I teach a middle Digital Graphics and Animation class and I’m looking to make things better with a 3d printer. The district won’t pay for it, so it’s up to me to get this done.
Need some recommendations on where to start, I am looking at some options from Printrbot and Folgertech, but I’m open to best bang for the buck options.
Thanks for any help.
Usually for Animation you don’t make very large figurines, So you don’t really need a large bed unless your building a lot of parts at once. Which probably one a time would be better, If a mistake happens, the whole lot would be ruined but on the other hand it provides more cooling time which also could help also.
I wasn’t looking for anything crazy large, from what I have seen 6x6x6 would be fine. I want them to be able to make action figures and things like that. Single color is fine too.
Tevo is bringing out the black widow any day now, in the $400-$450 range, It will be all aluminum and using V-grove. I personally would wait for that one, I do also like the folgertech FT5, If you cut some Plexiglas panels and made walls for it and a ceiling, That would be good for abs, ABS would be a great for animation due to you can smooth the finish in a misting shower, This is one method, there are lots https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7083xw9I7o
http://wanhaousa.com/products/duplicator-i3-steel-frame <-- Is another good printer, They have a good FB group also, They also have a hot end upgrade that takes about 5 mins to install.
you are going to need many 3d printers if you are wanting to achieve 10,15,20 fps
use your time to get a sponsor or a grant 
@James_Rothschild_JRP I would love a grant, but wouldn’t have a clue where to start.
@Jeff_Dewe The duplicator i3 looks like it could be on the list of possible candidates.
The Tevo Tarantula is crap cheap $229(with free shipping) printer out of the box, But after you mod it, it quickly becomes something very usable with excellent quality results, It comes with a dozen or so acrylic parts that do break very easily, The online FB has a co-op of complete Aluminum replacement parts for a very reasonable price of $75, Then you buy a new heated bed and power supply around $100 and add a authentic e3d hotend $75 and add crimps to the heated bed wires and power supply wires and finally you need to brace it. Build a box around it and add a condescend light to it to heat up the air and bobs your uncle, for around $500 you have a printer that can print just as good as printers in the $2000 range, but it takes a bit of effort and time.
@Jeff_Dewe do you have a link to the fb group you are referencing?
@Nathan_Walkner I will basically be the only one running it, since I’m the one having to drop the coin on it.
The i3 v2 and plus, look like some really good options. Like the fact the come with a heated bed and take a wide range of filaments.
are we talking replacement animation? or model/armature making/engineering too?
@James_Rothschild_JRP we are talking introduction class to digital Animation, Graphics, and Design. The class is basically a sampling to get kids excited about all forms of Animation. (We even do claymation and stop motion.)
We use Blender quite a bit, because the district purchased software is garbage. I basically have free reign to design my curriculum and change it where I want.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Folgertech3dPrinters/ <–Folgertech
https://www.facebook.com/groups/TEVO.3dprinter.owners/ <–TEVO
https://www.facebook.com/groups/WanhaoDi3/ <-- Wanhao
Also this one might be model for modelling https://www.facebook.com/groups/3DPrintProps/
@Jeff_Dewe thanks for taking the time and all your help.
Your welcome glad if I helped