Finding a Decent Beginner 3D Printer @ ~ $400-$500

Waffles on 14/04/2022 - 15:51

Hi All,

Looking for some help to get started in finding a 3D Printer. I'm a techn enthusiast but I've never even seen a 3D Printer in real life. I have young kids so I thought it might be fun to make toys for them as well as play around with it myself.

So I'm trying to work out if I risk the Aldi solution https://shop.aldi.com.au/product-detail?product=700611&name=… to see if it suits or if I go for a better-known brand to give the hobby and actual chance.

I've heard brands like Ender thrown around from my research but there seem to be a lot of people unhappy with newer models like the Ender 6.

I'd love advice on what to look out for and good shops to buy from. Also happy to learn more about filament but I understand that might be more trial and error.

Thanks heaps!

Find Me A Bargain 3D Printer

Comments

  • odgregg on 14/04/2022 - 16:15
    +1

    I purchased an Ender 3 v2 at the beginning of this year and it's been great (first foray into 3d printing). Cost about $350 at the time, but has been under $300 often.

    It's currently $329 at Inkstation which is where I got mine. I purchased the bundle with comes with 5 x 1kg rolls of PLA+ for $100 more which seemed like great value. I've continued to order PLA+ from them as any order over $50 ships overnight, and 2 rolls is just over $50.

    https://www.inkstation.com.au/creality-ender-3-v2-upgraded-3…

    I've had to tinker a bit with the Ender 3 v2 a couple of times, but it's done a lot of printing so far.

    It's printed for 50days elapsed time, and 8.5kg of fillament across 283 print jobs.

    • Godbotly on 14/04/2022 - 16:18

      Hey, where'd you get those printing stats?

      • odgregg on 14/04/2022 - 16:22
        +2

        I run Octopi on a raspberry pi 3 that I happened to have lying around, so it's driving the printer. There's an addin called Print Job History that records every print job.

        https://github.com/OllisGit/OctoPrint-PrintJobHistory

        I also use Spool Manager plugin to track and manage what filament I have used (and have left)

        https://github.com/OllisGit/OctoPrint-SpoolManager

        (and several other plugins)

        • Godbotly on 14/04/2022 - 16:24

          Cheers! I run octoprint, I'll check these plugins out. Never considered keeping fun info like that.

        • warkolm on 16/04/2022 - 19:00

          these two look great, thanks for sharing

          can I ask what other plugins you run?

          • odgregg on 17/04/2022 - 07:42
            +1

            @warkolm: Quite a lot :-) I also use OctoApp to drive and monitor much of it from my mobile

            Here's the raw list, some are the pre-installed ones:

            Active Connections
            Backup Scheduler
            Bed Visualizer
            Cost Estimation
            Cura Thumbnails
            Dashboard
            Firmware Check
            OctoApp
            OneDrive Backup
            PSU Control
            PSU Control - Home Assistant
            Print Job History
            PrintTimeGenius Plugin
            Printer Dialogs
            Printer Notifications
            Slicer Thumbnails
            Spool Manager
            Themeify
            Timelapse Purger
            Top Temp
            TouchUI
            Virtual Printer

  • Godbotly on 14/04/2022 - 16:16
    +2

    There's two major things I'd consider when purchasing…

    Do you want a 'ready to go' package or do you want the fun/experience/hobby of starting small and upgrading?

    I have an Ender 3 V2. I've been very happy with it. I started with a stock printer and over the last 12 months I've done endless mods building it to be exactly how I want.. All metal hotend, direct drive, dual z-axis screws, ABL, custom fans/shrouds, so much shit.. But, it has been awesome fun and I now know my printer inside and out. If I have an issue I know exactly where to look. Main benefit I see is knowledge and it's cheap to start then you spend little bits as you go when you want. $400 for a printer then $600 over the course of a year is miniscule.

    If you don't want that 'experience' or hassle and I'd personally look at the Ender 3 S1. It's brand new and comes with every single mod I've made to my printer… The cost is a fair bit more, but youre getting a $500 printer with $500 in mods. So its more initial outlay for the same end product essentially.

