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The revamped Columbus Micro Center puts creative technology on display: visitors can see 3D printers at work, explore DIY projects, and get guided help with PC building. CNET reporter Jon Reed’s August 25, 2026 visit captures a store organized around the question, “What can you make?”—not just what hardware can you buy.
What changed in the Columbus store?
In Jon Reed’s reported visit for CNET, the clearest change was visibility. Maker and craft supplies that had been tucked into a corner of the previous layout are spread out and easier to notice in the redesigned store. That is Reed’s description of the layout, not an independently audited floor-plan comparison.
Columbus is the second Micro Center location to receive the redesign, following a store in New Jersey. Reed calls the Columbus store a kind of flagship because it is near the company’s headquarters; the account does not lay out a broader redesign schedule.
What can visitors see and try?
3D printing and DIY projects
The DIY area sits near the entrance and includes small robots customers can assemble. The store also has several aisles of 3D printers, with machines producing sample objects, finished prints on display, filament packages, and a row of filament samples. Reed describes the area as more prominent and accessible than before.
#1 Best Overall
- Up to 16 Colors: Bring your designs to life with vibrant multi-color/multi-material printing capabilities, perfect for showcasing your creativity. Note: Connecting Bambu Lab AMS is required.
- 500mm/s and 20000 mm/s² Acceleration True High Speed: Don't wait around for your masterpieces. Lightning-fast printing speed lets you focus on creating, not waiting.
- Enclosed Design: Fully enclosed body improves print performance for advanced filaments. Automatic Bed Leveling: Say hello to high-quality, successful prints. Auto bed leveling makes 3D printing such an easy thing.
- Set Up in 15 Minutes: Spend more time printing and less time setting up. User-friendly design ensures a hassle-free assembly experience for all skill levels.
- Supported Filament: Ideal: PLA, PETG, TPU, PVA, PET ABS, ASA; Capable : PA, PC; Not Recommended: Carbon/Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer.
The standout demonstration was an Elegoo OrangeStorm Giga printing a scale model of downtown Columbus. Reed described the machine as roughly phone-booth-sized and reported a $2,500 price tag during his August 2026 visit. That figure is an article-time snapshot, not a current quote. The account also notes that smaller 3D printers were available for a few hundred dollars, but does not name models or give a precise price range.
PC building and customization
Visitors will find colorful PC cases, customizable keyboards and themed keycaps, along with microphones and ring lights aimed at people setting up creator-style workspaces. The store also displays trading cards, Lego kits, and Apple devices, broadening the experience beyond conventional PC components.
Rank #2
- One-Click Automatic Printing: Experience hassle-free 3D printing with the Adventurer 5M Series. Enjoy automatic bed leveling for flawless first layers, ensuring consistent adhesion and saving time with no manual adjustments required.
- 12X Ultra Fast Printing: Featuring a CoreXY structure with 600mm/s travel speed and 20000mm/s² acceleration, the AD5M maximizes efficiency, reduces production cycles, and ensures high precision, making it ideal for rapid prototyping and mass production.
- Smart and Efficient Design: Quick 3-second nozzle changes, a high-flow 32mm³/s nozzle, and fast 35-second warm-up to 200°C deliver stable high-speed printing. Its dual-sided PEI platform and versatile options provide easy removal and adaptability for various creative projects.
- Superior Print Quality & Adaptability: Combines a 280°C direct drive extruder with dual-fan cooling and vibration compensation. Includes a standard 0.4mm nozzle and accepts optional sizes from 0.25mm to 0.8mm to fit various printing needs.
- Real-Time App Monitoring: Monitor print progress, adjust settings, and receive instant status alerts remotely with the Flash Studio. Smart mobile control ensures a seamless, effortless printing experience anytime, anywhere.
Robots and local AI
Reed saw a chess-playing robot that physically moves pieces and an Nvidia DGX Spark computer running as a local-AI hardware display. CNET reported the DGX Spark with 128GB of memory and a price of about $4,500 during the visit. Both the price and the observed display are specific to that August 2026 account, not confirmation of current store inventory or pricing.
How do the Knowledge Bar and Build and Learn fit in?
The Knowledge Bar is the store’s service-and-learning anchor in Ackerman’s account. Dan Ackerman, who heads Micro Center News and guided Reed’s tour, called it “the heart of the store.” It offers technology help and expert PC assembly.
