional design intent. Even though it lacks air filtration and enclosure locking, it compensates somewhat with a solid warranty period of one year and CE, FCC, and RoHS safety certifications, enhancing user trust.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Excellent 100 micron print accuracy and broad filament compatibility
• Prebuilt, no assembly required, enabling quick deployment
• Broad operating temperature range with advanced safety features like overheat protection
• Support for professional workflows with API/SDK integration and print farm management

Cons

• Lacks enclosure and air filtration systems, impacting temperature consistency and safety
• No filament runout sensor or power-loss recovery features
• No display, touchscreen, or built-in camera for monitoring and control

Price & Value For Money

Retailing at $1285 at MatterHackers, the LulzBot TAZ SideKick 747 offers solid value for those who prioritize build volume, precision, and material compatibility. Given its one-year warranty and the robust power consumption suited for demanding filaments, the price places it within reach for professional studios, educational institutions, and advanced hobbyists. While some features are missing, such as multi-material printing or advanced automation, this printer delivers a dependable and straightforward 3D printing experience that matches its price point well.

Quick Take

In short, the SideKick 747 is a well-engineered, prebuilt 3D printer that excels in precision and filament versatility. If we look at the numbers alone, it prioritizes reliable, quality output for a wide range of users without fuss. However, it lacks some of the bells and whistles of higher-end models like enclosures and smart sensors.

Closing Recommendation

The LulzBot TAZ SideKick 747 may be ideal for professionals and educators who value print accuracy and material freedom over high automation or remote control features. It appears to perform best for users who want a robust FDM printer with proven safety certifications and a solid upgrade path, helping them achieve prototyping and engineering success within a moderate budget.

Verdict

Rating: Based on the specifications and overall feature set, we believe LulzBot TAZ SideKick 747 deserves 4.2 out of 5.

• Winner Feature => excellent print accuracy and broad filament compatibility for versatile use.
• Needs Improvement => lack of enclosure and smart print recovery features limits advanced user convenience.