    I'm sorry I don't have experience with any other brands. A lot of people love the Prusa printers so be sure to check those out.

    • Waffles on 14/04/2022 - 16:27

      Thanks heaps. Per my comment below I like the idea of building up but being time poor I'd probably rather spend the extra time on the 3d printing itself which is a whole body of knowledge even apart from the machine as far as i can tell.

  • devondale16 on 14/04/2022 - 16:20
    +1

    I’m in a similar boat as you (and still haven’t decided what to get) FYI I believe that Aldi printer is a rebranded Flashforge Adventurer 3. People complain about its parts being proprietary and poor quality.

    • Waffles on 14/04/2022 - 16:23

      Thanks - yes I had exactly that fear. I figured at least with aldi you get 60 days so you get to "see" why you might pay more

  • Rockah on 14/04/2022 - 16:22
    +1

    Hey, hopefully I can help. I started with the Ender 3 v2. It’s a great printer and is around $300 on very good sales, up to about $380 normally.

    The only thing I’d really focus on getting for that printer right off the bat is a magnetic PEI build plate. They’re run about $40-50 on Amazon. And while many will say the stock glass bed is fine, I have two v2s at home and can vouch for the fact that not all beds are equal off the production line. A PEI build plate is the best money I’ve spent so far.

    I also just got the Ender 3 S1 - this printer had a lot of the additions that most people end up adding to their Ender 3s and V2s, such as a flex plate, bed levelling sensor, filament runout sensor, dual z axis motors, and is generally a much easier platform to put together. I got one at launch for about $560 but I think they may have gone up a bit in price.

    I looked at the Aldi one, and while I’m sure it may work fine - get something that has a big community and support, such as an Ender. I haven’t had too many issues with mine, but 3D printing is not without its challenges and their are subreddits and heaps of discussion forums dedicated to all Ender models. There’s also lots of additional parts you can print for Enders since they’re so common. If you go down the V2 path, watch this video for the build https://youtu.be/JTN6jtB5mqk - a huge component of successful prints is making sure you build it properly. This is the PEI bed I got for mine Comgrow PEI Magnetic Flexible Heated Bed Surface Magnetic Platform, 235x235mm for Ender 3/ Ender 3 Pro/Ender 3V2/Ender 5 3D Printer https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B09C34FWP8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i…

    Any other questions let me know

    • Waffles on 14/04/2022 - 16:25

      Thanks. I'm intrigued by the idea of expanding it and @Godbotly suggested that too. I enjoy doing that with PCs. But these days I'm time poor so having all of those out of the box is probably worth the cost at this point in time. I'd rather start with something that's more ready to go and look into tweaking later.

      • odgregg on 14/04/2022 - 16:28

        I found the Ender 3 v2 printed fine right out of the box. I still have the first print (a benchy) sitting right next to me and it basically came out perfectly to my amazement. The only major thing I've added is a CR touch bed leveller to mine afterabout a month, although it turned out I'd levelled it pretty perfectly by watching a couple of video. The first time I did a plot of the bed level there was a maximum deviation of 0.2mm across the entire print surface.

    • odgregg on 14/04/2022 - 16:25

      I purchased a similar PEI build plate early on, but I'm still operating off the original glass build plate. Once I got familiar with how to remove print jobs it's been much easier now and I haven't needed to swap it out. At least I've got it if I ever need too :-)

      • Rockah on 14/04/2022 - 16:57

        Yep, I agree… to a degree! I have the PEI on one, and the original on the other. One build plate was a chalky, odd finish on the pattern on the glass and no matter what I did, or who I got to help come and try deal with it, we couldn't get anything to stick. My other one has a bit of the opposite problem, it sticks too well bit I think most of that is my nozzle being a bit too close to the bed. But I just could not use the original glass on my first printer, so the PEI plate went on that.

