Good evening folks, I’m planning to start construction on a printer in the next 2 weeks or so, but I’m trying to make up my mind on a design. I’m considering a Core XY based machine, a Mini Kossel, or, biting the bullet, and trying the Simpson once the files are released. Realizing that there are not a lot of people with Simpson experience, what are people’s thoughts between these three. Thanks!
Building from a kit? Have you ever built or used a 3D printer before? These are all not the best selections for someone just beginning.
Your first machine should always be a basic cartesian system. Either an X=extruder, Y=platform layout, or an X/Y gantry with a Z platform. Any other variation should be avoided until after you’ve built one of those and gotten it printing well. The other formats are still pretty experimental and have too many variables (and are too easy to screw up) to be good for a beginner.
Try looking at a Ordbot Hadron, from reprapdiscount on eBay. They are reasonably priced but you have to add your open electronics etc.
Make sure to read a bunch of build forums for the into you decide to buy. I’d advise against a Kickstarter, as they tend to promise way too much. The process of kits have dropped substantially in the past year, and since you wish to learn a lot, the forums are the best place to start. Check out the forums at http://reprap.org to start. Good luck
I’ve been working with a Bukobot for a few weeks, so I have some experience with a cartesian machine. I was not planning on working from a kit and instead work with a reprap. Or, in the case of the Core XY, having to come up with the structure on my own.
If you’re a first timer, I highly recommend the PrintrBot Simple - $299 gets you a 3.5"x3.5"x3.5" build volume and it’s loads of fun to build from the kit.
That being said, I’ve started assembling my BOM while I wait for @Nicholas_Seward to release the files for the Simpson. But I’ve already built my PrintrBot from the V1 beta kit, have applied one upgrade kit (and modded it myself), and have another upgrade in the mail. I think I now have enough experience that I can handle the Simpson.
Simpson is very cool, and still a little bit raw. After about a week of printing (mostly babysitting my other printer to keep it from chewing filament) several hours of assembly and a couple more of tweaking, and tremendous assistance from @Nicholas_Seward I got the first good print this morning (until that extruder started skipping). It will get much easier, but if you plan on building one during the upcoming beta you should be prepared to put some work into it, and follow the changes to a design that is still likely to be tweaked.
I’m not concerned about the work involved. In fact, I think it would be more interesting that way helping a design improve.
Get what you can afford and start your learning. There are a lot of variables in printing! Problems with your hardware are just a part of tweaking.
Even Printrbot Simple needs customization.
@David_Tarlau , @Alan_McNeil raises a good point: I have no regrets having started with a PrintrBot Simple - it was a good balance of handholding and personal exploration. It was nice having a kit where I knew all the necessary parts were present and the design was reasonably well-proven, but it certainly didn’t work trouble-free right from the get-go. In my particular case, upgrading the kit from the V1 beta to V2 actually required a little problem-solving and part modification, so it was a very good learning experience. But even absent that, I think the experience is worth the modest cost. Pass it along to a school or something after you use it to print the parts for your Simpson!
I will help however I can if you pick Simpson. I would not be offended if you want to get some experience on another bot first.
Thanks for the offer of help @Nicholas_Seward I may take you up on that and go that path.