Welcome back to another purchase megathread!
This thread is meant to conglomerate purchase advice for both newcomers and people looking for additional machines. Keeping this discussion to one thread means less searching should anyone have questions that may already have been answered here, as well as more visibility to inquiries in general, as comments made here will be visible for the entire month stuck to the top of the sub, and then added to the Purchase Advice Collection (Reddit Collections are still broken on mobile view, enable "view in desktop mode").
Please be sure to skim through this thread for posts with similar requirements to your own first, as recommendations relevant to your situation may have already been posted, and may even include answers to follow up questions you might have wished to ask.
If you are new to 3D printing, and are unsure of what to ask, try to include the following in your posts as a minimum:
- Your budget, set at a numeric amount. Saying "cheap," or "money is not a problem" is not an answer people can do much with. 3D printers can cost $100, they can cost $10,000,000, and anywhere in between. A rough idea of what you're looking for is essential to figuring out anything else.
- Your country of residence.
- If you are willing to build the printer from a kit, and what your level of experience is with electronic maintenance and construction if so.
- What you wish to do with the printer.
- Any extenuating circumstances that would restrict you from using machines that would otherwise fit your needs (limited space for the printer, enclosure requirement, must be purchased through educational intermediary, etc).
While this is by no means an exhaustive list of what can be included in your posts, these questions should help paint enough of a picture to get started. Don't be afraid to ask more questions, and never worry about asking too many. The people posting in this thread are here because they want to give advice, and any questions you have answered may be useful to others later on, when they read through this thread looking for answers of their own. Everyone here was new once, so chances are whoever is replying to you has a good idea of how you feel currently.
Reddit User and Regular u/richie225 is also constantly maintaining his extensive personal recommendations list which is worth a read: Generic FDM Printer recommendations.
Additionally, a quick word on print quality: Most FDM/FFF (that is, filament based) printers are capable of approximately the same tolerances and print appearance, as the biggest limiting factor is in the nature of extruded plastic. Asking if a machine has "good prints," or saying "I don't expect the best quality for $xxx" isn't actually relevant for the most part with regards to these machines. Should you need additional detail and higher tolerances, you may want to explore SLA, DLP, and other photoresin options, as those do offer an increase in overall quality. If you are interested in resin machines, make sure you are aware of how to use them safely. For these safety reasons we don't usually recommend a resin printer as someone's first printer.
As always, if you're a newcomer to this community, welcome. If you're a regular, welcome back.
I was browsing Marketplace out of boredom looking at various listings, and after sifting through a fair few printers on there already, I found a used Elegoo Neptune 4 being sold locally (I'm based in Ontario, so it'd be $100 Canadian which is mighty tempting). Anyone got some current opinions on this printer?
Seems to be fairly well liked glancing online in various places, but any first hand experience is welcome.
We briefly had a Anycubic Kobra in the house before, but that turned out to be a total junker down the line that got sold as a "for repairs" printer later on. Since then, I've been (occasionally) pondering getting another printer.
I'm mainly looking to use this for printing Nerf parts and blasters since I'm already well into that hobby, but I'll probably wind up finding other things to print on Thingiverse/Printables/etc. My room isn't very big, so I can't really have a permanent dedicated "print space" since it's the smallest room in my apartment, but I was also mainly looking to use it as a tool anyways since 3D printing services are pricey and annoying to repeatedly deal with for what I want to get out of a printer. I don't mind doing some basic tinkering/troubleshooting, but I'm not insanely tech savvy either, so I'd hopefully be looking to buy this printer and just print what I need after dialing things into my liking.
Currently have a Elegoo one color printer. Want to upgrade to multicolor. Also want something that requires less constant tweaking (esp. Z offset) and babysitting to prevent failure. Looking at Creality HI color, Flashforge ad5x, and bambu a1 combo. Anyone have knowledge of or used all 3 and can offer recommendations?
First 3d printer. I want to primarily make functional things for around the house. Something where I can easily define a shape and print it out. Or use other people's designs who have already solved my issues. Under $300.
I’m considering Elagoo Centauri Carbon. It seems like decent value for my 1st 3d printer. Any better options in that price range?
The e driver on my ender 5 pro blew up last night. What should I do?
-Buy new motherboard and go to Klipper, recalibrate everything. ($100-ish?)
-Buy a Flashforge AD5X ($339)
I'm short on time generally, so I'm not sure if I should even mess with trying to resurrect my E5. It's been solid for like 4 years and I've put a bunch of upgrades on it, but I have 2 little kids and tinker time is a precious commodity now.
The idea of multiple colors is cool but I don't know how often I would actually use it.
I've heard great things about Bambu, but not sure if the lower end of their line is still that much better than the cheaper brands.
What do you all recommend? I've been printing for years and have experience in electronics and software development, just not always the time.
Bambu Lab A1 at $299 or P1S at $399? (US)
This will be my first 3D printer. Looking to print things for around the house, cool models, maybe mini figs.
Help me pick my upgrade: P1P + AMS, P1S, or P2S?
I’m currently running a Bambu Lab P1P and am thinking about upgrading, but I’m not sure what the smartest move is. The main thing pushing me to upgrade is getting an AMS setup for multi-material and easier filament management. I know I can just add an AMS to my P1P, but from what I’ve seen it ends up more expensive than going with a P1S that comes bundled, especially once you factor in enclosures and other upgrades.
Right now I’m torn between a few options and would love some real-world input: should I wait for deals and grab a new P1S with AMS, hunt for a used P1S, just add an AMS to my existing P1P, or skip both and stretch for a P2S instead? If you’ve gone down any of these paths, how did it work out cost-wise and regret-wise? Also, are there particular times of year when Bambu or retailers tend to have the best discounts?
