Is there anything more satisfying than watching a line of melted plastic become a small, useful sculpture right in your kitchen, like a magician who cleans up after himself? If that sounds like your idea of a good evening, the TRONXY CRUX 1S Mini 3D Printer might deserve a spot on your desk. It’s a small, beginner-friendly machine that TRONXY built as a faster, upgraded version of its CRUX 1, with a 7.09-inch cube of build space and a promise that you can start your first print within minutes.
TRONXY Small High Speed 3D Printer, CRUX 1S Desktop Mini 3D Printer for Beginners, Proximal Printhead with Dual-axis Metal Guide, Build Size 7.09x7.09x7.09 inch
What’s New in the TRONXY CRUX 1S
TRONXY calls the CRUX 1S an upgraded CRUX 1, and the headline change is the printhead. The company updated its proximal printhead for faster printing and lists a top speed of 300 mm/s with a maximum acceleration of 10,000 mm/s². Those are bold numbers for a printer this size. As with any top speed, I’d treat it as the ceiling rather than the everyday setting, since fine details usually look their best at a gentler pace.
The rest of the recipe stays pleasingly compact: a 180 x 180 x 180 mm (7.09 x 7.09 x 7.09 inch) build volume, a 0.4 mm nozzle and a machine weight of 5.8 kg, light enough to move with one hand and a determined posture.
Unboxing and Setup: The Minutes-Not-Hours Promise
I’m a skeptic by nature and a chronic instructions-overreader, so when a company says “you can start the first print within minutes,” I brace myself for three hours of muttering. TRONXY’s case is that the CRUX 1S arrives about 95% pre-installed, so assembly is quick and the machine looks more like a finished appliance than a weekend project. For anyone who has ever stared at a bag of mystery screws, that’s a welcome start.
Specs Snapshot
I find it reassuring to know what I’m getting into, so here are the key numbers from TRONXY’s listing.
| Spec | CRUX 1S |
|---|---|
| Build Volume | 180 x 180 x 180 mm (7.09 x 7.09 x 7.09 in) |
| Max Print Speed | Up to 300 mm/s |
| Max Acceleration | 10,000 mm/s² |
| Nozzle Diameter | 0.4 mm |
| Printhead | Updated proximal printhead |
| Motion System | Dual-axis metal guide rails, external double-axis roller guides on X and Y |
| Screen | 2.8-inch full-color touchscreen, eight languages |
| Power Supply | Built in, integrated modular design |
| Assembly | About 95% pre-installed |
| Machine Weight | 5.8 kg |
Design and Build Quality: Compact but Thought-Through
I appreciate machines that have opinions, and the CRUX 1S clearly wants to be small, stable and uncomplicated. Its X and Y axes ride on external double-axis roller guide rails, and TRONXY says these dual-axis metal guides are smoother and more durable than before, running quickly with low noise on pulleys built to last longer.
That matters on a small, fast printer. When the printhead is zipping around at speed, a steady motion system is what keeps your layers lined up instead of wandering off like a distracted toddler.
Touchscreen and Interface: Small Screen, Big Help
The 2.8-inch full-color touchscreen is the tiny conductor of this orchestra. It supports eight languages, and TRONXY says the operating system and interface are simple enough for novices to get going on their own.
If you’re new to 3D printing, menu simplicity matters. You don’t want a printer that asks you to choose between “Bézier spring alignment” and “trapezoidal belt hermeneutics” before you’ve had coffee. A small, friendly screen with the essentials is exactly what a first printer should have.
Print Volume: The Goldilocks Cube
A 7.09-inch cube hits a sweet spot for desks, shelves and real-world projects. Household organizers, cable holders, drawer inserts, miniature planters, phone stands and giftable trinkets all fit comfortably, and a cube is easier to picture than some odd rectangles.
Is it large enough for helmets, full-size props or big articulated dragons? Not in one piece. But it’s plenty for a surprising range of useful and decorative models, especially if you’re comfortable splitting larger files into parts.