        And since I have both, I can definitely say that the PEI is far superior, simply because it sticks so well during the print, but as soon as it cools it literally pops right off with no effort. It also results in a glass finish on the first layer, which can be nice and used to your advantage if you want to print something with a smooth finish.

    • Waffles on 14/04/2022 - 16:45

      Also where did you get the S1? It doesn't seem to be listed on inkstation. Kogan says about $600 - is that about right?

      • Rockah on 14/04/2022 - 16:53
        +1

        See my comment below on the S1 and where to get it mate.

  • Waffles on 14/04/2022 - 16:29
    +1

    Also another question for peeps - what DO you use them for? I've mentioned a few ideas in my post. But are most people tinkerers or do they have specific purposes?

    • odgregg on 14/04/2022 - 16:31
      +1

      Mine is primarily for printing board game inserts. I have a large collection of board games, and purchasing custom inserts for them can get expensive. It was to save money on those… or at least that's how I justified it to my wife :-)

      It still costs a fair bit to print them, and some of the larger ones have taken over a week (involving 20+ separate parts).

      An insert for the board game Tapestry for example: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5183573

      • Waffles on 14/04/2022 - 16:34

        oooOOOooo. As a board game nut with gloomhaven and others an absolute mess this is definitely intriguing! I hadn't even considered it. Thanks!

    • Rockah on 14/04/2022 - 16:40
      +1

      Mostly functional stuff - battery holders for rechargables, google mini wall mount, 120mm fan adapters, but then lots of stuff for the kids like pokemon figures, some cool skulls. If you are after something really easy and faster to set up out of the box, go the S1. In the short term and long run, it is a better machine

    • Switchblade88 on 14/04/2022 - 16:51
      +1

      I'm self-taught for 3D modeling in Sketchup. That means I can measure up, say, a missing/broken TV remote battery cover, model it in 3D, and send the STL to slice and print within half an hour. Little replacement bits like this make it really worthwhile.

      I've not tackled any bigger projects/multi-hour prints like the fancy dragons you see on Tiktok, since the slow progress and noise gets rather tiring, but it's on my todo list when I get more filament.

    • Godbotly on 14/04/2022 - 16:57
      +2

      I print lots of crap. I took the opportunity to learn some basic CAD and it REALLY expanded what's possible with my printer. I have a few models on Thingiverse now they've helped a few people which I think is awesome.

      https://www.thingiverse.com/turnt/designs

      Most recently a friends girlfriend wanted an articulating model printed, I said buy the filament and you can have 1KG of toys.

      So she got these: https://imgur.com/yjJihQy

      I decided last night I wanted to do some sketchy shit with my PLEX server which requires cutting a x4 PCI-E card down to fit in a x1 PCI-E slot. I made a quick template/jig in fusion then printed it… https://imgur.com/qQKVnr8

      Missus has these little candle wick cutter things that get left on the bench n leave wax everywhere.. so.. https://imgur.com/HPqatFm

      Shits endless mannnn. I love it.

      • Waffles on 14/04/2022 - 17:10

        awesome!

  • Rockah on 14/04/2022 - 16:48

    Also I forgot to mention where to get them from. Depending on what you settle on, I got one of my V2's from amazon and the other from these guys https://3dprintersonline.com.au/

    Their website is a bit poo, but their service is good. I also got my S1 from there which seems to be a decent price here: https://3dprintersonline.com.au/creality-ender3-s1-3d-printe…

    When I pre-ordered mine, I ended up getting it several weeks earlier than they had originally predicted, but I'm guessing end of May is realistic.

  • Switchblade88 on 14/04/2022 - 16:55

    I got a Voxelab Aquila for $200 last year via an eBay deal I think. Currently at $350, but the 200x200x250mm build volume makes a big difference for longer parts as well as being cheaper than the ALDI one listed.

    https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/265224192585

  • Waffles on 14/04/2022 - 17:18

    Thanks all for your thoughts. After hearing everything I feel like this the path forward:

    1. Get an S1 for a simpler expansion path and having some of the V2's "nice to upgrade"s straight in. I'll grab it from Kogan not cause they're a better company but cause I have a couple of hundred bucks kogan first credit.
    2. Buy a few 1.75 mm PLA+ 1KG spools from inkstation
    3. Dig up a RasPI and google up octopi and why i want it..
    4. Profit?

