Recommendations for a 3D printer on a budget?
Oldbitcollector (Jeff)
Posts: 8,091
I'm forecasting the need to obtain a Makerbot or other 3D printer this sometime during the first quarter of this year for Propellerpowred.
There is no way the budget will allow the purchase of a Replicator 2.
I need some recommendations from those who have 3D printers on what I should be looking for in a 3D printer on a budget.
Ideally, the easier I can get into one of these, the easier it will be justify and make the thing pay for itself.
Thanks
Jeff
There is no way the budget will allow the purchase of a Replicator 2.
I need some recommendations from those who have 3D printers on what I should be looking for in a 3D printer on a budget.
Ideally, the easier I can get into one of these, the easier it will be justify and make the thing pay for itself.
Thanks
Jeff
Comments
It's all too easy to become infatuated with gee-whiz technology. Since the 3D printer is for your business, have you identified an actual need for it? I bought a Makerbot awhile back, and it's still a not-very-good solution looking for a problem. In any event, it's definitely not a production-worthy machine, being very slow and imprecise. By contrast, my laser cutter has been a very useful and worthwhile investment.
-Phil
I agree the original makerbot isn't too hot - the replicator 2 is a big more respectable in my opinion, yet still behind those big guys. I'm not sure if any of the least expensive ones are better than the original makerbot or not. Anyone?
Just about :-)
I've seen some Replicator prints, they are very nice. Almost as nice as a Dimension printer. The Thing-O-Matic can be setup to make some pretty nice prints. I would not recommend a Cupcake.
If I were to buy a new one I would choose;
1) the Original wood Replicator
2) Ultimaker
3) Mendel Max
4) PrintrBot LC
Pretty much in that order.
The Rostock is neat too but for finest detail you need a conventional cartesian movement system.
I would say for sure that the output I have seen from various models of 3d printers that friends have has been very dependent on the person taking the time to get the machine properly setup and tuned/calibrated. It's less work for a prebuilt/tuned machine like the Replicator, but still requires some tweaking. However, I have found that once it's going good, you can print a lot of stuff without much work. Plus, the newer slicer programs and host/firmware software has made it a lot better for getting good results. Anyway, don't expect this to me like other printers where you can just plug it in and print and not have to ever do any maintenance.
wjsteele (forum member here) did a kickstarter for his variant of a makerbot called the Ultra-Bot, and I backed that. I hope to have that kit soon to build. He has shown some very nice output from his machine. I believe he plans to sell kits and built machines once the kickstarter ones are all completed. He also has another printer called PiMaker that uses a round platform and the head moves in X and Z, and the platform rotates (instead of having a X/Y sliding platform or head).
The kickstarter page is here: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/wjsteele/ultra-bot-3d-printer Scan through the updates for info on the PiMaker. Maybe he will post here about how you can get one of his printers Jeff...
Aside from that, I pretty much agree with what Rich (W9GFO) said, and his ordering of printers.
Interesting that searching for "3D printer" on the site from your forum signature comes up with (among others) a PrintrBot for sale on the Savage Circuits forum. Perhaps Jeff will have an interest in this one.
Thread link:
http://www.savagecircuits.com/forums/showthread.php?1420-Printrbot-3D-Printer
BTW: This search page is very handy... Thanks!
Click here to search the Parallax and Savage Circuits forums
dgately
The PiMaker is a polar coordinate printer... you can see it here: http://sdrv.ms/UapcC3
Bill
Jeff
Bill,
Does this mean kickstarter backers are getting PiMakers? Or am I just misunderstanding, and you just mean aside from the kickstarter stuff?
Just reread my kickstarter updates.
I mainly just got it to "play around" with and to learn more about 3D printing. And $400 fit the "toys for big boys" budget.
P.S. I also have hopes of making a Propeller controller for it...
Bean
I guess the maths is a bit more complex, but the mechanical simplicity is neat. Are you willing to say how you rotate the platform (geared or direct drive)?
I have a Prusa V2 - but it's not running yet (too many projects, not enough time)
Meanwhile, I have been watching the rockstock progress. While the vitamins are less, the plastic parts go up quite considerably.
This is from Joe Prusa, designer of the most popular reprap. The I3 combines the best parts of prusa, Printrbot (Wallace), and Mendle90. So far this looks like the current "best on the planet".
With a bit experience and parts harvesting one might get this going for $300.
From the "store bought" units I've encountered, the reprap is 10x easier to get going and maintain.
http://3dobjectifying.blogspot.tw/2012/12/ceramic-hotend-part-1.html#!/2012/12/ceramic-hotend-part-1.html
Sure, it's a direct drive... the gear for the build plate is basically 10" in diameter with a direct drive from the motor. The positional accuracy of it is much greater than any other printer, even at the outer edge. The trade off is a little noise and speed.
It's pretty amazing watching it make parts, however, because the tool path it uses is exactly the same as the other 3d printers using cartesian coordinates, but the part moves under the extruder in a cool way.
Bill
Jeff
Are you willing to build your own, and then tweak/tune it until it's good? Or would you rather buy something pre-built, that only requires minimal tuning to get good? It's a significant distinction, and depends on your personal time/value equation.
Another thing to factor in is replacing parts that break. Some printers have more easily replaced parts then others. The "frames" rarely break, the parts to worry about are the hotend/head, the linkage (between steppers and rods/belts), the belts (if any), and so on.
After that I'll give my opinion of it.
For $400 if it prints even half decent, I will be happy.
Bean
If you decide to build your own, I got your back on whatever plastic parts you might need printed. It's the least I could do for all you do for the community. No charge of course.
I have a Prusa v2 slightly modified, using Sanguinololu electronics, that I just plugged in again recently after about a year of none use. Just the other day posted my first thing onto thingiverse, more to come just finished a Quickstart holder platform thing with breadboard and battery pack. Currently working on a tracked robot, that will probably use a Quickstart. Anyway I have a few weeks off work following a minor surgery and I am just looking for stuff to do, so I would done pretty quick. If you need anything printed let me know.
Ron
Bean
Jeff