Best 3d printers
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When I started with 3D printing quite a few years ago I bought an Ord Bot Hadron frame and then assembled the electronics from bits and pieces bought here and there. The printing table is 200 x 200 mm and the useful height is somewhat less but it has all functions needed. During this assembly process and years thereafter of printing I learned a lot and when the Ord Bot started to feel a bit small I began thinking about something bigger.
So I designed from scratch a much bigger one (printing volume 450 x 450 x 500, footprint about 700 x 700 mm, two extruders and a 220V heated bed) based on the CoreXY principle and this became a really good printer which has been working well for a couple of years now. All plastic parts were printed on the Ord Bot (I attach a screen dump from the 3D design model for info)
So my advise is much along the lines as mentioned by @skywatch - if you have the skills, time and facilities build one yourself. You will never regret it (except for during some memorable events during the process :-) ).
If building one yourself is out of the question do not look for the cheapest options. It will just take a few prints before realizing that a heated bed is needed, that more advanced software is a must, that network connectivity would be nice etc. etc. Well known brands like a Prusa I3 is a good choice but there are cheaper options (clones) out there as well but do not expect getting much or any at all support for the cheaper stuff.
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mbj: The architecture of the printer looks great. Did you publish the project somewhere? I would like to rebuild it some time.
Crumpy: Back to your question: I can recommend the Anycubic i3 Mega which is some kind of Prusa clone. There any many youtube channels and guides for this printer. It is great for beginners. At the other end there are many upgrade possibilities. -
I have a zonestar P802QR2, it's ok, if you can assemble it yourself. I use Cura as STL converter. and I have a RPI with octoprint. http://octoprint.org/ Then I can send my Cura converted files directly to my 3D printer. I have also MQTT installed so my domoticz is aware of the percentage that have been printed, so a little script switchs on a light when 99% is printed + send me an email :-)
My best advices:
0) Get a Iprusa or clone (Mine is clone) (don't flame war this topic, it's an advice to a novice to get started easily. It's quite seldom your first car is the most expensive Mercedes.. Get the point...)- When assy screws then use loctite to secure, else screws will unwind due to the stepper movements
- heated bed, and add a 3mm glass on top, and spray a thin layer of hairspray on top of glass plate. then you PLA will stick nicely
- Start to use PLA, and ONLY PLA until you are getting experienced
- calibrate you heatbed often. This is typically your problem if print fucks up
- still got printing problem, look here: https://www.simplify3d.com/support/print-quality-troubleshooting/
- Don't let your PLA get exposed too long to air, as it is hygroscopic and moisture will damage your PLA, so sometimes get new and fresh PLA is also helping
Here is a 3d printing from my white PLA print motor mount for BOFU motor to use with IKEA Tupplur blinds, STL files can be found here: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2878875
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ3Dz7eoZM8 -
mbj: The architecture of the printer looks great. Did you publish the project somewhere? I would like to rebuild it some time.
Crumpy: Back to your question: I can recommend the Anycubic i3 Mega which is some kind of Prusa clone. There any many youtube channels and guides for this printer. It is great for beginners. At the other end there are many upgrade possibilities.@cyberthom Thank you for the comment. No, I have not published the model anywhere and mainly because I do not have the time to support others trying to build it.
Like with any other big 3d-model like this it is also hard to guarantee that all small changes are incorporated into the model. Also, to build the various parts a fairly good 3D printer is needed (all plastic parts are made of ABS using roughly 100 degC bed heating).
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@skywatch said in Best 3d printers:
@mbj Also know that colour 3d printer are now available and likely to become the norm sometime in the future. So something to bear in mind....
Doesn't matter, if you need it in the future, buy parts for it when you need it. I purchased to be "future" safe a version with dual hotends, so I during print can change and use another colour. I thought it could be nice if I print a box and embed name for input or output in another colour. I have not used it yet... as Dymo labels are easier
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@skywatch said in Best 3d printers:
@mbj Also know that colour 3d printer are now available and likely to become the norm sometime in the future. So something to bear in mind....