Any advice or experience from people who’ve upgraded from a P1P (or moved between these models) would be super helpful.
Hello everyone. I'm searching for a 3dprinter so I came here to say hi ! I'm french, have a budget of around 500€. I'd prefer not to build it but I'm really good at lego if needed :'). I would like to print mini figurine with detail like Warhammer and maybe fidget toys. Ideally I hope to print 15cm figurines without having to cut them. I think I've said all you need to help me Thanks a lot !!!
Used printer advice:
There are a couple of 3D printers on my local FB Marketplace for $50. Is this worth it? The first one is an "upgraded" Creality Ender 3 V2 which may need to be "tuned and tweaked". (I'll need to tighten up the hot end carriage, it feels loose. Level the bed. Possibly un jam the nozzle.) It comes with the following upgrades:
Upgraded silent fan
Silent main board
Cr touch auto level
Led light with power switch
Direct drive
Metal extruder
Body kit
The other is a Voxelab Aquilla, which my research shows us an Ender clone. This one looks like it will come with a few spools of filament.
Are either of these worth $50? I just want to maybe try something out and see what I want to do with it before buying something better. My "dream" printer would be the Prusa MK4.
If you just want to print stuff, no, they're not worth buying. If you want to learn about printers, what makes them tick and how to adjust/tune/fix them, then yes they're worth buying.
Either one can make excellent prints. They'll print slower than modern top-end printers, but initally that probably won't be a big issue (one of the dirty little secrets of 3D printing is that "Fast printer" really means "excruciatingly slow printer, but only half as slow as a "Slow printer"). Neither one will be considered a "It just works" printer.
Great, thank you.
I run a nonprofit, and we are looking to grow a makerspace for clean tech entrepreneurs and university students. I have grant funding to buy 3D printers but wanted to get feedback on the best ones to buy. I put the request into chat GPT and got the following as examples:
Bambu Lab P1S / similar (four of them) Creality K1 Max / Prusa MK4 (two of them) Raise3D E2CF or similar (one) Formlabs Form 3+ / similar (one) Modix BIG-120X / similar (one) Any reviews or feedback would be great. Bonus if there are connections to manufacturers that would be willing to donate or give a discount to help us stretch dollars further in exchange for branding or tax write-offs. We have around $40,000 for the purchase.
How many users are you expecting? You could buy 40 Bambu P2S printers, but that might be more print capacity than you need.
I would try to stick to one or two brands and models. That makes managing them and maintenance much easier.
Personally, I would probably go with a bunch of Prusa Core Ones and maybe a couple Core One Ls. If you have time before you spend the grant, maybe you could get a couple units with INDX. Bambu would also be a solid choice. In that direction I would buy a bunch of P2S and a couple of H2Ds.
Maybe keep a bit of money for a resin printer (but honestly I wouldn't want to deal with one in a public setting). Anycubic and Elegoo both make good printers, but Heygears is probably more user-friendly. Formlabs would be nice, but it's super expensive, and consumable costs will kill you.
Do not buy a Raise3D E2CF. Do not buy a large-format printer like the Modix unless you have a clear demonstrated need. It will sit idle 99% of the time, and prints that require it will take forever.
Also, reserve some of the budget (if you're allowed) for consumables. Filament, nozzles, etc.
For Makerspace/nonprofit, the Bambu is the route I would go. You're going to want something that works with minimal tinkering, calibration, maintenance, etc..., and current market, that's the Bambu lineup. The others are great printers and are more than capable of doing what you need, but the overhead of operating a fleet of them for 'the public' on nonprofit staffing levels would be problematic.
I'm looking to get my own printer probably shortly into the new year, or with a decent enough Christmas sale if there is one. Currently I'm borrowing a prusa mk3s, and I do like the prusa slicer and company ethos (ability to upgrade is amazing), but it is way more expensive than comparable printers. I'm wary of Bambu's walled garden, but the p1s is tempting (when it's back in stock in the us).
Really, what I want is something good for details for larger figures, and printing my own designs and projects. I'm happy to tinker and build from a kit, and want a printer I can get spare parts for easily. I don't really have any interest or need for multicolor printing atm either.
Should I wait and save more for a prusa mk4, go for a Bambu or creality, or is there another option to consider? My budget is flexible, 500-600$, but a cheaper printer means I can buy more filament!
You know you like the Prusa Mk3s, you like the slicer, and you like the ethos. I'd either save for the Mk4, or see if you could find a lightly used Mk3 within your budget.
3D Printer as a New Hobby?
I’m thinking about getting a 3D printer as a new hobby. I recently moved to a city in the middle of nowhere with very tough weather, so I can’t go out and have fun like I used to.
I’ve always liked DIY stuff since I was a kid, and 3D printing seems a lot easier now than it used to be. I’m tempted to buy a printer and make some random projects, but I also know myself… I rarely commit to a new hobby, and I’m worried it’ll end up collecting dust after two weeks.
Is getting a 3D printer actually worth it for someone like me? Or would it just end up thrown in a corner after two weeks? I think it’s better to have some random people tell me what to do because I always make bad decisions
Also, if your answer is “yes,” is the Bambu Lab A1 mini good enough, or should I go for the A1? And do I need the multi-color combo or is it unnecessary?
Looking to get more into printing than tinkering.
Currently own an Ender 3 V2 (with several mods like bed leveler, guide rails but all very basic) and running Klipper. However, i'm getting fed up with prints failing, the time it takes to print, not getting enough detail, filament capabilities swapping out filaments and all around tinkering to keep it running for a couple of prints.
