Hey guys. I’m going to probably be ordering my first 3d printer in the next few days, and with the help of Patrick Ryan and the rest of the community, I’ve pretty much narrowed my choices down to the Printrbot Simple 2014, and the XYZprinting Da Vinci 1.0, and I’m hoping you guys can help me think through the final decision.
Both are more or less the same price, especially if you include the upgrades I’d probably make to the printrbot. Here are the pros and cons I’m sorting through:
Printrbot
Pros
I get to have fun building it and it’d be easier to modify.
lower up-front cost
seriously, I’d get to BUILD a 3d printer ;D
Cons
Kind of cheap looking
No enclosure, so I’d have to find a way to make one to keep my dusty, drafty room from hurting it.
Would probably require a lot of other upgrades to get close to the features of the Da Vinci, and it probably look like something a mad scientist cooked up when I was through. Not to mention it’d probably cost more than the Da Vinci by then.
Da Vinci
Pros:
All the features I’d like right out of the box. Enclosure, heated bed, abs and pla capabilities, lcd screen, and so forth.
VERY professional looking, looks like something from a business firm, and would look nice on my desk.
Bigger overall build volume than the printrbot can get even with the xl upgrades.
Cons
I wouldn’t get to BUILD A 3D PRINTER! D:
Almost impossible to modify very much.
It’s producer has the mean business plan of subsidizing the printer’s costs by trying to force you to only use THEIR overpriced printer cartridges and THEIR software. People are making progress towards jail-breaking it, so this may be fixable, but on the flipside if too many people do that then it may actually make the company go in the red if they were counting on the profits from their proprietary filament “cartel”.
Instead of trying to build up a printrbot, I’d essentially be fighting my Da Vinci and always be trying to strategically “break” all of the extra limitations they attached to it.
I WOULD GET TO BUILD A 3D PRINTER D:
Well, these are my thoughts so far, and just writing them down was actually very clarifying. If anyone has any suggestions to help clear up my decision, I’d appreciate it. One of the biggest things I would want to change about the Printrbot up front is the lack of an enclosure, so if anyone has any ideas how to make one that looks more professional that a Tupperware box shoved on top, I’d appreciate it
Well, I love forward to reading your suggestions. All help will be appreciated
I just got my 1st 3D printer on May 31st, in which I was trying to decide between the da vinci 1.0 and the printrbot simple 2014 as well. I too wanted to build my 1st 3D printer also, but I loved the way the da vinci 1.0 looked and that it is enclosed, also the build volume was a big plus. Even though it uses filament catridges(without resetting the chip) and you can only use their stock software(without jailbreaking it). So I ended up getting the da vinci 1.0, and so far I dont regret it, it has been an AWESOME machine. I still want to build a 3D printer, maybe even print out the parts to build a reprap printer, but right now I’m not quiet sure which 3D printer to build/print. So I totally recommend the da vinci 1.0 as your 1st 3D printer, IMO.
Metal Simple printrbot is an out of the box ready to print excellent choice for a beginner. Auto bed leveling takes care of 90% of the normal problems a new user encounters.
Well, I think one of the things I really want is to build an enclosed-style printer, where the build tray is stationary and the extruder moves left and right, rather than simple-style ones where the build plate dances back and forth. I’m really starting to like that design much better, as it seems much more stable and clean looking.
Are there any good printers of this style that I can build, and maybe even upgrade to rival the Da Vinci’s feature set eventually? I’ve looked into ordering rep-rap parts online, but keep getting bogged down in the huge selection of models and sellers. Help?
Printrbot all the way… I have not used, but I would have to say deezmaker is on the top of 3d printer companies as well. So bukito or printrbot… if you want an enclosed printer, ultimaker, but the cost is high…
@Brook_Drumm does an amazing job of selling kits to make your experience better, then rolling those design changes into a next revision of that printer.
@Camerin_hahn hmm, someone else mentioned brook drum as well, but I can’t quite understand how you actually order what you need. Could someone give me a link to where you actually buy it, cause google+ is confusing me today
Having owned a printrbot, and soon to be 2 printrbots, I would recommend the Davinci. At least you’ll get printing right off the bat. After that you can pick up a Simple kit and build it at your leisure. Use the Da vinci to print your Simple upgrade parts. If you get a Simple kit now and something goes wrong during the build, you’ll be SOL.
@Camerin_hahn I don’t have issues with my printrbot, but at the same time many do when building from a kit. I don’t regret getting my printrbot, but looking back I found myself mostly working on the printer and printing upgrade parts for it rather than actually using it to print stuff.
I bought the PB Metal Simple assembled, but quickly added an 200x200mm heated build plate upgrade. Now I’m printing PLA or ABS with a 200x200x160 build volume for about $600 total
@Jay_Ward Interesting! Would you mind giving a link to where you bought the upgrade, and maybe even some pictures so I can see what it may look like? Also, could that idea work on wooden simples like the 1405, or would they need to be metal because of the heat?
While I’m still thinking about things, I am starting to lean more and more towards the Da Vinci. Joining this community has shown me that the Printrbot Simple kit is only scratching the surface of the builder’s fun that can be had with 3D printers. The Eustathios looks like a great printer with a great building experience, but frankly I don’t think I have the time, experience, or the money to complete that right now, as the Da Vinci was already pushing my budget.
So I’m thinking that the Da Vinci is probably my best bet, as it should have me up and running within about a week. I’m finding plenty of hacks to jail-break it and train it to be very high-level raptier rep rap, so that should be an option if the closed-box system gets on my nerves. It will also give me the opportunity to test out 3D printing and see how much I even like it before spending dozens of man-hours assembling one.
And then, if in a year or two I’m still in love with 3D printing and I have the time, money, and tools, maybe I’ll be able to come back and build a 2nd printer and go all the way this time. I can’t wait to see the designs you guys will have cooked up by then
Anyone got any thoughts on my plan before I place my order?
I got the heater from PB along with the thermister. I got the 8x8 build platform from Chris at http://matrix-precision.com. Sorry for the delay in responding. BTW I had a problem with my controller, caused by a power surge. I wrote PB tech support on Sunday night. I had a replacement board Wednesday morning. No cost replacement from California to Florida in 3 days!
PB has the best customer service I have ever seen.
