I'm thinking of getting my first 3D printer. It will live in a fairly dusty environment, so guessing a cabinet model (e.g. Creality K1) might be best suited. I only really want it for practical applications to produce the odd item when I can't buy it off the shelf, but probably my son will be keen to have a play (one of his school subjects includes 3D printing). Any suggestions?
3D Printer with Enclosure
RangaWal on 24/02/2024 - 11:26
Comments
Thanks. I do like the looks of the Bambu Lab P1S, but was wondering if a cheaper unit my suit my needs.
The Bambu is so fast! Probably not a killer feature if you are going to use it occasionally but it is nice. It also a textured bed which produces a really nice finish on one side.
But I do agree with others, probably not necessary for a first printer.
As it's your first, i don't actually recommend the bambu printer. Get an ender 3, and make an "Ikea Lack" enclosure for it (look it up, very commonly done).
Only once you have used the ender 3 for a while and find that you are bringing your printer to good use and your devoted to spend more money on this hobby, then upgrade to whatever the latest bambu is at the time.
I see it time and time again that people buy an expensive printer as their printer…they used it heaps for a month or 2, then after the 6 month mark the printer never gets used and its a dead hobby of theirs. Trial this first with the ender 3.
regards, a CAD/CAM technician with over 15 years experience in 3D printing
good advice - I was just thinking a cheaper printer would give a better ROI, and I could just cover it with something. Interesting there's not more used printers for sale from those who have given up on the hobby.
Don't get used unless you know the seller personally.You will also find the price difference between new and 2nd hand isn't that different, so might as well go new.
The thing about these printers is you need to constantly replace parts on them, unless you know th machine back to from a repair could be as cheap as another spool of filament or as expensive as a mother board replacement.
All of these cheap printers (like ender's), are so cheap that when people are done with them they don't bother with trying to sell, they just bin it and buy a new one OR keep it for parts.
In my life IV gone through maybe 30 printers? And IV only sold 2 printers, all my other printers when they get too hard to buy parts for or I replace with something better I tend to keep the printer for parts.
But yeah, go with the cheap route first, then if you find you are sticking to it, invest in something better
The Bambu printers seem to be really good at producing stuff that just works out of the box.
I'm balls deep in a couple of older Ender 3's that I've put more money into mods than the printers are even worth…
If you're putting it out in the shed or something, yeah definitely get an enclosed printer.