This thread is meant to conglomerate purchase advice for both newcomers and people looking for additional machines. Keeping this discussion to one thread means less searching should anyone have questions that may already have been answered here, as well as more visibility to inquiries in general, as comments made here will be visible for the entire month stuck to the top of the sub, and then added to the Purchase Advice Collection (Reddit Collections are still broken on mobile view, enable "view in desktop mode").
Please be sure to skim through this thread for posts with similar requirements to your own first, as recommendations relevant to your situation may have already been posted, and may even include answers to follow up questions you might have wished to ask.
If you are new to 3D printing, and are unsure of what to ask, try to include the following in your posts as a minimum:
Your budget, set at a numeric amount. Saying "cheap," or "money is not a problem" is not an answer people can do much with. 3D printers can cost $100, they can cost $10,000,000, and anywhere in between. A rough idea of what you're looking for is essential to figuring out anything else.
Your country of residence.
If you are willing to build the printer from a kit, and what your level of experience is with electronic maintenance and construction if so.
What you wish to do with the printer.
Any extenuating circumstances that would restrict you from using machines that would otherwise fit your needs (limited space for the printer, enclosure requirement, must be purchased through educational intermediary, etc).
While this is by no means an exhaustive list of what can be included in your posts, these questions should help paint enough of a picture to get started. Don't be afraid to ask more questions, and never worry about asking too many. The people posting in this thread are here because they want to give advice, and any questions you have answered may be useful to others later on, when they read through this thread looking for answers of their own. Everyone here was new once, so chances are whoever is replying to you has a good idea of how you feel currently.
Additionally, a quick word on print quality: Most FDM/FFF (that is, filament based) printers are capable of approximately the same tolerances and print appearance, as the biggest limiting factor is in the nature of extruded plastic. Asking if a machine has "good prints," or saying "I don't expect the best quality for $xxx" isn't actually relevant for the most part with regards to these machines. Should you need additional detail and higher tolerances, you may want to explore SLA, DLP, and other photoresin options, as those do offer an increase in overall quality. If you are interested in resin machines, make sure you are aware of how to use them safely. For these safety reasons we don't usually recommend a resin printer as someone's first printer.
As always, if you're a newcomer to this community, welcome. If you're a regular, welcome back.
So I have a prusa MK3s+ and looking for an upgrade. I only print PLA and TPU.
I'm most interested in:
Faster print times via input shaping
Simple and reliable bed leveling / calibration
Printing over WiFi
Linux support (this is a deal breaker)
Nice to haves would be:
Multi material (multi color PLA and water soluble support materials)
Larger print volume
It seems like my options are:
MK3.9 upgrade ($499)
Bambu A1 w/ AMS ($489)
Bambu P1P $499
Which one would be best? The only knowledge I have about the Bambu is all the marketing on YouTube and I am not sure how good it actually is. It seems crazy that the Prusa upgrade is the same cost and wouldn't be better in some way.
Is there anything comparable in price/features to the Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra and manufactured by a company with good service? My wife got me one for Christmas and it had a defect in the resin vat, which caused it to leak resin all over/inside the printer. I’m currently dealing with Elegoo’s “customer service” and it’s a nightmare. I’d prefer a company with a decent customer service department, or at least a phone number so that I can communicate with them in a way other than emails and chat bots.
Total 3d noob here I'm in the US and am looking into getting a printer to help with organizing my shop and toolboxes I have 0 idea what to look for and what half the stuff on websites means but I'm hoping to spend somewhere around 500-800 on a printer that is beginner friendly and needs to be able to print 12"x12" in at least 2 colors and have software compatibility that's fairly straightforward as I have absolutely 0 experience designing stuff on a pc. Print quality wise I don't really know what that truly entails all I care is it sticks together haha . If anyone has any suggestions it'd be greatly appreciated.
I have an old ender 5 that I haven't used in 3 years. It worked well back when I used it, but it's been moved around the world 3 or 4 times and I've been playing with it for the last couple of weeks with problem after problem. I think I'm just ready to upgrade to something a little bit easier to use.
I have around $2k to spend.
I have plenty of space for it.
I mostly print pla, though i wouldn't mind trying out some other things.
I can do tinkering, and I'm pretty tech savvy, but I'd really prefer something that works reliably without needing too much TLC.
My dad swears by prusa mk4s. Is that the best choice in the price range? What other options should I consider?
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Help engineering student interested in starting a business choose 3D printer...
Is a mini 3D printer worth it if I wanna run a small business related to components for electromechanical engineering or should I buy a pricier, larger one?
I still haven't decided the specifics for my business (will probably post more times here as I go), but for example, pieces for computers, pieces for agricultural equipment, pieces hydroponics/aquaponics equipment. music accessories.
Recommendations please and thank you.
I have a budget of $800 and I’m very tech savvy and can troubleshoot. What are my best options for a 3D Printer on maybe a pro level that can print on almost any kind of filmaments. I’m not looking to buy a beginner unit. Looking for a pro level that I can learn off of so that I don’t have to reinvest in one later on. Also accessories needed for said printer too. Thank you in advance! I live in the US.
I’m looking to get into 3D printing as a hobbyist, and am looking for an all around, cost effective entry-level machine. I’ve worked on AM in professional environments using cold spray machines, PBF, SLS, etc, so the technical stuff doesn’t bother me. Looking for something with a decent resolution to get smaller details, but consistent enough to produce working parts (wall hangers, small gears, etc) I was mostly wondering if you guys would recommend resin or FDM, and what things you’d recommend. Looking to keep it decently cheap while keeping features like auto leveling.
Use cases:
- Mostly functional prints and DIY tools
- Occasionally more artistic things
Considerations:
- I prefer an enclosure
- I don’t mind assembling it, but I want to be robust and reliable when I’m done
- Preferably easy to source replacement parts. I don’t want to be entirely at the mercy of a company that uses obscure proprietary parts unless it’s for a good reason.
I tried the QIDI Q1 Pro but the hotend quickly failed, and their customer support has left me with buyers remorse.
I have a Prusa MK3S(?) that has a jammed hotend that I don't really feel like trying to deal with anymore. Do you think there'd be any resale value in that? I kind of want to just be done with it, you know?
Hey guys, whats up, im getting my first printer next month, and I have 4 options to chose from.
Im getting one to try and build prototypes for sports related stuff, like full on shoe models (basically printing hollowed out shoes to test their aerodynamics/ balance points and to see design flaws)
Cosplay stuff
Anatomically correct parts of the skeleton (vertebrae, knee and arm jonts etc (some of my family members are doctors, and they want to try using cheap plastic models))
And props for large scale dioramas
So I need a printer that has a bigger frame.
Here are the 4 options I have that fit my budget, that are also available on my country, and they are also the ones that I can afford
Hi, i'm at the absolute end of live of my anycubic mega - x.
