Advice on first 3d printer?
Discussion
Hello all, I'd like to treat myself to a 3D printer. I can do the very basics of CAD and think this would help get my skills up. I'm a newbie to 3D printing, my budget is 300 quid.
I've heard good things about Creality (or at least it's a brand I've heard of).
I've seen this that looks like a decent deal.
https://store.creality.com/uk/products/ender-3-s1-...
Would that be good for a first 3d easy-use printer?
The different material choices and big builds volume are the plus points for me.
I think it'd mainly be doing non-structural bits for my motorbikes, or maybe prototyping a bracket before making it in steel/ally.
Thanks,
Dan
I've heard good things about Creality (or at least it's a brand I've heard of).
I've seen this that looks like a decent deal.
https://store.creality.com/uk/products/ender-3-s1-...
Would that be good for a first 3d easy-use printer?
The different material choices and big builds volume are the plus points for me.
I think it'd mainly be doing non-structural bits for my motorbikes, or maybe prototyping a bracket before making it in steel/ally.
Thanks,
Dan
It's a difficult question.
I dabbled in 3D printing during lockdown, with a cheap kit.
I've learned a fair bit from making it work and trying to make it work a bit better.
I have been thinking of an upgrade.
Big build volume is not a thing for me, mine would take forever to build anything big and probably cock it up wasting £££ of filament.
I have a mate who has a 'side business' involving some printed stuff, being able to print TPU, the rubbery stuff, seems to open a lot of doors, which implies a direct drive extruder? Likewise, ABS or other stronger plastics, which tend to smell and push you towards wanting an enclosed printer.
One thing I have realised is that many of the 'used' or 'unrepaired' printers on ebay are shagged out things from 'print farms'.
Buying new looks like fair value?
I am a kind of wide-ranging hacker/bodger/'maker', so what some people are 3D printing, I might be filing from a lump of ali, laminating in carbon fibre or buying from a nice man in China...
There is a long running 3D printer thread on here BTW.
Interested to hear other opinions!
I dabbled in 3D printing during lockdown, with a cheap kit.
I've learned a fair bit from making it work and trying to make it work a bit better.
I have been thinking of an upgrade.
Big build volume is not a thing for me, mine would take forever to build anything big and probably cock it up wasting £££ of filament.
I have a mate who has a 'side business' involving some printed stuff, being able to print TPU, the rubbery stuff, seems to open a lot of doors, which implies a direct drive extruder? Likewise, ABS or other stronger plastics, which tend to smell and push you towards wanting an enclosed printer.
One thing I have realised is that many of the 'used' or 'unrepaired' printers on ebay are shagged out things from 'print farms'.
Buying new looks like fair value?
I am a kind of wide-ranging hacker/bodger/'maker', so what some people are 3D printing, I might be filing from a lump of ali, laminating in carbon fibre or buying from a nice man in China...
There is a long running 3D printer thread on here BTW.
Interested to hear other opinions!
I have an Ender 3 Pro (previous model to one in the link) it's a pretty good cheap printer. Lots of support and very upgradable its the MX5 of 3d printing.
3D printing is not plug and play! especially at the cheaper end of the market. Lots of help available and as long as you take your time building and configuring you'll be good.
You'll learn a lot though. Best printer for you will depend on what you want to do with it, toys and nicknaks - pretty much anything will print PLA, practical prints are material dependant which determines the heat of the build plate, nozzle and other parameters which means some printers are better or more suited out of the box than others.
Find the printer thread, loads of help and support on there.
3D printing is not plug and play! especially at the cheaper end of the market. Lots of help available and as long as you take your time building and configuring you'll be good.
You'll learn a lot though. Best printer for you will depend on what you want to do with it, toys and nicknaks - pretty much anything will print PLA, practical prints are material dependant which determines the heat of the build plate, nozzle and other parameters which means some printers are better or more suited out of the box than others.
Find the printer thread, loads of help and support on there.
I bought a second hand Ender 5 pro about 1.5 years ago - just to 'play with' and to see what I could make. Other than bits I've made for it (bed supports and a direct drive conversion) I've not upgraded anything - but it did come with a glass bed (previous owner bought that). I don't use a BL Touch (or similar), just level the bed manually. I have made quite a few things in prototype - bits for my coffee machine, grinder, air rifle, car, bike, computer, lathe and probably many more. It's a great tool for just 'having a go'. As you are already adept at 3D design, you just need to put it through a slicer (I use Cura) and hit the print button, then sit back and wait. I started with PLA but now mainly use PETG - still have a few rolls of PLA but the one on the machine at the moment is PETG.
Have a look here for lots more info - https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Have a look here for lots more info - https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Edited by S6PNJ on Friday 29th December 12:41
Similar boat and planning to get a Bambu Lab A1, they're £369 if you don't need the multi-colour AMS. A1 Mini is £100 less if you can live with 180x180x180mm build volume.
Spent far too much time looking at reviews, the gist I get is that if you're into actually printing things rather than fiddling with printers as a hobby then it's the way to go.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBQ-QfcY3Qs
Spent far too much time looking at reviews, the gist I get is that if you're into actually printing things rather than fiddling with printers as a hobby then it's the way to go.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBQ-QfcY3Qs
Gassing Station | Computers, Gadgets & Stuff | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff