What is the best sized 3d printer to get if your a beginner?
Depends. Do you want to make stuff or tinker with a cool machine? Is money tight or no object? Are you likely to use it to make jewelry or car parts or a concrete shed in your backyard?
Okay, thanks that helps me alot!
@Nicholas_Gray I don’t see the alot’s response. How did it help?
PS, answering the questions would help a lot.
@Joseph_Larson is right. You didn’t say what you would be using it for or how much you are willing to spend. There are so many printers out there these days that you can’t be vague when asking this.
I got a Kossel Mini kit from @Think3dPrint3d . I opted for that as I had a set budget at the time, also wanted to start with a set of parts all known to work together and wanted some hand holding (phone) in the first few days. I love how it works, it’s an elegant design and I’ve learnt a hell of a lot in the few months I’ve owned it. I’ve also managed to design and build the part that I bought it to produce in the first place, in part thanks to the brilliant @FreeCAD . It wasn’t the first 3D modelling tool I found but it’s the one I’ll stick with.
Part of me wishes I’d got something a bit more cube shaped with a much bigger build surface and volume, such as those using the CoreXY design. I got a second RAMPS1.4 and Mega for a load-cell project I’m working on. A few steppers, hotend and parts printed on the Kossel and I can build my next printer.
As the others are asking, what do you intend to do with it? What budget do you have? If you have the desire and patience to learn and are prepared to use it help build your next one I’d say don’t let it bother you too much. Pick something and dive on in, the water’s warm. Learn from it, use it to print it’s own upgrade or replacement.
If you want to build it, I’d say the Bukito. Don’t really have a recommendation on a cheap pre-built as I haven’t been too happy with a lot of them.
I’m going to be using it to manufacture parts for cars and other machinery and to just play around with it
Then you want to go with something pretty large then. Did you want to build the machine or have it sent pre-built?
@3D_Hubs has a really nice buyers guide based on user reviews… http://www.3dhubs.com/best-3d-printer-guide
I am a noob and I am going with a prusa i3
Thanks for the recommendation @Matthew_Satterlee Hope it’s going to help @Nicholas_Gray !
@3D_Hubs My review for the Bukobot was on the guide, was quite happy to see that. Thanks guys!
I was planning on building one but money and my time is tight so I’m looking on getting a pre built 3d printer
@Nicholas_Gray you pretty much never get one cheaper prebuilt. Look at the Smartrap design. There is a kit available on ebay for about $250 usd. It depends on what parts you use but typically you never get a prebuilt cheaper.
Okay this helped me alot, due to your suggestions I now know what to get when buying a 3d printer
When I first started looking, I was planning on getting a Prusa i3 kit from 3d Printer Czar, was the best kit price I could find at the time. They also had a Rostock Mini Pro available though, and I was thinking delta’s were a better design so I changed my mind at the last minute.
If I had to do it over, not knowing anything, I think I would have gone with a PrintrBot Simple (wood) version as a cheap kit that could be upgraded. Followed by an i3 design as it has a larger build volume.
I don’t regret the Rostock Mini Pro, but I think while initially building the i3 would be more difficult, it would be easier to calibrate and maintain then the Rostock in the long term…for a beginner like me.