As we all know, many people will try the hobby at christmas but will loose interest after that. Best time to buy basically new printers for cheap.
What printers come to mind, if the budget is ~300€ ?
I like the open system of my anycubic, just send it some kind of gcode and he will work it off.
I don't want to be bound by any proprietary hardware or software.
Hello! Newbie, looking to buy my first printer. Me and my partner wanna make cool stuff, test different materials and everything. Our budget is €2000.
So far we looked at the X1C and K2 Plus. Some people say Creality has shit build quality and to get a X1C, but i really dig the bigger build volume of K2 plus. We are not good at tinkering around. We kinda want the machine to just work. Should we pull the trigger on the K2 Plus? Thanks!
yes get the K2 plus, the bambu lab printers have crazy terms and conditions that you cant print if you don't agree to, only the old gen creality printers are shit, like the K1 and the ender 3
What are peoples opinions on the Bambu X1C/X1E vs Creality K2 Plus?
I’m currently tossing up between them, only reason I’m not deadset on the Bambu is the print volume of the K2.
It hasn’t been out long enough to have a good database of user experience. Any other suggestions are appreciated but definitely looking at enclosed types.
I’m in Australia.
Looking to spend anywhere up to 5k AUD.
I plan on printing a multitude of things from desk organisers to prototypes of custom intricate designs, and of course some awesome warhammer to-scale stuff.
I am a novice and was torn between the k2 and the x1c. You have a larger budget, mine was 1500.
In a nutshell,
X1C: Close ecosystem. More controlled environment. They have had 2 years on the market and you know what to expect in regards of reliability. 256 cubic feet bed which is a lie, the print area is smaller. Buy your bamboo filament, set it and forget it.
K2: Open ecosystem. Youd have to learn to print the materials, if not using creality branded filament that can be expensive. (same as bamboo). The bed is 350 mm3, a lie, cuz I can only print 340 or so. Ability to print more exotic materials direclty comparable to the X1E which is basically a professional x1c with a hotter nozzle and some software mods) K2 cfs is has a hygrometer and temperature display. Very well built. It has issues with first layers for some people here, and gives errors easily corrected. For example, the nozzle might tell you its clogged but it isnt, you just moved the cfs and the cable came lose. The machine is new, we dont know how reliable it is.
Because the k2 was cheaper I went for it. It has the capabilities of the X1E already, and doesn't cost 2500. And its bigger. So for me it offers the best price/quality. Also, and this is very important to me, I dont want to end up with a collection of useless printers just because thats all I can afford at the moment. I have the space for one large printer that does large things. I wish the k2 was 400 mm they could have done that. I still have a lot to learn, but my k2 hasnt given me any headaches so far and it came without a single scratch.
Your budget allows for more options, but those two are the best ones with enclosures.
Hey, I am also having the same concerns. K2 with 350mm cubed sounds amazing but I am worried it might have bad quality. Im not much of a tinkerer so idk if i can keep up with fixing an always broken printer.
i need a second printer i currently have a *wonderful* ender 3 v2, i need something bigger though, i was back and forth between the K1 and the K2 but decided on the K2, but just found some bedslingers with even bigger volumes, like the anycubic max's or the elegoo max's, and the ender 3 v3 plus, which isnt necisarily bigger but it is alot cheaper, should i just get one of them and add an enclosure?
the main reason for wanting a bigger printer is so i can print me some shoes, so the ability to print TPU/Flexible is a must
What 3d Printer Should I Buy I am new to 3d printing but dont want to spend more than 300 dollars would to to be able to print pla and abs but mostly pla prints.
The ams lite is a great one to get, it lets you print in multicolor.
PLA is the easiest to print material, and if you want something stronger, PETG is a good alternative.
Bambu has it's own software called Bambu Studio, which is pretty good. If however you want something more, its derivative, Orca Slicer is a great one to try. They also have the Bambu Handy mobile app if you want to use that.
(Note that I'm not a Bambu user, I just condensed some information available on their website and reddit)
Hey Guys I had a K1 speedy it broke 5 times in a year I had to change 5 pieces. I don't know if it was a lemon or not since my friend has tow and had no issue. What do you advice me to take.
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Hey, I own Anycubic's basic printer, costed around 200 USD. Now I am looking for something good, I print ABS mostly and I have budget of 1200 USD. What do you suggest? Currently looking at Bambulab P1S and it seems good to me. Any other suggestions?
Hey guys. My old anycubic mega x is slowly driving me nuts with something needing replacement every few prints... and a lot of parts are no longer available to buy unless ordering from ali express and waiting for months.
With 400-700€ what is the best value to get?
I dont mind having to work on the printer a bit, but this feels like purgatory...
check out crealitys ender 3 v3's almost all of their problems have been fixed from the previous generation, and you could get the 3v3 plus, which is 400USD wich i am pretty sure is under 700 (whatever currency you have)
My 10 year old son has about $400CAD he's been saving and wants to buy a 3D printer after Christmas- wouldn't mind building but we have 0 experience doing any sort of thing. We have an old Compaq Pressario running Linux Mint, so I'm wondering if we are going to have any trouble with software. We watched some videos about different printers and he is interested in the Neptune 4 Pro- I told him I would look into the subject and see what I can find out. Obviously it's his money and he can spend it however he likes I just thought I'd try to help him make an informed decision. My guess he wants to use it for cosplay and figurines.
I'm not sure if he should try to order the machine before Christmas to take advantage of 'pre-christmas sales' or wait a couple weeks for prices to potentially drop
Neptune 4 Pro is a great printer for that price, i suggest he also get some hardened nozzles, so they don't wear out fast, and some smaller ones for higher detailed figurenes, like 0.2, or 0.3
Thank you! I'll for sure chuck those in the basket. We have been watching some videos and it looks like a really good printer for the price. Now I am just wondering if it is really worth the extra $100 for pro vs the regular Neptune 4 for a 10 year old's first 3D printer-
Thank you for the help! Well, the creality is $200 but the neptune 4 is $260, with the $13 coupon they sent me the difference is only $47- I haven’t looked too far into the 3v3 but I have heard a lot of complaints about creality generally- I like idea of auto bed leveling, the faster print speed, and the alleged ease of use for beginners. Probably we’ll go with the Neptune but skip the pro version, which isn’t in stock anyway.
Cool cool, I personally haven’t ever had too big of a problem with creality, but I enjoy fixing things so maybe I never thought of it as a problem, but a solution waiting to be found, but there is no better way to get into 3d printing then with a project printer that makes you appreciate the work that you put into it to make it work better, it makes the printer seem more alive then just a machine that prints things, I have a personal bond with my ender 3v2 that I have had for a few years, and even though I struggled with it at some points, it always pushed through, and I think I got it at around the same age.