So i'm looking to upgrade, but not sure what to buy.
Looking at secondhand or new depending on the price and machine. BVetween 300 and 60000 willing to spend but open for upgradeability (let's say starting out without AMS and getting it later)
Machines i'm looking at are the P1S or X1C, but doubting if I should go for the P2S above the X1C.
Then there is also Creality K series Like the K1 max (going big) or de K2 combo with CFS
Just can't decide what would be a good buy, when My main focus is being able to print more with better detail and overall better quality. Speed is a bonus, but not mandatory.
The P2S is comparable to the X1C. Has some minor QOL improvements over it (like the quick swap nozzle), but is otherwise a comparable machine. Especially given the price difference, the P2S is the natural choice. The main difference between the P1 and X1C was the hardened steel nozzle and cooling for high-end filament which made using it difficult on the P1. The P2S has the same filament capabilities as the X1C, but for a significantly lower price.
The P1S is a solid machine, both the P2 and X1 are slightly better in certain scenarios.
re: Creality K series -- these are absolutely the best machines Creality has made. The K2 is a great printer. However, it still does not reach the "plug & play" levels that Bambu has managed, and Creality still battles with its QC. If you get a good K2, and you don't mind tinkering/calibrating, it's an awesome printer that has no issues competing with the likes of an X1. If you draw the short straw and get a problematic unit, or you're not wanting to tinker with the machine itself, you'll wish you went with the Bambu.
Looking to buy either a ender 5 plus or a cr10s5 for my bday/Christmas. I found a modified crs105 for around 400$ which has a full bed heater, direct drive, and an upgraded extruder. I like how its a 500³ build platform as im getting into 3d printing car stuff.
I like the ender 5 plus since I can find them for around the same price new and its a box styled printer which in my mind equals better quality and faster prints. Another thing I've noticed is that there's more aftermarket with the ender 5 vs the cr10s5. I think 350x350x400 is enough but part of me is thinking what if its not big enough.
Any help would be great thank you.
Is the Bambu Labs P1S a good first Printer?
Okay, so this is technically my 4th Printer, but in reality it’s like my First or Second. You see, I’m 13 Years Old and technically got my First 3D Printer a few years ago when I was probably 9 for Christmas, I used it like once on Christmas Day, but I ended up getting stuff on the main Plate that it prints on, the Printer was a Flashfordge Adventure 3 (or 3M idk). I was too young and didn’t know how to handle a 3D Printer Properly so I never used it, last year I got an Ankermake, idk which one it was, but it was one that wasn’t Enclosed or anything. While Building it, since my dad was helping me, for whatever reason he accidentally ended up Cutting the Main Wire to the printer while setting it up, killing that printer. I then decided to Try Resin Printing, of which I had no idea up until like 2 days ago that Resin was a Toxic Chemical and probably not good to have when you have 2 dogs lol. I ended up getting the Sonic Mighty 8K Printer by Phrozen, and I printed a Single Square, that was earlier this year, I ended up having to give it back since my School had payed for it and we moved schools. Just the other day I ended up really wanting to Print with something that’s Not Resin since it was Toxic, I wanted a new Filament Printer since now I’m Older and I know Much more about 3D Printers and at least the basics of how they work, I also now have access to a Computer, which I know is a big plus when trying to make Custom Prints that aren’t pre loaded lol. I decided to get the Bambu Labs P1S Combo with the AMS System since I’ve heard numerous good things about it, most of them being “It just Works”. I jumped the gun and went ahead and Bought it.
Do yall think I made the Right Decision? What do you guys think about the Bambu Labs P1S? Is it a good Printer for a basically Beginner?
Yes. Or 2nd printer. Or 4th. It's a solid printer. Oil/grease the z rods and rollers/tensioners, clean the graphite rods, away you go.
Oil the Whaty What’s and clean the what now?
I’ve never done any maintenance on a 3D Printer, so I’m kinda worried that I’ll somehow end up not fixing something properly leading to breaking my printer lol
Nothing like that! These printers can get a bit squeaky if they're not lubed up. The Z axis rails are the screws on the side that the bed goes up and down on. Those occasionally need cleaned, and some grease applied to them.
The belt tensioners & bearings are exactly what they sound like -- some rollers the belts go around to keep them taut. These need a dab of oil to prevent metal-on-metal/plastic squeaking.
The graphite rods are super obvious -- they're a couple rods of graphite that the X axis goes left/right on. These need cleaned with isopropyl alcohol every now and then. Don't oil/grease these.
Although the schedule on this video seems a bit aggressive (I do this dance a few times a year, definitely not monthly), this video goes over all of these pretty thoroughly. It's all super accessible and easy to do, so definitely nothing to worry about.
Tysm!
Hey,
My girlfriend likes to 3d print stuff and I wanted to get her some gifts for it.
I assume I should find out the kind of 3d printer she has.
But are there any good gift ideas for an enthusiast?
Thanks!
What is her printer, what is she printing and what is your budget? there are some additional tools that she could like but depends on answers
Hi everyone!!! Completely new to this...10 year old daughter asked for a 3D printer for Christmas. She has never done any computer building or designing of any kind. I have begun research and am so overwhelmed! Just reading over a few threads I have seen are discussing ventilation which I didn't even consider, so I am lost. All I can think about is all the other things I have no idea about. Any guidance is intensely appreciated!
The reality is that most people don't really vent 'basic' filaments like PLA, PETG, or TPU and it's honestly too early to tell the lifetime effects that may have. Personally I print those filaments in my office that I occupy and it doesn't bother me, but I also wouldn't necessarily put it in my child's bedroom if that makes sense.
