Large bed 3d printer recommendations

[moustachebandit]

I am looking into buying an affordable large bed 3d printer - around 350x350mm or above (bigger would be better)

However, I know nothing about 3d printers, what to look for, which ones produce acceptable results or what brands are actually
any good. Can anyone make any recommendations?

Ease of use, reliability, and functionality are important. I don't want to spend more time working on the printer than actually printing things. I am trying to rapidly prototype a product - and have given up with unreliable 3rd parties and want to do it myself.

I have seen these two units (funds are limited so keeping it reasonable cost-wise).

Anycubic Kobra max 2

https://uk.anycubic.com/products/kobra-2-max?utm_s...

Creaility Ender 3

https://store.creality.com/uk/products/ender-5-plu...

Any other recommendations?

Thanks

[Peterpetrole]

We got the Kobra max based on reviews two years ago, the new version should be quicker.

For a large bed at reasonable cost I'm pretty sure the Kobra would still be favourite, but it's fair to say we've had quite a few issues, the software's not great, we rewired the power supply etc. etc.

At, say, 3 - £400, you have to be realistic.

[dogbucket]

Ender 5 plus is getting on a bit and definitely the type of thing you have to tinker with (I had a Ender 5 with upgrades). Not particularly fast either by modern standards.

I love BambuLab which blows the Ender out the water, but obviously size wise no good for you unfortunately.

nb The Bambu slicer can easily section larger models into smaller bits and provide dowels to reassemble if required.

Edited by dogbucket on Friday 6th September 15:38

[moustachebandit]

Thanks for the advice guys

Peterpetrole said:

We got the Kobra max based on reviews two years ago, the new version should be quicker.

For a large bed at reasonable cost I'm pretty sure the Kobra would still be favourite, but it's fair to say we've had quite a few issues, the software's not great, we rewired the power supply etc. etc.

At, say, 3 - £400, you have to be realistic.

You're right about being realistic with the unit's capability at this price point. It would be great if I could get close to a finished product, but if it allows me to speed up the prototype process then that's going to be a massive leap forward.

With the issues you have encountered I assume most be overcome or are there some bigger issues / fundamental flaws?

What's the slicer software like on the Kobra? The prototype would be printed in 2 parts and need to clamp together. Would I have issues with alignment etc? (again sorry for the possibly dumb questions, the capability of the machines is new to me).

dogbucket said:

Ender 5 plus is getting on a bit and definitely the type of thing you have to tinker with (I had a Ender 5 with upgrades). Not particularly fast either by modern standards.

I love BambuLab which blows the Ender out the water, but obviously size wise no good for you unfortunately.

nb The Bambu slicer can easily section larger models into smaller bits and provide dowels to reassemble if required.

Edited by dogbucket on Friday 6th September 15:38

Thanks for the insight. Honestly out of the two I am leaning towards the Kobra Max. The smaller bed size on the Ender may restrict me with the prototype and I am assuming that neither printer goes edge to edge so some printing area would be lost anyway.

The Bambu does look like a quality product. The PRUSA XL also looks good but that's substantially more than I can afford at this point.

[Peterpetrole]

I think you can use various slicer software, but with the Kobra it linked to Cura software which is ok, although I don't think it has the ability to split and dowel parts like the Bambu software. It is more the software on the machine itself (used for preheating, feeding the reel, bed levelling etc.) that is very basic / iffy.

If you search a bit you might well find a cheap Kobra Max second hand as people upgrade.

[moustachebandit]

Thanks that's been very helpful!

Do you have any knowledge of the Neptune? Seems this is also another large bed option.

https://uk.elegoo.com/products/neptune-4-max-fdm-3...

[Baldchap]

Snapmaker do a 400*400 and despite what some might say, mine has been literally flawless. The build quality is incredible and I press print and it works.

[thebraketester]

Is outsourcing the printing a possible work around?

Edit. Just read your post. There must be someone who will do a proper job for you.

Edited by thebraketester on Saturday 7th September 00:25

[moustachebandit]

thebraketester said:

Is outsourcing the printing a possible work around?

Edit. Just read your post. There must be someone who will do a proper job for you.

Edited by thebraketester on Saturday 7th September 00:25

I have tried a few smaller local services but it was frustrating and the bigger companies wanted more than I could afford, aside from the long lead times and occasional butchered job. I had to guess the fitment of components etc and just hope for the best.
The cost of an entry-level printer is going to pay for itself very quickly and speed things up.

So looks like I am a new owner of an Anycubic Kobra 2 Max - I just need to find some space in the garage to set up up!

Excited to get started!

[mph999]

Whatever brand you go for, do some research and make sure parts are available.
All 3d printers can beak, some more likely to than others - if you can;t get parts you are stuffed.

[geeks]

What filament do you need to print?

[OutInTheShed]

mph999 said:

Whatever brand you go for, do some research and make sure parts are available.
All 3d printers can beak, some more likely to than others - if you can;t get parts you are stuffed.

I don't think you've quite got the hang of this RepRap malarkey!

:-)

[moustachebandit]

mph999 said:

Whatever brand you go for, do some research and make sure parts are available.
All 3d printers can beak, some more likely to than others - if you can;t get parts you are stuffed.

Anycubic seems pretty good with regards to this and has spares available. Plus a 1 year warranty if anything goes wrong in that time. Fingers crossed neither will be needed.

geeks said:

What filament do you need to print?

Haven't paid too much attention to the filament at the moment, so I just ordered 3kgs of basic PLA with the printer as it was on offer. Guess that's another rabbit hole to go down!