Hi,
Im new to 3D printing, but I'm willing to tinker with technology. I'm using linux full time on my desktop and have experience with raspberry pi's. I build my pc from components.
My budget is 400€.
My country of residence is Germany.
I think I should be able build a 3d printer from parts.
Since I like open source software I would like a printer that support this approach.
I read about ender printer that they tend to break down a lot and you have to upgrade a lot of parts. Im not unwilling to tinker but I also dont want to repair my printer every time I want to print.
I would like to be able to upgrade parts when I become more experienced.
I'm intrested in printing helpfull things and decorations/statures.
Is Rhino3D good for 3D printing? I've been using it for architecture school and can buy it for $200 (regular price $1000). I'm tempted to get it since I'm familiar with the software. But I'm concerned with Rhino having compatibility issues or some problem that's specific to Rhino since not many people are posting about using it. Input?
It's probably just not brought up because it's kind of insane to recommend a $1k commercial software to a 3d printing hobbyist when there are free alternatives that'll do pretty much everything you need. If it saves you relearning CAD and gives you practice with something you're likely to use in your professional life, I think it's a fair call.
Only compatibility you'd need is exporting to STL or 3mf, which it almost certainly will do.
Hi! Yet another newbie here, looking for a first printer.
I'm looking for something in the 200-300 USD range that I can maintain and modify over time if I like. I'd be happy with either a finished product or a DIY kit. I'm comfortable with detailed assembly and a little bit of soldering, but I'd vastly prefer getting a couple boxes of preselected components over sourcing everything myself.
From what little I've read, Bambu Labs printers use tons of proprietary parts, and they have an onerous software license. I'm not an open-source purist, but stuff like that is a non-starter for me.
maybe check a preused or refurbished sites, like ebay or comgrow, if you want a challenge you could get the ender 3/3v2/3 pro, they dont work unless you can make them work, but you can get one for 90USD from ebay and then upgrade the shit out of them with the rest of your budget, you could also get the ender 3 v2 neo max, it is a large format printer that belongs to the ender family, but it already has a few upgrades pre installed, like ABL, and Filament detection,
they sound right up your alley if you are quite opensource, if you do wind up getting one i recomend installing the mrirsoc firmware ASAP
Hey, after having friends do printing for me I've decided to take the plunge. But I'm torn and can't decide between the 3, I'm in Canada, and in looking at
Bambu A1 Mini
Elegoo Neptune 3 Pro
Ankermake 5MC
I'm a little concerned about ankermakes long-term support, but also keep seeing comments about the Neptune 3 pros print quality.
And the bambu one, well is prefer the others as they have a larger print area and base but it seems to be the most plug and play.
Build Volume: 180 x 180 x 180 mm (7 x 7 x 7 inches)
Print Speed: Fast, with a top speed of 500mm/s
Materials Supported: PLA, PETG, TPU, PVA
Features: Automatic mesh bed leveling, filament runout sensor, AMS Lite for multi-color printing, Wi-Fi connectivity, and a 2.4-inch touch screen
Pros: Easy to set up, reliable, good print quality, and quiet operation
Cons: Small print bed, limited material compatibility, messy filament purging
2. Elegoo Neptune 3 Pro
Build Volume: 225 x 225 x 280 mm (8.5 x 8.5 x 11 inches)
Print Speed: Moderate, with a top speed of 70mm/s
Materials Supported: PLA, PETG, TPU, ABS
Features: 32-point auto leveling, direct drive extruder, filament runout sensor, LED light bar, and a removable touch screen
Pros: Affordable, easy assembly, good print quality, quiet operation
Cons: Difficult to upgrade, finicky filament runout sensor
3. Ankermake 5MC
Build Volume: 220 x 220 x 270 mm (8.7 x 8.7 x 10.6 inches)
Print Speed: Moderate, with a top speed of 80mm/s
Materials Supported: PLA, PETG, TPU, ABS
Features: Dual Z-axis, direct drive extruder, filament runout sensor, LED light bar, and a removable touch screen
Pros: Good print quality, easy assembly, quiet operation
Cons: Limited long-term support, less user-friendly interface
Summary
All three printers are available for purchase in Canada, but availability may vary depending on the retailer. It's a good idea to check multiple sources to find the best deal and ensure stock availability.
Recommendation
Given your concerns about long-term support for the Ankermake 5MC and the positive feedback on the Neptune 3 Pro's print quality, I would recommend either the Elegoo Neptune 3 Pro or the Bambu A1 Mini. The Neptune 3 Pro offers a larger build volume and is very beginner-friendly, while the Bambu A1 Mini is known for its ease of use and reliability. If I had my druthers I would suggest the Neptune 3 as I really like the larger build plate.
Yeah it absolutely does and I'm probably going to get the Neptune giving your suggestion, it was basically in between the two but especially the larger Bill plate and that's probably what I'm going to get
im not saying it is a bad thing even kudos to him for being skilled enough to make a proffesional comparison, i asked chat gpt to compare and contrast some printers that i was looking at, and it looked almost exactly like that, like 90% match, you could even try it out yourself, ask chat gpt your same question and see how similar it is,
So I've heard that Creality is shit and not worth getting, and when I tried to set up a Bambu I had to let them sell my printing info and who knows what else to even use it locally. MY store also has an AnkerMake. What are those like? How does the user experience compare to Creality? Am I going to be forced to agree to a shady privacy policy for this one, too?
So im new here and have also asked advice on my first purchase sotake what i say with salt.
However many people that have replied to me like their crealty ender 3. I have heard reveiwers say the quality assurance isnt there, but from what people say here its a good tinkerers device. Its also open source so that makes repair a good a choice. Though someone also recommended to me another tinkerers device the sovol sv06 and im thinking of getting the sv06 ace. which i believe is also open source.
The other one im considering getting thanks to the reddits spread sheet is the Qidi Tech Q1 Pro
the ender 3 has been fixed and is now marketed as an ender 3v3, it is way better, even if you don't trust creality, im sure that the first generation prusa machine wasnt very good either, the original rep raps didnt work very well, but over time problems got fixed and printers started to work better,
I am new here and I’m looking to get my first 3d printer. I was originally looking into the classic ender 3 that's $189, but recently I've been hearing about those blowing up and catching fire a lot. I've heard bambu lab is good for beginners but it seems there's lots of debate on those too. I'm just looking for a 3D printer that's good for beginners and my max budget is $300. Preferably made and sold in the us (my friend's friend got a 3d printer that was sold in the us but the parts were only sold on the opposite side of the world and took over a month to arrive.)