I would consider looking at the Bambu A1 Mini. It's a good starting printer and you can start printing this directly from the phone app until you become more comfortable with the computer software.
I’m in the same boat here
Im looking to upgrade from my old Ender 3 Pro and am looking at either the P2S or a Centurion Carbon. I mostly do functional prints, but occasionally need finer details for cosplay pieces or toys. Not sure if multicolor printing is for me yet, but I'm not opposed to the idea. Either option would be a good upgrade, but I dont know if the P2S is worth the extra money. Any insight is greatly appreciated.
Love in Maryland, USA. New to printing, what do I need to get started. Goal: crocs for special needs 1yo, two different sizes I tried searching but just saw examples of charms. What machine and program will get me started?
I'm not sure if what we want is realistic?
I have a 9 year old child that creates a bunch of their own characters (drawings for code based things like Scratch).
I'd like to get them a 3D printer where they could use a program to create their characters in a 3D form and then print them out as figurines.
Does something exist that is relatively user friendly for kid and parents to work together to learn and use?
Are their programs or sites that they would be able to create a 3D model of their "character" that is not too difficult to use?
Are there any machines that are capable of creating our own creations that are under $500? I've seen some on Amazon (toybox printer,), but I think you can only use their preset designs?
For Bambu Labs A1, can you import files from tinkercad?
Thank you
I’m commenting so I can find this for later. I’m in the same boat! My 10 year old is constantly making her own toys and has been really interested in 3d printing
I ended up getting the Bambu A1 with AMS lite. I wanted something they wouldn't grow out of (toybox), and something that would keep encouraging/fostering their creativity. I found a lot of articles and posts about it being a good gateway 3d printer for kids (with supervision).
I did the same! Ordered mine last night and hoping it gets here in time for Christmas.
Hopefully it does! Ordered mine this morning. It was difficult finding a place that was not backordered. Definitely felt late to the game.
Where did you find yours?
I purchased from the Best Buy eBay account. It comes with a small amount of filament. I'll order some more today, I think straight from Bambu, if they have it in stock.
Thanks!
Did you need to buy anything with it other than the printer as it comes?
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ToyCad is another one I've heard of - but I can't seem to find the cost without downloading the app. But might be worth looking into as well. It's more to translate kids drawings into 3D models.
STL is the standard file type for all 3D printers so using Tinkercad with any other printer like a Bambu is also possible.
Can anyone talk me in/ out of buying a Qidi Q2? I've been running a Sovol SV06+ and Bambu A1 combo, and bedslingers are just not doing it for me anymore. I need something enclosed that can handle engineering filaments, and the Qidi keeps coming up as a good budget choice for those.
I don't care about heat creep PLA clogs as I don't do much decorative stuff and can always dust off the A1 for anything PLA and pretty.
I'd been waiting for the Snapmaker to go on general sale, but that doesn't look like it'll be suited to my needs, even though I love the idea of a tool changer. And I'm sure someone's going to point to a £1000+ Prusa or Bambu whatever, but I'm looking to stay under £650 including some sort of filament changer (yes, I'm aware the Qidi box has a history of being not awesome).
The Qidi max 4 could be tempting, but it's a tad over budget and also I can't pin down a release date. So... Are there any other enclosed, high temp, heated chamber, printers I should be looking at in my sub 650 budget?
For what it's worth, I love my Q1 Pro, and if I had to replace it today, it would be with a Q2. I have a few other printers (a few A1 minis, a few Flashforge AD5Ms, and a Snapmaker U1), and while all of those serve a purpose, if I'm printing engineering materials, it's the Q1 every time.
The U1 is pretty sweet, though, and I've been loving multimaterial stuff. I'll be modding it to do some higher temp stuff down the road.
Adding myself to this cause I'm thinking about getting a Q2 too, seems like for the heat creep you just have to keep the top open
Im looking to get into 3d printing and would definitely like some advise!
My budget it up to $1500, im in the US, and looking to make random things but also design/make specific things for work (in the trades) and looking for help on what materials to make things out of that would be really resilient and strong. From what I've read ABS and ASA would be good material to use but I also haven't read very much into it yet. Any help is appreciated!
Need more info here. For the printer:
How large are the things you'll be printing? Especially the work items.
For the material:
What kind of strength are you looking for? Environment they'll be in? Chemical/UV resistance? Impact? Sheer? etc... ABS/ASA are solid filaments, I'd recommend ASA over ABS, not necessarily for strength, but toxicity concerns while printing. Also has the benefit of being more dimensionally stable than ABS (which means prints are less likely to warp/deform during printing & cooling). Neither are super easy to print with, though. You'll want a printer with an enclosure and a heated chamber for best results.
Since you'll likely be interested in experimenting with other 'strong' materials, you'll probably want a hardened nozzle as well.
I dont see myself needing to make anything larger than 10 inches but generally items would be around 6" wide and maybe 4 to 6" tall
You're in pretty good shape, then. Depending on your preferences on ecosystem/tinkering, I'd probably go with either a P2S Combo or K2 Plus Combo. My personal opinion, the K2 is the best printer Creality's made, but it's not quite up to Bambu 'plug & play' levels. That said, going with Bambu, you're more signing in to their ecosystem than just the printer. So, personal preference there. They're both great printers, and capable of doing what you need to do, under budget, with a bit of room for growth & experimentation if you want down the road.
If you were to start brand new in 3d printing which of the two would you go with personally?
