@Eric_I Easiest way I know of to make a 3D printer wireless is to use a RaspberryPi with a wifi dongle, running OctoPi. I had that setup on my Simple once, and plan to set it up again.
@Carlton_Dodd Hmm, that sounds like a good solution Carlton. Any idea how much that would cost for the full setup (not including the printer)?
Also, sounds like everyone everywhere is saying that the 1405 printerbot simple is the best starting point, and I’m starting to agree. I like that I could cut my teeth on the basic version now for just $350 or so and then get the XL upgrade later if I start wanting bigger prints. But I’m still going to want an enclosure to keep the heat in and the dust out, so if anyone has suggestions for a nice one I’d appreciate it.
Also, to confirm, the 1405 kit comes with it’s own power supply and I can just plug it into my computer’s power-strip without any extra purchases right?
The 1405 Simple (the “Maker’s Kit”) is mostly wooden components but comes with a standard-sized metal bed and the auto-levelling probe. Your build volume will be a cube approximately 100mm on a side. The XL upgrade increases your build volume to roughly 200mmx100mmx200mm. The Maker’s Kit simplifies the number of addons that are necessary beyond what I originally said - you have to remember, I’ve been using it since the original Simple was in beta, so I’ve seen a lot of iterations come and go. All you need to get started is the Maker’s Kit, and you can increase your build volume later with the XL upgrade.
The power supply that comes with it is fine unless and until you decide to add a heated bed, at which point you’ll need something beefier. Another method to give you wireless functionality, and a lot simpler than Octoprint, is simply to put your sliced gcode on a micro SD card. The Simple has a micro SD card slot and will print from the card. If you name the gcode “auto0.g”, it will automatically print that gcode without you needing to start the print from an attached computer.
I think I should start getting commission from @Printrbot ! Whattya think, @Brook_Drumm , how about a referral program? 
@Eric_I The R-Pi + wifi dongle would probably cost about $50-60, depending on your source.
To be honest, I like @Patrick_Ryan 's microSD card idea better for your situation. I’d forgotten about the microSD slot on the printer.
@Patrick_Ryan (Patrick) yeah, they should consider paying you, you’ve actually given me more info than the website has! I hadn’t realized it came with a built in SD card slot, that does sound much easier!
I think the only other printer that is still in the running is the “XYZprinting Da Vinci 1.0 3D Printer”, as it is the current best seller on Amazon and it runs at about the same price as the 1405 if you include the xl upgrade, and it actually have a bigger over all build volume than the XL’s largest axis(7.8 x 7.8 x 7.8 inch). It also has it’s own enclosure, which is the main problem I have with the simple, as I’m worried about bumping into it and burning myself, drafts ruining the print, dust messing up the gears over time, etc.
Main downside I see is I wouldn’t get to build it myself, but I don’t know if that one-time experience would be worth passing up a better end product. Plus, the Simple looks much more open and easier to modify, though I’d probably never modify it much once it met my needs.
Am I missing something? Nick Parker said above that “DaVinci is pretty bad from what I’ve heard” but never elaborated, and I’m not seeing much disparaging information online. On paper it looks like it’d be more popular than the XL simple, but without seeing either in person it’s hard for me to judge myself. What am I missing?
Two words: proprietary filament. That might not turn you off, but it sure as hell makes it a non-starter with me.
@Patrick_Ryan (Patrick) But I’m pretty sure people have cheap work arounds, unless I’m missing something. This video looks like the physical changing of the parts is pretty easy:
the main thing that looks like it may be a pain is that little chip at the bottom, but I’m looking for a way to override it. Found this, but can’t tell if it helps or not:
http://www.soliforum.com/topic/6279/xyzprinting-da-vinci-10-hacking/
But I’ve seen people do it, so it can be done. This guy on Youtube has his rigged up to feed filament in through the top (you can see it briefly at around 5:20). I think I may try asking him how he did it:
Does anyone here know a good work around? Unless there’s other problems too, I think this may be a better printer for me, since I’m probably going to modify either one, as neither of them has EVERYTHING I want.
@Patrick_Ryan BTW Patrick, why is that such a turn off for you? I mean no insult at all by this, I’m just curious what you’re seeing that I’m not. The prices look pretty comparable, and I’m probably going to just use basic white and paint the models later anyway, so selection doesn’t seem like a huge deal.
@Eric_I I don’t do closed architecture. The whole point of this is personal tinkering, and being able to build and freely modify the printer is a big part of that. Not to mention, workarounds aside, what happens if you get invested in the Da Vinci and then they go out of business or can for whatever reason no longer supply filament? If you’re fine with an out of the box solution, and are confident there are workarounds for the filament, then, hey, have at it. Personally, I enjoyed building mine from a kit (several times now!) and wouldn’t want an off-the-shelf solution. My next printer will almost certainly be one that I’ve built from scratch - probably a delta design along the lines of Rostock or Kossel, or maybe a Simpson.
@Patrick_Ryan Well, I’ve asked that guy on youtube how he rigged up his, so if it can be made to use any filament than I might be set as much as I would be with anything I build even if the company goes out of business. Only area I’d be (more) vulnerable in is a software failure and replacement parts, but I’m not sure how much better that’d be with a printrbot if something broke.
As for the building, I completely get where you’re coming from and that’s the other side I’m wrestling with. I’ve taken great pride in building the gaming desktop I’m using right now, as well as the desk its sitting on, and I’m grateful I had the opportunity to get my hands in there and feel like it’s really mine in a way. But I also like things to look professional and work well. Frankly, what I really want is to build a da vinci or a makerbot, but the end results I like the best always seem to be pre-assembled and hard to alter. But I can’t seem to find something that has the fun of building, to flexibility of altering, and yet also the full functionality and clean results at the end, all for a reasonable value.
This is what’s making my shopping hard, and I don’t know which of these points I’d rather sacrifice to get the others.