3D Printer Recommendations

[Crazy Inventor]

Does anybody here have any recommendations for a 3d printer? I got to use one at the student research center at my room and I really loved the thing and have been wanting on e for a while. My primary focus is on bed size and an autoleveling bed and a heated bed for ABS printing, and a price around <$500 USD. I don't really have a preference over single or dual extruders but dual would be more preferred than a single. I've been looking at the Folger Tech Cloner which is based on the Makerbot open source design. And no, I don't that it's a kit. I think I'm relatively experienced with building things that I could handle assembly and some troubleshooting. I'm still new to this whole area, so any advice or recommendations would be appreciated.

 

[wallydawg]

Nice size build volume on that one, which really helps with making cases. The one I have is only 120mm³ so it's I have to think about how to piece the design together while making the case, which is kind of annoying but I think helps make better detailed designs. Dual extruder only $30 more which seems totally worth it imo.

The only things I didn't see is the z resolution, most of them do .1-.15mm now; anything over .2 looks ok but there's definitely other cheap printers with a better resolution. I'd also suggest putting plexi over the openings if there isn't already. With ABS you need a hot print bed to prevent warping and that'll keep contain the heat. Also be careful with ABS fumes. YMMV of course but I was printing in our downstairs bathroom which had a vent fan but that wasn't enough and i kept getting dizzy and lightheaded with printing.

There was another 3D printer thread here I'd suggest looking at too, might be some reccomendations in there.

Edit: I usually advise against kits for someones first printer, just so they know their way around a printer and which part does what for troubleshooting moreso than they would starting out.

 

[Crazy Inventor]

I don't suppose you have any re-built printers in mind? I can't seem to find many that offer a bed size while still being cheap.

One I keep looking back on was the [urlhttp://www.amazon.com/XYZprinting-Vinci-1-0-Pro-Printer/dp/B017GUBHDK/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1459650699&sr=8-3&keywords=xyz+davinci]XYZprinting da Vinci 1.0 Pro. 3D Printer[/url] which is much more expensive than the Folger Tech ones, but it's still pre-assembled. Although, I've seen mixed reviews about some isolated cases of the thing just not working correctly and printing horribly.

Edit: Aside from just trying to work with the printer at my school and learning how each part works in tandem, any documentation or videos that go into more detail than my "Oh this does that," approach to learning how the whole thing really works?

 

[DK]

Check out the Wanhao Duplicator i3. Well in budget and a 20cm^3 build area. Doesn't fdo auto bd leveling but it's easy enough to manually level one.

http://wanhaousa.com/products/duplicator-i3-steel-frame

 

[Crazy Inventor]

Check out the Wanhao Duplicator i3. Well in budget and a 20cm^3 build area. Doesn't fdo auto bd leveling but it's easy enough to manually level one.

http://wanhaousa.com/products/duplicator-i3-steel-frame

Just spent some time looking into that one. Seems really good! I like that it has a such a community behind it as well to help with any issues that may arise. And, aside from screwing in the print bed, it's practically assembled already.

 

[grossaffe]

Anything against a resin-based printer instead of ABS? If not, I'd look into getting the Peachy when it releases at $100. Reservoir size is customizable, and I know it's always been their plan to print a canoe with it at some point, so that should give you an idea of the print size it should be capable of.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6zEqTf222c

 

[Crazy Inventor]

Anything against a resin-based <a class="vglnk" title="Link added by VigLink" target="_blank" href="http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR12.TRC2.A0.H0.Xprinter.TRS0&_nkw=printer&_sacat=0" rel="nofollow"><span>printer</span></a> instead of ABS? If not, I'd look into getting the Peachy when it releases at $100. Reservoir size is customizable, and I know it's always been their plan to print a canoe with it at some point, so that should give you an idea of the print size it should be capable of.

<a class="vglnk" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6zEqTf222c" rel="nofollow"><span>https</span><span>://</span><span>www</span><span>.</span><span>youtube</span><span>.</span><span>com</span><span>/</span><span>watch</span><span>?</span><span>v</span><span>=</span><span>O6zEqTf222c</span></a>

Nothing against them at all. I almost backed the Olo on Kickstarter. But I'm not entirely sure about them yet. Any idea when it releases? I saw somewhere they said May.

 

[grossaffe]

Anything against a resin-based <a class="vglnk" title="Link added by VigLink" target="_blank" href="http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR12.TRC2.A0.H0.Xprinter.TRS0&_nkw=printer&_sacat=0" rel="nofollow"><span>printer</span></a> instead of ABS? If not, I'd look into getting the Peachy when it releases at $100. Reservoir size is customizable, and I know it's always been their plan to print a canoe with it at some point, so that should give you an idea of the print size it should be capable of.

<a class="vglnk" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6zEqTf222c" rel="nofollow"><span>https</span><span>://</span><span>www</span><span>.</span><span>youtube</span><span>.</span><span>com</span><span>/</span><span>watch</span><span>?</span><span>v</span><span>=</span><span>O6zEqTf222c</span></a>

Nothing against them at all. I almost backed the Olo on Kickstarter. But I'm not entirely sure about them yet. Any idea when it releases? I saw somewhere they said May.

Not sure, I started looking into the Peachy a few years back. Honestly, I was a little surprised it hadn't released yet.

 

[DK]

I'd avoid any cheap resin printer. If it ends up anything like the iBox Nano, then it won't be worth the money.

 

[Crazy Inventor]

I'd avoid any cheap resin printer. If it ends up anything like the iBox Nano, then it won't be worth the money.

Hm duly, noted.