I ask because thats exactly where I ended up getting stuck on deciding, between those two lol. Like I dont mind a learning curve and im not a fan of what I've been reading for bambu's direction of going proprietary. But I've also read there's been more QC issues with creality and support isn't great
Through my journey, I've ultimately landed on Bambu and use the P1s as my primary machine. When I started about a decade ago, I was far more in to the tinkering and customization -- 3D printer fixing/upgrading was as much a part of the hobby as actually 3D printing. Life's changed, and I have things that I'd much rather put the time/energy in to than that side of the hobby. I'm at a point where I want to press print, and trust that it's going to just go.
That said, I also find myself printing more functional parts or project-related items, so failed prints have more impact than if I was just printing doodads. So, YMMV, but for me, Bambu won.
My boyfriend is a big time miniature figurine guy and although he already has a printer (Makerbot) hes been on the fence about getting one that would be more suited for making miniatures for like DnD and other tabletop stuff. So I was looking at this set online and wanted some feedback if you guys don’t mind? Do you think these would be good for what he’s looking to do? looking for a budget of like $500?
https://preview.redd.it/wjzwne3p416g1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d5a847148297f9e4e96e4014455d1c9d3dabd6d2
Is he aware of all the considerations that resin printing will need? It's better for his needs but it's also a whole different ballgame as far as ventilation, gloves/mask/eyewear, alcohol washing, curing. You'll need a dedicated space for it that can vent out a window or similar and you won't want to have it in a normal living space.
He has his own bedroom for his 3D Printing and Air brushing. So it shouldn’t be too much of an issue
The one you have there is a pretty good option then.
anyone know of a good filiment dryer that can go up to 85c
Creality Space Pi X4
Ya, it seems like that is my best option, just really did not want to have to get a 4-spool one, as I don't have a lot of space for anything more than a 2 bay but i may have to make it work
If you have a Bambu you could also consider the AMS HT.
I was thinking it but it also costs like $180 which if I can avoid it would be nice. But it also kind of seemed like it would probably be cheaper than other options for higher temperature filament drying
Do you know if the AMS HT would automatically detect the type of filament and do all the presets or would they still have to enter in manually? Same question also for the AMS 2 pro
Yeah if you just need the dryer portion than the AMS part of it makes it a little expensive. It is on sale for $140 right now if that helps and I did see a popup for a $10 coupon if it lets you use it.
Edit:
As long as you're using Bambu filament then yes, both the AMS HT and AMS 2 Pro will do all the detection/preset stuff that the normal AMS does.
Yeah I did check him that was 180 Canadian which is where I am
Ah gotcha. Edited my comment, but yes it has all the normal spool chip detection.
Also on the back of the ms2 pro. Not sure if you would be able to answer this or not. There's two ports where you can plug in The AMS 2 pro on the actual AMS unit itself is one of those for the AMS HT and the other is just plugging the AMS to into the printer
Yes. Only 1 AMS goes to the printer and then the other port is to daisy chain other AMS units, including the AMS HT.
So AMS HT plugs in to AMS 2 Pro. AMS 2 Pro plugs into the printer.
Okay that would make it easier so I don't have to manually configure everything for the drying and I would assume that's the same with the AMS too as well as amsht cuz I was thinking of getting the power cord for the AMS 2 pro
What extra parts and accessories should I order with my new printer as a complete beginner? I’m looking at getting the Bambu Lab P1S combo since it’s only $150 more than the A1 right now. But I’ve heard that it’s good to order extra parts so I’ll have them on hand when I need to make a repair. I’ve heard I should get another printing plate (not sure what type), a .2mm hotend to print detailed models, filaments (I could use some guidance here). The website also suggests some consumables to buy (glue, desiccant for AMS, carbon air filter, nozzle wiper, silicone sock for hotend, ptfe tubes), which of those should I get? And do I need a dryer if I live in a dry climate (Utah) and will mostly print PLA?
I have always been interested in 3d printing. I would like to look into a starter printer that would function with my Mac mini. I live with other people and I don’t have a sense of smell anymore. I’m wondering if the filament has an odor when it’s heated up?
My budget is like to consider maybe $100-$300range starting out. I also don’t have a lot of space. Something compact would be helpful. I’d like to start out with keychains or bag clips.
Bambu A1 Mini is compact and will work with your Mac.
A lot of people will tell you there's no smell but I do think printing PLA and PETG has a smell. It's not considerably strong (I wouldn't smell it outside of the room it's in) and I wouldn't call it that unpleasant either but it's there.
Thank you!
My nephew is really into 3D printing. I don't really know much about it, but I thought I could get him some supplies for his projects for Christmas. Any advice on some supplies that would be helpful for someone that does a lot of smaller projects?
I do know his machine only does one colour prints, but not much else about it.
Hello, I'm a teenager in the Philippines planning to start a 3d printing business. I currently have Php30k/~$600 for my startup and I need help in choosing a bambu lab printer as many people suggested the brand. My problem is that I don't know if i should pick A1 Mini Combo or A1 alone or A1 Combo. Choosing the A1 combo would give me around 3k or so left for the materials that I would need if I go into online selling (which i think I will need for improving my sales). I'm planning to buy in MakerLab. Please help me out make a good decision!! Thank you!!
I am in Germany.
I was thinking 500 to 1000€.
I would like an FDM printer. I don't wanna have to deal with toxic fumes/materials.
A small footprint would be nice.
I mostly would like to print minis and figurines for me to paint later, so it should do reliable high quality prints probably from a 0.2 mm nozzle. I would be fine with having to assemble it myself. I do have an old Ender 3 that I put together myself when those first came out and have a bit of experience working on small time electronics. I designed, printed the parts, built and hand soldered my own keyboard for example.