Speed: Small Printer, Big Ambitions
Entry-level printers have a reputation for being the tortoises of the hobby, so it’s fun to see a mini machine chasing the hare. With its updated printhead, a 300 mm/s top speed and 10,000 mm/s² acceleration, the CRUX 1S is TRONXY’s answer to anyone who has watched a simple print crawl along and wondered whether it would finish before the weekend. TRONXY calls it small but mighty, and on paper it earns the nickname.
A Friendly Pick for Beginners and Kids
TRONXY pitches the CRUX 1S squarely at newcomers. The interface is designed so novices can finish setup and start printing on their own, and the company says it helps children develop hands-on skills. It’s also billed as a good choice for creative, dream-seeking teens, which feels right. If I’d had one as a teenager, I might have been less obsessed with building model houses out of cereal boxes and glue sticks.
As with any printer that has a hot nozzle, younger kids should print with a grown-up nearby. Think of it as supervised creativity, with fewer glue-stick casualties.
Safety and Power: Integrated and Tidy
The CRUX 1S uses an integrated modular design with a built-in power supply, which TRONXY says increases safety and reduces assembly worries. I’ll always take a built-in supply over a dangling power brick: fewer things on the floor to trip over, and one less box that seems to dream of rolling off the table.
Portability and Size: Apartment-Friendly Footprint
TRONXY describes the CRUX 1S as a desktop portable printer, and at 5.8 kg it’s the kind of machine you can pick up and move to the kitchen table when you need more room. Its compact frame should share a desk with a laptop and still leave space for a mug and a quiet sense of pride.
What You’re Getting with the CRUX 1S
For quick reference, here’s how the main features stack up and why they matter.
| Feature | What It Is | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Upgraded Printhead | Updated proximal printhead | Built for faster printing than the CRUX 1 |
| 300 mm/s Top Speed | With up to 10,000 mm/s² acceleration | Quicker prints when detail isn’t the priority |
| 95% Pre-Installed | Minimal assembly | First print within minutes, per TRONXY |
| 2.8-inch Color Touchscreen | Eight-language interface | Simple menus for beginners |
| Dual-Axis Metal Guide Rails | External double-axis roller guides on X and Y | Smooth, low-noise motion and durable pulleys |
| 7.09-inch Cube Build Volume | 180 x 180 x 180 mm | Big enough for useful parts, still compact |
| Integrated Power Supply | Built-in, modular design | Safer and tidier |
| 0.4 mm Nozzle | The standard size | A sensible all-round default |
| 5.8 kg Weight | Compact frame | Easy to move around |
Limitations and Realistic Expectations
No machine is perfect, and this one isn’t pretending to be a professional production beast. A few things to keep in mind:
- Build volume limits: larger models will need splitting. Not a deal-breaker, but plan accordingly.
- Top speed is a ceiling: 300 mm/s is TRONXY’s maximum, and detailed prints generally prefer a slower pace.
- No enclosure mentioned: if you plan to print ABS or other fussy, high-temperature materials, check the product page first.
- Missing details: the listing doesn’t say which bed surface or leveling system the CRUX 1S uses, so look into those if they matter to you.
Who I Think Will Love It
- Beginners who want a painless start without building a robot from parts.
- Kids and teens (with a grown-up nearby) who want a hands-on creative hobby.
- Hobbyists who want a compact, quick second printer on the desk.
- Apartment dwellers who care about size and appreciate low-noise guide rails.
- Practical makers who print organizers, replacement parts, gifts and small tools.
Who Might Want Something Else
- People who need to print large cosplay armor, in one piece, right now.
- ABS specialists who need an enclosed, heated chamber.
- Anyone who wants every detail of the bed and leveling system spelled out before buying.
Final Verdict on the TRONXY CRUX 1S Mini 3D Printer
The TRONXY CRUX 1S takes the compact, beginner-friendly idea behind the CRUX 1 and adds an updated printhead built for speed, with TRONXY quoting up to 300 mm/s. Add the 95% pre-installed frame, a 2.8-inch touchscreen, dual-axis metal guide rails and a built-in power supply, and you get a tidy little machine designed to turn ideas into objects without turning your weekend into a troubleshooting saga.
If you’re like me and would rather spend your evenings printing hooks, planters and gifts than assembling a printer from a pile of parts, the CRUX 1S is worth a look, especially as a first printer or a compact second one.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
