I want to get into 3D printing, but I don’t know where to start in terms of buying a printer. What are some recommended printers that are friendly to the wallet and or reliable?
What’s your budget?
It’s around $300 to $200
EDIT: I could go up to $500 at the most
Monoprice mini for 200 usd
All of the printers listed on the guide are over $300…
On the other hand, I’ve searched on google and came across some this:
It should cost around $300 after taxes and shipping, but I’m not sure if it’s a safe buy.
Any acrylic printer should be sub 200 usd.
If you’re firm on that budget look into the Tevo Tarantula, it’s a kit so you have to build it yourself, but if possible you want to avoid using acrylic as a structural element.
A net a2 is 188 at gearbest. It’s basicly the tevo but cheaper
take a look at FolgerTech and on aliexpress there are a lot of low-cost serviceable RepRap and Prusa clones.
TEVO Tarantula I3
http://s.aliexpress.com/Az2MJzQv
Just under $200 shipped for the base model. You can upgrade over time to add a heated bed and better hot end, and use the base model to print other upgrades.
Don’t go with one that uses acrylic as a structural element. You will regret it relatively soon when it cracks on you and is then useless.
@Michael_Johnson the Prusa i3 what are the filaments its able to accept ?
Ive ordered this one. 350$ off with this link.
Lots of people have recommended the prusa to me too. I want to do engraving too, thats why I went with Flux.
Here’s one question for you that you need to ask when buying yourself a cheap 3D Printer. Are you willing to spend time tinkering to get a printer to work well? If the answer is yes, by all means buy a sub $500 printer, if the answer is no, wait and save up for a better mid-range kit.
From my point of view, you’ll spend a lot less blood, sweat, tears & frustration (literally), by expanding your budget, been there with 4 acrylic framed Prusas which I spent many hours and a lot of money upgrading. Buying a cheap printer may work, but you can spend almost another $200 in filament and parts getting them right. They may not even print out of the box when built.
Not trying to be negative here, just realistic and trying to set some expectations. At the end of it it’s what you want out of a 3D Printer and how you want to go about it.
I would recommend a reach 3d, is a build it yourself kit with no acrylic, great instruction videos, and a strong Google+ community to help owners with questions and problems. http://www.reach3dprinters.com
If you’re mechanically and electrically inclined a sub $300 printer is a good learning experience. But be prepared for the time and frustration that it takes to learn. If you spend $200 on a printer be prepared to spend another hundred dollars in upgrades to make it safe for unattended printing.
New Matter Mod - t $299
I built the Anet A8 from a kit from GearBest. I have been very impressed with the quality it produces. I would certainly recommend it.
I have the anet it does well. But you should get a MOSFET for the bed and a better power supply. I have seen pictures of several that failed and could have started a fire.