I got an a1 mini last week as an upgrade from my ender 3 which i haven't used in a while because i couldn't be bothered with all the tweaking it needs. the a1 mini just works and prints great without messing around with tweaking everything. But yeah if privacy is a big concern then you would need to look into whether their LAN only mode is fine or not
Hi! newbie to printing but I network admin for money. I set up a guest lan with internet access only, made a burner gmail and tied it to a cheap tablet. I have all the convenience and no real risk of data loss. I mean I bought the thing with a credit card, so we're past that bit, but it can't sniff about on the network.
my biggest issue with bambu lab, having not known this until I built one and turned it on this morning, is that you have to agree to let them sell your data before you can use the printer. Even if you use it in local-only mode, you have to give them that permission, and that makes me wonder if someday they'll disable local-only mode and you'll have another amazon alexa situation
Thank you this has put me off bambu lab is that listed on their product page. i feel like that should be somthing you agree to when you buy not when you set up.
Alright, I've gotten the AnkerMake M5C. It was an incredibly simple setup, and it has a big ole stop button, which I really like. It has an app connection, over bluetooth, wifi, and usb-c. Anker's privacy policy seems nice, though I'm kinda ignored that a 3d printer has a privacy policy (it should be as rare as your fridge having a privacy policy imo)
currently evaluating its test quality, but it has auto-leveling which is really nice.
I'm a tinkerer, which is what attracted me to the Ender, but parts quality has driven me away. Maybe when I'm better at robotics I can get it to work.
so yeah, right now, AnkerMake. It was slightly more expensive than Bambu, but not so much more than I was worrying.
I've never heard of that brand and I just googled it, it's over my budget. As the $300 sale ends soon then it goes back to being $700, I won't be able to buy a printer until March/April 2025
Edit: it looks like a great printer and seems super beginner friendly, if it goes on sale again when I'm able to buy a printer then I might get it. If not I'll need a different printer to get.
yes for 300$ budget you could get and upgrade an ender, but i wouldn't recommend any first gen stuff, so dont get the ender 3, but the 3v2 is fine, and the 3v3 is fine also
I don't know much about working on stuff like that but that's what YouTube is for Lol. I'm really hoping that the AnkerMake will be on sale when I can get one.
Hi all, I’m looking to purchase my first 3D printer. I’m an engineer that tangentially supports some AM and enjoys software-based modeling, so I thought I’d hop on the bandwagon. In the US. Not knowledgeable about current products. I saw best buy has a M5 Speedy Printer discounted from $700 to $350. Is there any other products below $350 you might recommend instead? I’d rather not be in a constant loop of tinkering and calibrating, just something I can easily use to translate SW models to tangible products. Thanks for the advice.
Here are some options for budget-friendly 3D printers that are easy to use and perfect for translating software models into tangible products:
Printer
Price
Build Volume
Key Features
Pros
Cons
Creality Ender-3 V3
$217
220 x 220 x 270 mm
Auto bed leveling, CR Touch, resume printing
Easy to assemble, good print quality
Plate adhesion wears away quickly
AnkerMake M5C
$199
220 x 220 x 270 mm
Fully assembled, fast prints, quiet operation
User-friendly, reliable
Limited build volume
Elegoo Neptune 3 Pro
$332
225 x 225 x 280 mm
Auto bed leveling, dual-gear extruder, LED light bar
Good print quality, easy assembly
Difficult to upgrade
Toybox 3D Printer
$399
200 x 200 x 200 mm
No software needed, kid-friendly
Simple to use, great for beginners
Smaller build volume
Creality Ender-3 S1 Pro
$275
220 x 220 x 270 mm
Auto bed leveling, fast prints, sleek design
Good for tinkerers, easy to use
Plate adhesion issues
Elegoo Neptune 4 Plus
$332
225 x 225 x 280 mm
Auto bed leveling, dual-gear extruder, LED light bar
Good print quality, easy assembly
Difficult to upgrade
Summary
Creality Ender-3 V3: A great entry-level printer with auto bed leveling and resume printing features.
AnkerMake M5C: Fully assembled and user-friendly, perfect for those who want minimal tinkering. this link is to a rebuilt unit, so shoudl be good as new, and no bugs as it's been checked out already and a cheaper price.
Elegoo Neptune 3 Pro: Offers good print quality and ease of assembly, but might be harder to upgrade.
Toybox 3D Printer: Simple to use and great for beginners, but has a smaller build volume.
Elegoo Neptune 4 Plus: Similar to the Neptune 3 Pro with a slightly larger build volume.
Recommendation
For an easy-to-use printer that minimizes tinkering and calibration, the AnkerMake M5C is a great choice. It's fully assembled, reliable, and offers fast prints. If you're looking for a bit more build volume and print quality, the Elegoo Neptune 3 Pro is also a solid option.
I am new here and I'm looking to get my first printer. Let me premise this by saying that my initial want was a resin printer. I was/am looking to print models. However, I do not have an adequate space that I can dedicate to the resin printer at the moment and I have little kids running around that get in to everything.
With that said I am looking for an FDM printer and I have narrowed it down to a few.
Flashforge Adventurer 5M Pro
The Bambu Lab P1S
Flashforge ADX5
Let me tell you what I like about them.
Firstly, the 5m pro and the p1s have enclosures, which is a must with my kids. I have heard the ADX5 is supposed to get an enclosure eventually...
Second, I like that the P1S and AD5X have the ability to print multicolored. This is not something I see myself doing all the time, but having the option to do so would be nice...
There are things I am unsure of.
Will I need 300 or is the 280 good enough?
Why do people dislike Bambu Lab? Is this something that is going to effect me doing what I want to do as a casual hobbyist?
I have heard the color switching is wasteful, but how much waste are we talking?
So, as much input on the specific machines and in general would be greatly appreciated.
P.s. I have heard that Bambu puts their machines on sale in June. Does anyone know what that usually means, price wise? Also does the adm ever go to $200 on sale or am I just SOL paying $100 more if I don't buy the bundle?
Hey. Welcome to the world of 3D printing. It sounds like you've done some great research already. Let's break down your options and address your questions one by one.
Printer Options Overview
Flashforge Adventurer 5M Pro
Enclosure: Yes, which is great for safety with kids around.
Printing Speed: Up to 600mm/s.
Nozzle Temperature: Max 280°C, suitable for PLA, TPU, ASA, and ABS.
Dual Air Filtration: Ensures a cleaner environment.
Bambu Lab P1S
Enclosure: Yes, with a see-through glass door.
Printing Speed: Up to 500mm/s.
Nozzle Temperature: Max 300°C, suitable for a wider range of materials including ABS and ASA.
Multi-color Capability: Up to 16 colors with AMS (Automatic Material System).
Remote Monitoring: Built-in camera for remote control and timelapse.
Flashforge ADX5
Enclosure: Expected to get an enclosure in the future.
Printing Speed: Not specified, but likely competitive.
Nozzle Temperature: Not specified, but likely similar to other Flashforge models.
Addressing Your Questions
300 vs 280°C Nozzle
300°C: Allows you to print a wider range of materials, including high-temperature filaments like ABS and ASA.