Doesn't matter, if you need it in the future, buy parts for it when you need it. I purchased to be "future" safe a version with dual hotends, so I during print can change and use another colour. I thought it could be nice if I print a box and embed name for input or output in another colour. I have not used it yet... as Dymo labels are easier
@bjacobse I mean 'full colour' printers. I know triple feed hot ends are available and with dual head you could have 6 colours, but still limited compared to current HP full colour 3D printers.
https://www8.hp.com/us/en/printers/3d-printers/products/multi-jet-fusion-500-300.html
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@skywatch said in Best 3d printers:
@mbj Also know that colour 3d printer are now available and likely to become the norm sometime in the future. So something to bear in mind....
Doesn't matter, if you need it in the future, buy parts for it when you need it. I purchased to be "future" safe a version with dual hotends, so I during print can change and use another colour. I thought it could be nice if I print a box and embed name for input or output in another colour. I have not used it yet... as Dymo labels are easier
@bjacobse Dual hotends are quite nice to have. I often have ABS going to one of them and PETG to the other. I do not use this to change colors during printing (actually have just tested it a couple of times) but being able to slice for extruder 1 or 2 means that I often can print without changing the plastic because my most common choices are those two qualities.
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@skywatch @mbj
I think you are experienced and - and would you really recommend for a fist time use/novice as the topic poster to suggest printing in more than 1 colour? as beginner you need advice to get started and get success, and build competence, then you can later on move to a higher level, modify your printer and print with several colours -
@skywatch @mbj
I think you are experienced and - and would you really recommend for a fist time use/novice as the topic poster to suggest printing in more than 1 colour? as beginner you need advice to get started and get success, and build competence, then you can later on move to a higher level, modify your printer and print with several colours@bjacobse With two extruders you load up each with your most common filaments and thus do a filament change less frequent. Then it is a "nice-to-have" but nothing cruicial at least not for me who rarely combine materials in same print.
In more advanced use when people want to print for example support structures in one material and the item itself with another filament this is not practically possible with less than two extruders.
Changing colors can be done with one extruder but frequent changes for same part are of course a pain.
So depending on use the dual (or even more complex) extruders are everything from just nice to a must. For a beginner it is not needed (and for something "home built" it is most likely possible to change to a more complex extruder after some years).
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@bjacobse With two extruders you load up each with your most common filaments and thus do a filament change less frequent. Then it is a "nice-to-have" but nothing cruicial at least not for me who rarely combine materials in same print.
In more advanced use when people want to print for example support structures in one material and the item itself with another filament this is not practically possible with less than two extruders.
Changing colors can be done with one extruder but frequent changes for same part are of course a pain.
So depending on use the dual (or even more complex) extruders are everything from just nice to a must. For a beginner it is not needed (and for something "home built" it is most likely possible to change to a more complex extruder after some years).
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Well, I didnt think this post would get so popular! but thats great, have learnt a lot just by looking suggested things up.
So, Software....
I am thinking of using sketchup as I already use this quite a bit for different projects and can find my way around it well.
Has anyone else used it and think there is better? Preferably free or open source...What's everyone's preference?
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Well, I didnt think this post would get so popular! but thats great, have learnt a lot just by looking suggested things up.
So, Software....
I am thinking of using sketchup as I already use this quite a bit for different projects and can find my way around it well.
Has anyone else used it and think there is better? Preferably free or open source...What's everyone's preference?
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Well, I didnt think this post would get so popular! but thats great, have learnt a lot just by looking suggested things up.
So, Software....
I am thinking of using sketchup as I already use this quite a bit for different projects and can find my way around it well.
Has anyone else used it and think there is better? Preferably free or open source...What's everyone's preference?
@crumpy10 For starting out I'd suggest online sites like tinkercad. It's free, you can download stl files to print and it's a good way to learn.
It's not as fully featured as some of the paid packages, but it will give you a taste of what you need and can go from there with whatever suits your need and budget.
I believe that sktechup also can output stl files (maybe needs a plugin, I don't know I don't use it), so maybe an option if you are happy with that.
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I just purchased a Creality CR-10S Pro. It should arrive in a couple days. Anyone own one of these? This is my first step into the 3D making world :-)
@homer I think you've made a good choice - good luck with with your new source of frustration and learning! :)
If it turns out you don't like it, feel free to send it to me (Heeeee) ;)
From experience though, test out your printer with something simple from thingiverse.com and see how it goes....
For me the following were the areas I had problems with at first.....
- Bed leveling - this has to be right to get the first layer the same thickness.
- Bed adhesion - I had 'lifting' problems that took a while to sort out.
- Supports - You'll get a feel for where and when to use supports, it takes a little trail and error though....