I’ve been eyeing out the A1 Combo on sale now for myself and my 10-12 yo kids to learn in. We’re all first timers. The planes to keep the unit in our finished attic however our attic gets pretty humid in the summer. Will the A1 be ok in such environment? Should I keep the spools in a weathertight container and only take them out when printing? I’m hoping this could work but wanted to double check to see if I could go with the A1 or if I really should consider the P1S instead.
Hey guys, I'm hoping to get a 3d printer for myself this Christmas season. I had one last year, the infamous ender 3 neo v2. it was good fun, but I got a used one for cheap, so it had some quirks and was a hassle to use. At the end of the day, I was able to maintain it and make some good stuff, but the things it spit out weren't very durable or incredibly precise. I'm sure that the filament has a good amount to do with this however I've seen people 3d print some incredibly durable and precise stuff, and now I'm looking for a printer that excels in that area. I'm expecting to pay up to $800, which gives me a lot of options. I'd like something that has a large print bed so I can make big stuff like helmets in one go, and capable of feeding multiple filaments for multicolor prints. Bonus points for a built-in filter so I don't get cancer.
Also, which filament will be the best for durable stuff like props? If you read all this thank you so much for spending the time.
I've been using an Ender 5 for the better part of 5 years, and at this point I'm looking to get another printer. Don't know how much new stuff is available now, so some suggestions would be welcome.
Looking for something more reliable, more QoL features, I've had enough with the amount of tinkering my Ender 5 needs, as well as a similar bed size (200-250mm length/width).
Budget cap $1,000, lower is better though. USA.
I am looking to get a 3D printer, I have extremely little experience so I wanted to get a prebuilt printer. What order would you say these would be from best to worst?
https://a.co/d/058Ym9q
https://a.co/d/6JwX3R9
https://us.elegoo.com/products/centauri-carbon?variant=gid://shopify/ProductVariant/45103213314229&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22205680783&gclid=Cj0KCQiA6NTJBhDEARIsAB7QHD0a2aYYFE5CNM-Vi_IPZyM_rs7UcJTSwmjg2NS-UM3F3KRqsK2QcIIaAqHnEALw_
https://us.store.bambulab.com/products/p1s?from=home_web_p1_detail
If you can, I would recommend saving for the P2S, since it has a few nice quality-of-life features as well as a built-in air filter.
There’s also the A1 Combo. It’s not fully prebuilt, but it only takes about five screws to assemble. The only downside is that you can’t print engineering filaments—you’re limited to all variants of PLA, PETG, and TPU. With the P1S or P2S, you can also print high-temperature filaments like nylon or polycarbonate. The P1S also has worse cooling when it comes to PLA or PETG—you need to keep the door open for those materials.
I got the A1 back in January and sold it in November to upgrade to the P2S.
But honestly, any of the Bambu Lab printers are very easy to use—for the most part, you just click “print.”
If you had to give them a rank from first to last what would you give them?
Hard to say — do you plan on printing with ABS, ASA, or any other engineering filaments?
Actually I decided to just go with the P2S it just seems like the best by a lot
Honestly, I don't blame you as the p2s will detect all the parts it has like the nozzle and build plate as well as I would recommend considering getting the combo as the ams2 pro can be used as a filament dryer which you would also need to get. Anyways, if you don't go with the AMS 2 pro but just keep in mind you will have to buy the power supply separately but bambu lab sells them at least here in Canada. They're about $40 which it's still very cheap upgrade for being able to dry your filaments now you can't dry and print them, but the ams2 pro also does come with the ability to multicolor print as well as just being emptied up four colors loaded and being able to choose from any of the four colors loaded from when you're not home
I’m gonna be honest I got the p1s and just realized we are talking about 2 different printers, I still think the p1s is largely better than the other 2 so I’m fine with it
The p2s is a refresher of the p1s which the p2s will be supported for a lot longer, but the p1s as far as I can tell should be supported until at least 2030
HI I've decided Bambu lab over the creality k2, I guess it came down to ease of use for a beginner, but just wondering has anyone here used octaeverywhere for their ai monitoring?
Would octaeverywhere give me the AI features of p2s on a p1s?
Or is it worth spending the extra for a p2s?
I’d say save for the P2S. My friend tried OctoEverywhere on their P1S, and it was not a fun experience. The printer won’t auto-stop—it only gives a warning, and sometimes it doesn’t warn at all. They returned to a failed print that had wasted half a spool, despite the failure occurring within the first hour or so of a 13-hour to 2 day print.
They didn’t know because they had no cell reception at their cottage, so they couldn’t check the print on their phone. This happened four times, with print lengths ranging from 13 hours to 2 days.
Thanks mate I appreciate the feedback. that's something I was worried about. Features wise I had a feeling it wouldn't be as reliable and would be limited to what it can do. That's why I hoping for feedback from ppl who have had some sort of experience with it
I will say if this is your first printer. I've been 3D printing now for about 11 months and I can say print failures are extremely uncommon. Just a few things to note before you use your printer and fully set it up lubricate all the rails and grease the screw things that raise and lower the bed as well as make sure to wash the build plate with dish soap and water to get any accidental grease or oil that accidentally fell from when you were lubricating it. You don't need to do the full calibration after you'd raised it as if you do it before your first setup. It does the full calibration anyways as well as I always recommend washing the bed as you don't know what factory residues that may be on there. So best to wash it with Dawn dish soap just to be safe
I’m thinking about buying my first 3D printer, mainly for printing miniatures for D&D and wargames. The problem is… I have no idea where to start. There are so many options and I’m not a very tech-savvy person, so I’m not sure what I should be looking for or how hard it actually is to get into.