Rank #3
- Up to 16 Colors: Bring your designs to life with vibrant multi-color/multi-material printing capabilities, perfect for showcasing your creativity. Note: Connecting Bambu Lab AMS is required.
- 500mm/s and 20000 mm/s² Acceleration True High Speed: Don't wait around for your masterpieces. Lightning-fast printing speed lets you focus on creating, not waiting.
- Enclosed Design: Fully enclosed body improves print performance for advanced filaments. Automatic Bed Leveling: Say hello to high-quality, successful prints. Auto bed leveling makes 3D printing such an easy thing.
- Set Up in 15 Minutes: Spend more time printing and less time setting up. User-friendly design ensures a hassle-free assembly experience for all skill levels.
- Supported Filament: Ideal: PLA, PETG, TPU, PVA, PET ABS, ASA; Capable : PA, PC; Not Recommended: Carbon/Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer.
The reported Build and Learn program gives customers the option to take part in assembling a device with guidance. Ackerman described the level of participation as flexible: “You can do as much or as little as you’re comfortable with, and they will teach you as you’re doing it.” The emphasis is on learning while building, rather than requiring visitors to arrive with advanced assembly skills.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the redesign suggests—and what the visit cannot establish
Reed’s account presents the store as a place to encounter technology through demonstrations and hands-on activity, as well as a place to shop. An active printer, a robot that moves chess pieces, and guided PC assembly make technology easier to observe and engage with than products sitting only in boxes or on shelves.
Rank #4
- High-Speed Precision: The Bambu Lab P2S 3D printer prints up to 600 mm/s while maintaining exceptional accuracy. With the PMSM Servo Extruder and Active Flowrate Compensation, every layer of your printed object stays sharp and smooth, delivering flawless corners and consistent results.
- Ready to Print in 15 Minutes: Set up your P2S FDM 3D printer and start printing in just 15 minutes. With AI failure detection, quick-swap nozzles, and automatic calibration, this 3D printer makes professional-grade 3D printing effortless, even for beginners.
- Effortless Multi-Color Printing: The AMS 2 Pro enables seamless multi-color/multi-material 3D printing. It features built-in filament drying at up to 65 °C, keeping every spool ready for flawless prints. (Note: The P2S 3D printer does not support multi-color printing; Combo version required.)
- Smart Airflow for Any Filament: The Adaptive Airflow System automatically balances cooling and heat retention—keeping overhangs crisp with cool air, or maintaining a 50 °C chamber for engineering-grade materials. A carbon filter ensures clean, safe air while you print.
- Limitless Creativity, Seamless Workflow: Explore over one million 3D models on MakerWorld and bring them to life with a smooth, unified workflow using Bambu Studio, Bambu Handy, and your FDM 3D printer, from design to finished print.
That is an interpretation of one reported visit, not a measured finding about customer behavior. The account does not establish whether the redesign changes sales, how shoppers respond overall, or how the Columbus store compares systematically with other Micro Center locations.
The Tool Desk
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Best Value
- 600mm/s Speed & CoreXY Structure — Powered by an all-metal CoreXY frame and 20,000mm/s² acceleration, Adventurer 5M Pro reaches speeds up to 600mm/s. Integrated vibration compensation algorithms eliminate ghosting and ringing for smooth, high-precision surface finishes.
- 3-Second Quick-Swap Nozzle & Auto Leveling — Features a tool-free, quick-release nozzle mechanism for effortless 3-second replacements across multiple sizes (0.25/0.4/0.6/0.8mm). One-click full auto-leveling ensures precise bed calibration and a perfect first layer every time.
- Dual Filtration System & Quiet Enclosure — Built with an integrated dual filtration system and a fully enclosed chamber to ensure a clean printing environment and thermal stability. Powered by low-noise motion control, it operates quietly under 50dB for seamless home, office, or classroom use.
- 280°C High-Temp Extruder & Broad Material Compatibility — With a 280°C max nozzle temperature and a 110°C heated bed, it reliably prints engineering materials like ABS, ASA, and PETG-CF, as well as standard PLA and PETG.
- Smart Camera & Mobile Control — Features a built-in camera for real-time monitoring and time-lapse video creation. Monitor progress, adjust settings, and receive instant status alerts via Flash Studio. Integrated with filament detection, power loss recovery, and a 4.3-inch touchscreen for effortless operation.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