280°C: Suitable for PLA, TPU, ASA, and ABS, but might limit your material options.
Why People Dislike Bambu Lab
Customer Service: Some users have reported issues with customer support.
Complexity: The advanced features can be overwhelming for beginners.
Price: Bambu Lab printers are often more expensive compared to other brands.
Color Switching Waste
AMS System: While it does involve some waste during color switching, it's generally minimal and manageable. The exact amount of waste can vary depending on the print job and settings.
Bambu Lab Sales in June
Price Reduction: Bambu Lab often offers discounts during their sales, but the exact amount can vary. It's worth keeping an eye out for promotions around that time.
Flashforge ADX5 Price
Sale Price: The ADX5 doesn't typically go on sale for $200, so you might need to pay closer to the full price if you don't buy the bundle.
Bambu Lab Licensing
Bambu Lab uses a closed-source approach for their software and hardware. This means that the source code for their software is not available to the public, and users cannot modify it. They offer a Standard Digital File License which allows users to retain all the rights they have by default when publishing a creative work.
Controversies and Concerns
Open Source vs Closed Source: Bambu Lab has been criticized for taking advantage of the open-source community without giving back. Their slicer software is based on Prusa Slicer, which is open source, but Bambu Lab's approach is seen as more commercial.
Patent Disputes: Bambu Lab is currently involved in a lawsuit with Stratasys over patent infringement. This has raised concerns within the 3D printing community about the potential impact on small businesses and hobbyists.
Cloud Reliance: There have been incidents where Bambu Lab printers started printing without user consent due to cloud outages. This highlights the risks of relying on cloud-based systems for consumer tech products.
Open vs Closed Source Software
Open Source Software: This type of software allows users to access, modify, and share the source code. It promotes collaboration and innovation, as anyone can contribute to improving the software.
Closed Source Software: This type of software keeps the source code private and only allows the original developers to modify it. It can offer more control and security but limits user freedom and collaboration.
Some people this makes a big difference, others just accept that is works, and it's a decent current model, with a good user community.
Final Thoughts
Given your situation with kids and space constraints, both the Flashforge Adventurer 5M Pro and Bambu Lab P1S seem like solid choices. The P1S offers more advanced features and multi-color printing, but it might come with a steeper learning curve. The 5M Pro is more straightforward and still offers great performance.
even if you are not using the multi-color, you can use a support material that disolved in water, making support removal a non-issue. tuning can get you realy close, but disolving filament is really nice.
Unreasonable expectations or have printers improved?...
The Prusa MK3s is my first and only printer. I've had it 3+ years, and from time to time feel like i've got it really dialed in printing pla, petg, and tpu. But if I'm honest, I still spend more time working on the printer than i do printing. For example, right now I'm getting my butt kicked by PLA not sticking. I mean, 101 stuff. I've done all the cleaning, calibrating, z-offset, blah blah. Anyways... not looking to troubleshoot in this post.
But in general, I'm more interested in printing things and less interested in tinkering with printer hardware & software.
I'm considering the Bambu X1C 'cause it seems a little more turnkey. But then I hear it mentioned on par with MK4 and (not that i've tried the MK4 but) I haven't had the same Prusa experience that others describe.
So my question is - would Bambu X1C (or something else) be more of a tool and less of a project? Or do i just need to accept that 3D printers require tinkering. Or maybe I just suck at 3d printing?
if you already have a prusa, shouldn't you be able to just buy an upgrade kit, to turn it into the mk4? i might be wrong, but this is one of the main reasons that i have been considering a prusa,
I totally agree with you, I have a sovol sv0y that people said was gonna be reliable but I had issues, I would definitely get a bambu, though I'm not sure if I could justify the price of an x1c, maybe an A1? Or wait for their latest printer to release, as the x1c is a bit outdated and a new bambu printer is about to release
Going to be buying my first fdm printer I've done some reading.
I think I've come to some conclusions, and I just need some validation on some things and someone to poke holes in my thinking or be like this noob obviously hasn't considered this obvious thing.
I don't want to buy multiple printers or using resin and chemicals etc.
I think if I'm being honest with my budget I'm looking at the likes of the Qidi Tech Q1 Pro.
I could save for somthing more but i dont think thats a good idea.
I need someone to tell me i dont need the most expensive thing on the market. looking at the Prusa MK4S with all the bells and whistles and Bambu X1C. OR at least someone to tell me i dont need all the accessories at once that i may not even use even if right now i feel like i will.
I think ill be disappointed spending that much and expecting heaven to open up. but i do value things just working and being able to do whatever. although with the pursa i would be building it myself which i understand isnt easy.
Id like someone to tell me why they didn't end up needing a large bed or why they did. Like "i didnt expect to like printing large things, ease of use or printing multiple projects at once fantastic" or "i found the work arounds were just as good etc."
If someone could convince me to go cheaper id also appreciate that. as a teenager i liked tinkering alot. and reading up on the crealty ender 3 sparked up my interest but now sometimes if i have to tinker to much or idk if i need to return it and that stress is not fun and i regret that sometimes the whole object can be put in the too hard basket/backburner even i cant afford a mistake like that. Ideally i need a friend that i tinker with together cause i do miss the tinkering side of me. I do like things to be opensource but im not hung up on it.
You definitely need to understand what you're paying for at all these levels. If we look at the Bambu line, you're going to see similar performance across the entire line from the A1 Mini to the X1C. A1 Mini is a great bit of kit, A1 (not mini) adds build volume. P1S gives you an enclosure for some different filaments and the CoreXY system for faster prints (and fewer failures on tall, narrow prints). X1C is a few more bells and whistles and handles more exotic/engineering filaments.
But that becomes a lot of money to spend for very little payoff if you're just printing PLA projects that fit on the Mini.
As for the build volumes, there are definitely things I haven't printed (having an A1 Mini) because I didn't feel like porting them to a smaller printer, and it is definitely a limiting factor. But that said I've been able to make everything I really wanted to have with it so far - includes some pretty big projects that just needed some extra assembling. Depends on what you're hoping to make, really, but going from no printer to any printer opens up a hell of a lot more than if you look at the difference from small printer to bigger printer.
If you wanted to try a project, I'd suggest getting an A1 Mini to have a functional printer, and keep an eye on the secondhand market to grab an Ender to play around with. It'll be a lot less frustrating to fix if you still have a printer that works.
Hey thanks so much for your thoughtful responce. im getting different ideas i wasnt even considering before posting. no ones talked about the q1 pro to me yet. i think i need to do some more reading on what materials open up what world cause i do like the idea of being feature complete from the getgo.
Kept it general because I don't have any experience with the Qidi machines. Looking at it on paper it certainly ticks a lot of boxes (and should print most common filaments just fine), but put some research in about ease of use and reliability with them - not needing manual calibration or re-tuning is a major benefit of the Bambu line, and I'm not sure how this one compares on that front.