If anyone has recommendations for beginner-friendly printers, tips on what to consider, or advice about the learning curve, I’d really appreciate it. I’m especially interested in something that’s good for miniatures but not too overwhelming for a complete newbie.
I don't have space limits so the thing can be huge
And I was thinking about 1500 as my top budget maybe maximum 2000€
I would look at the P2S Combo from Bambu Lab for that budget. It’s enclosed and allows for multi-color prints, supporting up to four AMS units and four AMS HT units for up to 20 colors (the combo only comes with one AMS 2 Pro, which allows for 4 colors).
The only maintenance you really need to do is lubricate the rails and clean the build plate once in a while. For the most part, you just click “print.”
There is also the H2D, which can do the same things as the P2S but has dual nozzles. If you mainly do two-color or multi-color printing, you would have almost no waste. The H2D can also do laser cutting with the right option or you can upgrade it later
Best 3D printer for beginners?
I’ve been wanting to get a 3D printer for quite a while and am finally deciding to commit. Any ideas?
Get a used one off of Facebook marketplace, they have them there for really cheap compared to a new one if you want to get started, and they're usually beginner models because the people selling them are moving on to bigger ones.
Hi everyone, (this is a repost because my comment got deleted)
Hope you guys are doing well. This is my first time on this thread.
I want to get into 3D printing and I have been looking at 3D printers. I am a complete beginner and have no idea what to look at. I also have no prior knowledge on how to design 3D models 😅 and would be very willing to learn.
My budget is under 500 aud, I live in Australia and I want a plug and play 3D printer without me having to build a printer from a kit. I want to use this printer to make prototypes for a product. I don't really know anything that would restrict me from using it, well that's because I don't really know any restrictions that would otherwise fit my needs.
I have been looking closely on the Bambu Labs A1 (not the combo version) which is on sale for around 429 aud. Additionally, I have no idea what I need to start 3D printing, can someone also please show me the things I need to get as a beginner?
Thank you so much,
Tondan
https://preview.redd.it/qb4fhvyqpu5g1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=dbf6fa24a2816e06e89a1c3952123771483ef2b1
So this broke… can anyone tell me what’s a good and compatible upgrade hotend for my elegoo centauri carbon? First time having to buy a new one. Thank you!
Currently the only simple upgrade option is the micro Swiss if you don’t want to modify anything and just want to swap the part in.
There’s also the “constellation” extruder mod that needs you to print a few parts but allows the use of Bambu x1 style hotends which opens up lots of replacements and options.
There’s also one uncle Jesse recently did a vid on that allows Bambi h2d/a1 style hotends with a similar amount of printed parts. There’s potentially some weird patent things going on with the guy trying to sell kits for this one but it won’t affect you just using one if you prefer that set of hotend options.
Otherwise it’s just grab another stock or hzdadeve one from amazon (functionally stock, just occasionally available when oem isn’t).
I bought my first printer, A1 combo, for Black Friday. I am free falling down the rabbit hole and am already looking to buy another printer so I can have my projects + the never ending kiddo projects running simultaneously. If my main concern is with fumes and VOCs, filament type irrelevant, what is the best Bambu Lab printer? P2S + custom exhaust build? Full send an H2C?
As an aside I am planning on enclosing my A1 with a custom enclosure found here on Reddit and actively ventilating it outdoors. The new printer would ideally have both internal filters and external ventilation capabilities.
I have been looking into the P2S, but it seems sold out. I was thinking of starting with the A1
Planning to get a 3D printer for Christmas. I live in the US and have older teenage boys who would likely use it the most. I would say tech wise they’re average.
That said, I’ve narrowed it down to the Bambu a1/a1 mini or the creality k1c.
One of the things I’m taking into consideration is that we have a cat (fur and the possibility of him messing with it) and the creality has an enclosure.
I know some people create enclosures for the Bambu, but I have no interest in restricting airflow on a machine not designed for it. However, looking at reviews I do think the Bambu would be better suited to our needs.
Anyone with a cat who can chime in with an opinion on whether or not the enclosure is worth going with the creality?
If you opt for creality be aware, K1C now is the 2025 version, without root, so without web interface expect creality cloud and it's not compatible with the CFS system, they'll have to release a new one called CFS-C
Thanks! I made another post and after the advice decided to go with the Bambu A1 with the AMS lite.
Yeah that's the smartest decision if you're okay with the closed source of their, quality is top notch
Looking to get a new printer I would like one for multicolor and preferably with an app in case it fails I’ve been looking into bamboo and flash forge. Any suggestions?
My AD5X had been a solid printer thus far. I haven't tried the app, as I dislike making accounts for things.
I would go with Bambu labs, I haven’t had an issue with the app, my flashforge is great but the app sucks.
I bought my first printer, A1 combo, for Black Friday. I am free falling down the rabbit hole and am already looking to buy another printer so I can have my projects + the never ending kiddo projects running simultaneously. If my main concern is with fumes and VOCs, filament type irrelevant, what is the best Bambu Lab printer? P2S + custom exhaust build? Full send an H2C?
As an aside I am planning on enclosing my A1 with a custom enclosure found here on Reddit and actively ventilating it outdoors. The new printer would ideally have both internal filters and external ventilation capabilities.
Just in case you hadn't heard, they are releasing an official exhaust kit for the P2S as well.
https://wiki.bambulab.com/en/p2s/manual/external-exhaust-fan-kit
Looking to purchase. I want one that does multiple colors and can link/connect pieces.