    Am I missing anything?

    • CrazyBargainCatcher on 14/04/2022 - 17:40
      +1

      Inkstation, isn’t really the best place to get filament. Check out 3DFillies, Cubic Tech, Amazon (If you have prime). I used to get the factory seconds from Aurarum for $20/kg (I had a decent experience with them unlike others). Jay car is a big no for me though.

      • Waffles on 14/04/2022 - 17:57

        Thanks, is there something special I should be looking for in filament? Or is it pretty safe to go "I like that colour, $X/kg is an ok price, nuff said"

        Edit: and I do have prime, so that's easy for me

        • CrazyBargainCatcher on 14/04/2022 - 18:14
          +1

          For beginners look for PLA/PLA+. PETG is the next best option for stronger and more heat resistant parts. Would steer clear of everything else like ABS, especially because the Ender 3 S1 is open frame. I like to stay under $20-25/kg for PLA $25-30/kg for PETG. Under $17-18 for ABS if I need it for a specific purpose.

          • odgregg on 14/04/2022 - 20:03

            @CrazyBargainCatcher: Where do you suggest for PLA in the $20-$25/kg range shipped? I've been going for $26.90/kg shipped with Inkstation as mentioned. Was going to try eSun, but have been pretty happy with the PLA+ from there.

            • CrazyBargainCatcher on 14/04/2022 - 21:40

              @odgregg: Check eBay. Cubictech refills are $23.90 I think. Ebay has been the cheapest shipped, but check reviews and quality.

        • Rockah on 14/04/2022 - 18:18

          Esun is common and decent quality on Amazon. To start with, focus on something simple like white or black. I mainly use PLA, but have PLA+ on hand for slightly stronger prints

    • pencilhead on 15/04/2022 - 11:51

      Print size is important.
      I'd be looking at 300x300 print size.
      You said you are technical, so I think Creatily cr10 seems a good choice.
      Version 3 has some worthwhile features. I'd avoid V1 as they have some issues.

  • samcro on 14/04/2022 - 17:26
    +1

    Ender 3 S1. Already preconfigured with the most common upgrades that people do. I have an S3 Pro (upgraded with levelling probe, direct drive, PEI bed). I print anything from busts, figurines to TIKIs and sometimes practical stuff that I see a need for. Ive joined a Patreon from which I can download hundreds of models and have permission to sell them, if If wish (maybe when I get better at painting).

  • Snicko on 15/04/2022 - 09:14
    +1

    I also bought an Ender 3 V2 at xmas as my first entry into the market
    Its been great, was really quite easy to setup out of the box - Just setup Octopi as well
    Its been smashing prints out daily!

    • Snicko on 15/04/2022 - 09:16
      +1

      Should also say i run Esun PLA from Cubic technology cause they are local to me
      And i bought the printer from Aurarum as they had the E3V2 for $300 at Australia day!

      I have added the yellow springs, and found i needed to use a glue stick to get the first layer adhesion

  • CSR on 15/04/2022 - 22:41
    +1

    FWIW I entered the 3d printer market with an Ender 6 and have been happy with it.

  • yorks1pudd on 30/05/2022 - 11:18

    Hi, I hope you are well and by now you have probably decided on our first printer. But just thought I would add my input. I started 3D printing about 6 years ago and at the time there were nowhere near as many choices out there. However, there was Anycubic and the I3 Mega. I have had two of these machines since I started and neither has skipped a beat. They require minimal maintenance, but just just keep going on and on. In fact, I have only changed the nozzle and PTFE on each ince in this time and nothing else. While I have several other 3D printers, these are the two I call on for the more difficult prints. Well, I hope you enjoy your time in the 3D printing world and remember that is something doesn't go how it should or a print fails, it is all part of the learning experience.

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