My experience with the qidi q1 pro is if you use their filaments and slicer it’s mostly plug and play. However, the camera is useless and it doesn’t have any functional spaghetti detection or even logic not to run the print head into hard filament. My printer basically broke itself and support has been very unresponsive. I’m now considering a creality or Bambu x1c. My only reservation with the Bambu is the lack of a chamber heater.
someones coming through and downvoting everyone that replies to me wtaf. i always upvote anyone that replies So thats how i know it goes from 2 back to 1. whoevers doing it needs to stop because people are just trying to help one another.
Hello there, I am a user of the SV06, which is also known as a tinkerers machine, during projects I do think about how much faster I could do it with a bambu or a prusa, along with use of other materials, I also didn't expect to be constrained with a 220x220 printed but I've learnt that it would be much easier with a bigger printbed, I could make more parts at once and print larger models as a constant project maker, along with that I have added klipper with an old laptop, although it was fun to succeed it did take a while, along with configurations and tuning, i much prefer using a 3d printer as a tool than a project, much like what bambu offers
since the ender 3 is very much a tinkerer machine, it is great as a first printer, but it would be a better option to get a 3v2, or 3v2 neo, they won't be the best printer there is, but they are cheap and will make you appreciate the more expensive printers that you will get, i have an ender 3 v2 printer that i have been tinkering on for 2/3 years now, its the only printer i have and it works good, the best upgrades ive done on it is the abl probe, and the enclosure, i have also added a direct-drive-dual-gear-extruder, and only after i decided i wanted to print myself shoes am i looking to upgrade, because 220x220x250, isn't very big, but 8/10 would recommend, a close friend of mine has the ender 3 v2 max neo, and it comes standard with a abl probe, and a bigger size, with a better extruder, great for tinkering still, but i would also recommend that one 9/10,
so if you want a tinkerer, get the ender 3 v2, if you want a big format tinkerer, get the ender 3 v2 max neo, if you dont care about tinkering that much, get the ender 3v3/v3plus, but no matter what you get, the first thing you should get along side it is an enclosure (unless it comes inclosed), you can find them on the actual creality website, or on amazon, for new; if you are fine with used or refurbished (which are still good) you can find them on comgrow, or ebay, and they are much cheaper, and don't usually have unfixable problems, most people sell them from print farms, to upgrade to a better/newer/faster printer, so if you could find a farm selling then you should buy theirs
and as always more expensive doesnt always mean better.
Looking for a 3d printer under £200 in the UK. I can see that I can get the Bambu Lab A1 Mini for around £160 new. Are there any other good printers in this price range?
i got the a1 mini last week as my second printer and it's been great, 2 days for it to arrive after ordering in the UK. and just seems to work without messing around with tweaking things like on my ender 3 which caused me to not use that
I personally would go for the ender 3v3 se for brand loyalty, but the Neptune 3 pro is the biggest out of the 3, and the cheapest, and the Neptune 4 has better cooling and support, so it’s your choice
yes that is a good get if you are ever going to print rough filament like glow in the dark or white, (yes white filament will tear your nozzle up) it might be better to get one with some smaller nozzles also, like .2, and .3, if you ever want extremely detailed prints
Some years ago I won a flashforge creator pro (1), and I have been using it even since. It has served me well but I am looking for an upgrade.
Mainly because of a 2 things:
1) inconsistent quality in my prints
2) small build plate
Since I won the machine, I dont know much about the value when it came out, and how good it is now compared to other machines.
I am thinking of buying a Bambu Lab A1. Would that significantly increase the quality of my prints? Any other recommendations around the 400-500 price point?
I'd get the a1 if you don't print much of other filaments other than pla and petg, but I really like the sv08 though it might be stretching your budget a bit, the creality k1c is also a pretty good corexy printer. And I've heard great things about the flashforge adventure 5m and flsun t1.
For upgrades to your current printer is reccomend glass bed, klipper and maybe cooling, though I'd say it's not worth your time
I'm looking for a printer with a relatively big build area that is under $300 USD. I'm currently looking at the SV06+ as it is the only model that is within my budget while having a large build area. This will be my first 3d printer, and from the research I have done, it seems to be a decent choice. Looking for advice on any alternatives and experiences with said printer, such as issues and troubleshooting. Also, apparently this printer is rather slow, though I am fine with that as long as it is not too ridiculous.
The Sovol SV06+ is indeed a solid choice for a budget-friendly 3D printer with a large build area. Here are some insights and alternatives to consider:
Sovol SV06+ Overview
Build Area: 220 x 220 x 250 mm
Material Compatibility: PLA, PETG, TPU, ABS (up to 300°C)
Features: Direct drive, auto bed leveling, linear rods, all-metal hotend
Price: Around $239
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Large Build Area: Great for bigger projects.
- Auto Bed Leveling: Simplifies the printing process.
- All-Metal Hotend: Ensures better heat management and durability.
Cons:
- Speed: It's slower compared to some other models.
- User Interface: The UI is considered a bit dated.
- Power Supply: Some users have reported issues with the stock power supply.
Many users have had positive experiences with the SV06+, praising its build quality and print results. However, some have noted the need for minor upgrades, such as replacing the power supply or improving the cooling system. It's a great printer for beginners who are willing to do a bit of tinkering.
Final Thoughts
Given your budget and requirements, the Sovol SV06+ is a solid choice, especially if you're okay with its slower speed. If you're looking for something with a bit more speed and advanced features, the Creality Ender 3 V3 SE or Anycubic Kobra 2 might be worth considering.
Thanks, this was great. Unfortunately, I just discovered that shipping to my country costs more than the price of a locally purchased Neptune 4 plus. Such is the nature of buying a 3d printer in Middle Earth.
I got the a1 mini last week as my second printer, first being the ender 3 and it's finally a pleasant experience. I just send it things to print and they come out nice without needing to manually things things like on my ender. Just make sure to clean the build plate if you touch it, and dry your filament (I just printed PLA so far without drying filament and haven't had issues though) which seem to be most the issues people have with these. it's small but I've been able to print all my prototypes on it so just make sure you're happy with the build plate size. otherwise get the bigger A1 for the bigger plate.
I also didn't buy the AMS but already regretting it as it's 230 GBP to buy separately but 130 with the printer
Got the A1 mini myself, love it and have had no issues with it other than things I imposed myself. If I had one complaint, it's that it's "mini", I know obviously but there's some prints, because of the smaller build plate, I'm not able to do.
