I’m new here. I am about to pull the trigger. Long range, maybe 1 or 2 years, I want to get a 3d printer to print ceramics, but for now, I just want to wet my feet. I am thinking in the $350.00 range. I heard many a differring point of view on these “cheapies”. One of my most credible sources tell s me that the makerbot replicator 2 is the best to get, and that if possible, to get it used and replace the parts, as he says you can probably pick one up for around $800.00, and about $150.00 in parts should fix you up real good. I don’t want to start fixing some crap, I just want to print. I am looking at the new Monoprice Maker Select 3D Printer (1st picture). Anyways, I dont’ wanna spend much of anything as I have never pressed a button on one. I am pretty tech savvy, not a programing genius, but can run all of my machines. I just wanna get printing, small scale stuff, like little planters and whatnots. Why I want to be so cheap about this is because I would rather spend a little on getting another machine to make filament, like the ProtoCyler(2nd picture). I have a small shop and figure I could get printing some product to sell in my store. I have a selection of plants, airplants, succulents, and terrariums, along with a bunch of other stuff. I am really into the whole recycle your soda bottles into filament. Please anybody reading, give me your input. I’d like to know your thoughts on what to purchase? I have been researching like all day and I am almost ready to get some things, just want some serious knowledgeable input. Please?
I have heard not so great things about the reliability of makerbots, I have a Solidoodle press, Rigidbot and an Ultimaker Original+. Out of those I would definitely recommend the UMO+ it has been the most accurate and reliable by far. The only downside is the filament is just slightly harder to find at 2.85mm.
I would recommend a printrbot. I don’t have tons of experience, but I have enjoyed mine a lot. I got the kit so I could have a firm grasp of exactly how it works, for when something breaks, or needs adjustment.
I wonder how someone can print with ceramic
The Maker Select is great, I have two of them. I’ve used a Rostock Max, Kossel Mini, Solidoodle 2, Solidoodle 3, and Printrbot Play, and the Maker Select is the best value of them all.
You can’t really make good filament with recycled soda bottles, unfortunately - its the wrong type of plastic, and its difficult to get any kind of repeatable filament qualities across various bottle batches. I say that as the guy that created the Filastruder.
I have bought a “cheapie” printer almost identical to your first picture, and its actually not too bad. In fact, it’s quite good for the price.
What you have pictured is a generic variant on the well-respected Prusa i3 Steel, just using thinner steel for the frame.
I also own a Printrbot, which prints at a visibly higher quality.
The difference comes from the gauge of steel used in the frame. My Printrbot uses 3mm steel plates, but the cheaper generic Prusa isn’t using such a heavy gauge.
Of course, the less rigid printers can still print with higher quality, but they need to be slowed-down until the resonance effects are no longer visible.
@Roger_Tee It seems printing molds would be a good start.
If you want to do a direct build, one way is to start with a paste extruder and hope you can eventually mix up consistent, repeatable batches. Another idea would be lasering layers of spread-on fire cement then washing out what didn’t get lasered. Maybe that isn’t ceramic.
@Roger_Tee as I understand it, ceramics can printed on a low-end 3D printer by mixing powered ceramic into a PLA filament. The result has many ceramic-like properties, but strength is not one of those properties.
Also, the ceramic powder mixed into the PLA can be pretty harsh on the extruder, so the tip may need to replaced more often.
The same trick is done with steel and brass blends in PLA, giving a fairly nice metallic prints, but nowhere near as strong as the real thing.
The PLA acts as a flowable, fluid binder for whatever additive powders are used in the filament, and the results are not bad so long as you are not expecting it to be too strong.
What do you folks think about the monoprice to get a start, learn the software and…?
The Monoprice unit is a good machine if you’re willing to put in a few mods on it. The WanHao fan groups have a lot of good tweaks. It’s basically a Duplicator i3.
The Monoprice is fine to get you started 3d printing. I just bought the same thing, with a different badge, here in Australia, and it works virtually straight out of the box.
It’s pretty hard to beat that price vs quality combination, without building it yourself.
Don’t buy a makerbot. Any makerbot.
Any choice other than a makerbot will be vastly superior.
+1 to Monoprice Maker Select/Wanhao I3/Printrbot can’t go wrong with those as a starter printer.
From what I hear the Wanhao i3 Can’t go wrong.
I would just like to chime in and say that for any printer in your range - please be prepared to tinker / upgrade / modify / curse.
3D printing is not at a “click to print” stage. There are always some adjustments that need to be made.
Even with the expensive machines - there is always some adjustment that is required.
As a beginners choice I always go for the Printrbot as the first suggestion. After that I would start looking at the wanhao duplicator i3. It it was my money I would go for the Printrbot as I know they use super high quality parts, but people say the duplicator is pretty good. I just think it has some slight oversights.
i recently bought a 3D printer similar to the first picture. it is called Wanhao Duplicator i3 v2. I have no regrets for a price less than 400USD and the output it produced. I am very happy with this 3D printer. You can check some of my printouts and videos about this 3D printer at https://www.facebook.com/3DTayo/. Also, the facebook group is very helpful in providing DIY hacks and mods. So far, I love this 3D printer. 
Jerome,
Sorry to bug you, but I am wondering if you had to make
adjustments/modifications to it to get it to print properly???
Hey, thanks much!!! You have help me to solidify my position. I am
definitely going to get the Monoprice version of the wanhao I3.
The Maker Select is a great printer so far. My only problems have been me learning the ropes and tuning it up a bit. The only adjustments I made at first was grabbing the profile from sample gcode via CURA.