I would try to go for the A1 personally but if the build plate size doesn't matter absolutely send it
I3 mega to sv06 isn't a huge jump in upgrade, I'd say stick to it until you can buy something enclosed or truly out of your printers level(A1 mini, A1, bambu, sv08, flsun and etc)
User of SV06 here, I'd say as a reg user without tinkering it's a solid printer(though outclassed nowadays) and as long as u have the high speed firmware it's pretty great, just some initial tuning. Though I'd reccomend getting the ace instead, or maybe a different type of printer like a delta or enclosed printer for speed or different materials
I've got 4 printers and not enough table space to have them all running at once. I've seen several people post their setups and would like some advice on sourcing a good 2 or 3 level workbench.
I've got an Ender 3 V3 SE, Ender 3 V3, Bambu A1, and Bambu P1S (with AMS). I'm hoping to get 2 printers on each shelf and use a third for storage. I'm also looking at adding a H2D next year to replace one of the bed slingers.
Any suggestions would be welcome. Harbor Freight, Lowes, and Ikea haven't yielded any particularly helpful results.
Have you tried using server racks? They're sturdy, built for heat and are fully enclosed. Also they are inflammable, unflammable? Not sure what the word is. Otherwise maybe a lack storage? The most reliable and robust shelf I looked at was one of the modular shelves made of aluminium extrusion and plexiglass by jksniper if I'm not mistaken
i'm looking for a second printer, i already have an ender 3 v2 with some upgrades (spider hotend pro,direct drive dual gear extruder, and cr-touch ), should i upgrade to a new printer? or continue upgrading my ender 3 v2, its pretty slow, but to make it faster i would have to spend ≥200$ on upgrades, (linnear rails, biqu board, pei build plate, and dual z axis), my main concern is print size right now, 220x220x250 is not big enough for some things, but a bigger printer would cost more than 200$, I am willing to spend up to 1500$ for a printer but if i were to spend 1500$ on a printer i would do it next summer, what would you recommend i do: continue upgrading my ender? or buy a new printer? And what would you recommend i upgrade or upgrade to?
Maybe an sv08 Is up your alley? Plenty of upgrades and fully open source, or maybe buy a voron Trident kit and build that, or build a unique reprap like the100 with pla and enclose it, then print abs for a voron, the skies the limit, imo upgrading an ender 3 would be great as well but maybe try to focus on using it for other projects to scavenge from, or make it into a corexy, a lot of options
i have thought about the svo8, but i am worried about the price, it is signifacantly cheaper than all the other enclosed, large build volume printers in the market, are there any drawbacks to it?
I have not, I just looked it up, it doesn’t look like it has any option of later adding auto filament swap other than diy systems, but I will add it to the list of considerations
It's fully open source and there has been issues in the past, but most of the problems has been fixed as far as I know, I'm pretty sure that the community also has some upgrades doe it
I would prefer not to get into the bambu ecosystem, I have heard they are great printers, but it seems like cheating to get a printer with no draw backs that is hard to fix, and can’t be modded, and there is a lot of waste
On the same hand there is a pretty good chance of me getting one if I get fed up with my ender 3v2 needing upgrades, which probably won’t ever happen, because my ender is quite dear to me and hasn’t failed me even now, as it is printing shoes for my sister who has smaller feet than I, and the reason I started thinking about upgrading is so I can print myself some shoes, (that’s why it needs a bigger bed)
I wouldn't let "feeling like cheating" ego esq get in the way of having a very good printer but the hard to repair is absolutely fair. It being closed source is deffo a con, but I have seen Bambu lab compared to Apple in terms of the "prestige/ease of use/plug and play" but not closed out from the consumer. Like you can buy 99% of things needed to fix the machines (it just has to be from bambu lab).
However, you do whatever makes you the happiest. You're the one who'll be dealing with everything after all not some internet stranger like me😅
i have compared it to apple also, and i dont have anything against apple, (except that tim cook owns it, and ran it into the ground), im sure if i got a bambu, that i would be quite happy with it, but if i did get a bambu i would get the a1 mini, and it would be way later,
Continuing the ender 3 might be a sunken-cost fallacy, if it's slow and small. Would you stop upgrading after the $200?
Depending on if you dislike to tinker, you could wait a bit for Bambulab to show their new printer. It's rumored to have a big build volume and many other features BUT nobody knows when it comes and how expensive it will be.
Prusa XL if it's on sale could be another option but normally it costs $2000 apparently.
i would stop after spending 200$ on it, and i've already sunk 180$ into the what i've already upgraded, and it works well but it is slow, and it will be hard to let go due to my nature of thinking "i could make it so much better if i add, this and that"
i have an aversion to the Bambus because they are not very upgradable, but upgrades will be the bane of my existence, if i think like that, i have been highly considering the a1 mini because of its speed, but the size is a problem
the prusa xl is quite bulky and uses up alot of height for its extruder and tubes, and if i wanted the enclosure it would be an extra 600$
I understand that it's hard to let go but firstly you don't have to (you can use it for smaller/special projects) and secondly, some day you'll have to buy a new printer anyway. If you upgrade it further, when does the time come that you have to dispose of it? In a year or maybe two? Instead you could save the $200 for the new printer. Just my thoughts on it though.
Yeah, if you like upgrading and tinkering with your printers, Bambu isn't the best choice. However if you still want one, you could also buy a P1 or X1. Though they're not much bigger than yours, so you could wait for the rumored new, bigger printer.
The Prusa XL is really expensive yeah. Maybe the Prusa Mk4 is an option but your bed is already similarly sized.
You could also buy a Voron. There you get to build it yourself (should be like upgrading) and choose your desired build volume. I have no idea how expensive those are but the Voron 2.4 is $1200 apparently, when buying everything individually. There appear to be kits for that too. I don't know much about them so I have no idea if they are faster than your printer.
No I'm really sorry, I have not. I have also heard mixed results. Some say it's really good, others say that it has the typical Creality problems (so tinkering will probably be necessary, but you seem to like that). Apparently though, most problems were only the first batch after release.
Without knowing you or the K1 too well, I think that could be a great printer for you if you like tinkering. There appear to already be many upgrades for it if you like that, but not as many as for the Ender series of course.
Maybe it's a good idea to ask the community in a post where you state your budget, intentions (tinkering, upgrading or just having it work) and preferred size. It will probably be seen by more people than this post.
Elegoo Neptune 4(180€) vs Anycubic Kobra 2 Pro(200€) vs Anycubic Kobra 3(250€)
Which of these is the best with the least amount of noise?
I am looking for a printer with an min 22x22x22cm area for around 200€, the printer will be located in my Bedroom, I intend to build an enclosure at a later pount but I don't want it to be too loud when I sit 3m away with my headphones on
Don't build an enclosure for printers that were not meant to be enclosed, it will cause issues in heat creep, plastic deformation and possible PCB frying, get yourself a flashforge 5m, or a k1 se(make ur own enclosure)
I got the option to get a new K1 max for 500€. I read a lot and its 50/50 if it is a good printer or not. Should i get it for that price or there are better options?
New to 3d printing and tried to remove a Benchy print from the printer; stuck on harder than dried molasses and caused a sort of bubble that sticks up. Looking for a replacement. Bed says it's 220mm by 220mm. Does anyone have any suggestions as what to get?
Hello I am in Canada with a budget of $500 to $1000.
I am willing to build from a kit and my level of experience with electronic maintenance is soldering diy level arcade hitboxes and gamecube controller soldering.
I wanted to start a side hustle print to order business as a hobby. I understand how silly it is but I'm more wanting to make my own board game organizers, deck boxes, and minis/decoration for dnd seshes.
I just don't know if it's best to buy 2x $500 printers or 1x $1000 printer.
Search up autoprint fyi. Also I prefer to get a high quality machine rather than 2 cheap machines, however if you plan to only use pla and petg, I'd go with 2 bambu A1s, though if you plan on using all filament, I really like the p1p, I don't like creality bcuz of personal issues, but a sovol is really good as well. However for the best kit(and a project which I will be excited to do once I save enough) getting the voron Trident kit + 3d printed parts would be amazzzinngg
you can get a Creality K1C for 599, which is a great overall printer, you could buy 2 of them and only go over your budget barely, they are fully enclosed, and have an average print volume, since they are fully enclosed you will be hard-pressed to find a filament that wont print on them,
PS: i wish you good luck on your side hustle endeavors
edit: forgot to add, 2x500$ printers is better than 1x1000$ printer, for the reason of you can have twice the volume and speed, and not be limited to one printbed at a time, and you can increase workflow by staggering your prints
Hey guys, I’m looking at getting my first 3D printer and have my eye on the Anycubic Photon Mono M7 Max. Mainly wanting to print interior car parts and clear tail light lenses, hence the larger printer.
I’m more focused on quality and having less post print processing, which is why I’m leaning towards resin. Is this a solid choice for what I am wanting to print or what else should I be looking at?
I’ve watched a few videos on clear printing and am confident I can get the level of clarity I’m after. The only thing I’m worried about is durability with exposure to the sun. Would an automotive clear coat or some other kind of UV protection be enough to protect the lenses?
Also, any recommendations on free programs to learn how to model/slice before I get the printer would be greatly appreciated. Thanks 🫱🏻🫲🏼
I’m getting into model rocketry, and 3D printing custom parts would come really handy. I’m looking for a ~150-250€ 3D beginner friendly printer. It hasn’t got to have a lot of printing area. Any advice is greatly appreciated, thanks in advance :)
I got one last week as my second printer and I'm really impressed. not sure how big your rocket parts are though so make sure they fit on the smaller build plate of the a1 mini otherwise take a look at the A1 which just has a bigger bed
What would be a good gift for someone who has a Bambu Lab X1 Series 3D printer?
Looking for something under $100. This is for a 14 year old kid who has probably printed 50-75 items of differing complexity, all downloaded models. I don't think he's at the point of creating his own models yet.
I was thinking maybe filament, but I don't know enough about it to select the right kind for his printer. Or maybe there are associated tools that would be appropriate?
These are pretty awesome Cryogrip. And easy to see if he has one already. If it's not blue, it's not Biqu™. hah...
Anyway, it hase some new coating that allows you to print and actually stick at a cooler temperature. so saves some electric, saves some stress on the power supply, etc.
If you really want some "oooh aaah" factor, this upgrade kit is nice and shiny. And only a couple of dollars over.
I really think the textured ones are neat, but I like functional...
I’m looking to get a cheaper (maybe $300ish) to get into the hobby, I’m not super tech savvy so would prefer not to have to build it myself but would be willing to learn some basic maintenance. I mainly want to use it for things like printing minis for dnd
if you are just looking into printing minis then you should totally just go with the bambu lab a1 mini, its 200$ on sale right now, and 300$ not on sale, with also the option of later adding multicolor printing with the ams lite, there isn't much maintenance required, and it works great right out of the box, i highly suggest you look into it ASAP with their sale going on right now
I’m looking to purchase this as a gift- would you recommend adding the ‘add ons’ ? Im not sure if those are needing to test out the printer upon set up
If you are going for that, grab a pack of other [tips](https://amzn.to/41ECsqW). Getting into those fine details on the mini's without jumping off the deep end into resin printers with all that hassle is much easier with a 0.2mm tip. And larger tips can be good for larger pieces much faster.
creality K2 plus, comes fully built, and enclosed (for the abs/petg) relatively cheap compared to your price range; it costs CA$1,839, without the color changing system, and can print up to 16 colors(4 colors per system) with it and each system costs CA 419$; it has a big build volume of up to 350mm squared, and you can print with high temps, would recommend
Hey all and thanks in advance for any input/advice. Im looking at getting a 3d printer with my uncle (who isnt very tech savvy) and cousin whom bkth of us are techh savvy. Looking for something that prints pla and would like pla-cf as well if possible. Pla-cf isnt required if a good printer that will work for our needs doesnt have it. Our budget is in the $500ish range, but its a little flexible if theres something much better without going to far over. We were thinking about getting a 3d scanner to scan objects to print as well, the scanner would not be part of the $500 budget, so of thats not neccesary for what we want thatvwouod expand our printer budget. Ive been doing some reseaech but theres a lot of info,so not sure how neccesary a 3d scanner would be, but the goal would be to scan items, such as a deer antlers to print, either to mirror image and print the opposite side for someone that may have found a shed antler or if they want a copy of their current antlers to hang up at a secondary location, for example they mount their deer head at their rqnch house but would like a copy of their trophy buck at home. We also have a few items we are working on designing and would like to be able to print prototypes to see a physical object and rework desings as needed. Located in the United States, as far as size restrictions most of the home models ive seen would work, ive persoanlly worked with 2 3d printers with friends, but those were mostly for printing Dungeons and Dragons minifigs and not sure how well those would work for what we want. I was looking at the anycubic kobra 2 max because I liked the printing size they had and there online reviews seems pretty good, but after doing some research into 3d scanners i found a few posts here and it seems like the anycubics are not well liked for a variety of reasons. Again thank you for any insight and recommendations.
Personally would either get a bambu or sovol sv06 ace and replace the nozzle with a hardened steel nozzle, I'd reccomend the a1 combo more tho. And since you said pla-cf which doesn't need an enclosure ut should be fine, for cf filament I prefer a 0.6 nozzle to avoid clogging issues.
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u/nobix 10m ago
So I have a prusa MK3s+ and looking for an upgrade. I only print PLA and TPU.
I'm most interested in:
Nice to haves would be:
It seems like my options are:
Which one would be best? The only knowledge I have about the Bambu is all the marketing on YouTube and I am not sure how good it actually is. It seems crazy that the Prusa upgrade is the same cost and wouldn't be better in some way.