Hi everyone,
Hope you guys are doing well. This is my first time on this thread.
I want to get into 3D printing and I have been looking at 3D printers. I am a complete beginner and have no idea what to look at. I also have no prior knowledge on how to design 3D models 😅 and would be very willing to learn.
My budget is under 500 aud, I live in Australia and I want a plug and play 3D printer without me having to build a printer from a kit. I want to use this printer to make prototypes for a product. I don't really know anything that would restrict me from using it, well that's because I don't really know any restrictions that would otherwise fit my needs.
I have been looking closely on the Bambu Labs A1 (not the combo version) which is on sale for around 429 aud. Additionally, I have no idea what I need to start 3D printing, can someone also please show me the things I need to get as a beginner?
Thank you so much,
Tondan
I've been stuck on what to get for years. Its mostly about where to place what ever printer I get in my home. I have 3 little kids so it can't be in the house, they'd play with it and the fumes would be an issue. I have a workbench in the garage but... I am in Florida. The temperature and humidity in the garage when it's full summer is insane. Up to 120F, 90% in the summer. There is no basement. So, what printer can print in the garage? That's literally the only location I have to put it.
I want to say I'd like to print models to paint and minis for DND, but let's be real, besides the one off fix-a-problem part, it's likely to mostly be baubles for the kids. I am not going to do resin for many reasons at this point, sticking to fdm. So, what do you all recommend?
Hello! I wanted to start my journey on 3D printing centered on cosplaying, i was asking around what printer should i buy and got a recomendation to buy Elegoo Centauri Carbon. Could you guys tell if its good or am i getting trolled? Thank you very much!
Hello everyone,
Their are projects that I wanted to make, and they require more freedom in terms of tools, so I looked towards 3d printers.
There's a lot to choose from. The 3d printer I'm looking for prints "final finished products" for personal use (like figurines, tools, and solutions for fixing broken things, design thingamajigs, etc...). Not the fast prototypes maker (that you purchase 10 of to make a printing farm). I'm not expecting something too cheap. Material wastage is also an issue that I'm willing to avoid, as well as monotony of functionality (that is, I don't want to have a printer that simply "just" prints). A long lifetime is a necessity.
Countyy:Tunisia. I have never built a 3d printer from a kit. That is not a factor I'm (too) worried about, so I don't (really) count that.
Are their maintenance issues I need to be aware of, and could you site some printers that have them?
What printers should I avoid and why? Is there anything I didn't ask about that I should take into consideration.
Budget: 390$.
Thanks in advance.
With your budget I would recommend the flashforge AD5M, it has good quality, I pretty big build area and is very beginner friendly.
Thanks!
Hello! I need a printer to print parts for my motorcycle (only design parts, nothing really important for the bike in itself) ,and I want to print them in Nylon and glass fiber. (Nylon GF I think) Keep in mind that i'm new to 3d printing (have an "experienced" friend but he is not always disponible), and therefore need a "simple" printer even tho it doesn't really exist I think. I have as much space as I want, It will be stored in a Shed (with a bit of humidity and 80% of the year it's cold in this thing [-5 in winter, up to 12 in summer])
If someone think about a better material for printing bike parts, i'm still taking other options. But it needs to be light, resistant, resistant to heat and waterproof.
I was also thinking about ASA our ABS as material
Budget - up to 600€ Country - France
Best regards Alex
Nvm I took a Raise3D Pro2 plus
Looking for a used x1c - £500. What to look for in it, not to buy a junk, I have already checked images, frame doesn’t appear to be bent, glass sits flush, and it doesn’t have any dents or whatsoever. Anything else to check for?
I have a Bambu A1 and am looking for a larger printer in Canada for printing cosplay armour and one piece helmets.
I'm pretty skilled with the A1, but don't think a PS2 is big enough and a H2 is $3150 here. Any reliable options for less than that? Thanks!
Budget: $500-$600.
It will be mostly for kid use (age 10), so something that’s easier for them. I would prefer it to be something that’s released this year. I looked at Bamboo and my biggest concern is they were released in 2023, which means the instant I buy, they will release a new one in 3 months.
3D printers are not quite exactly plug and play. However, if you want the easiest possible machine at that prince point Id stick to the P1S with the AMS for multicolors. Learning how to swaap the nozzle may be a bit tough but there are tons of online tutorials for that. Everything aside, this is still arguably the best printer on the market at this price, especially when considering reliability and ease of use. Otherwise, the P2S, Bambu's upgrade on the P1S is also a good option but is significantly more expensive for bringing mostly Quality of Life upgrades (very nice to have but almost all the same features). It does make nozzle swapping easier. However, if you want to stay within your budget range with the P2S, I'm afraid you will lose out on the ability to print with multiple colors (although that can be bought later at a marked up price.
Did the p2s just launch? I don’t think I’d mind buying the multiple colors as another gift. I was reading comments and someone was saying they’d avoid bambu in general …what are you thoughts on that? Would you go for the p2s?
Honestly, I'd go for the P1S (I'm a college student and budget my money very tightly). There is tons of support online on how to manage it and its proven its reliability as it has been one of the best printers on the market ever since it was released and even now. I have a friend with a P1S and hes never complained about it all.
Everyone will have their own opinion on printers, just remember that a lot of people throw hate towards printers that they have never had just because they heard something bad about them at one point in time. Also don’t worry about if the print just came out, there will always be a next printer, I just bought the A1 Mini and it’s quality is honestly better then some photos I have seen online of the p2s’s quality.
I ended up getting P2S because it was able to get here before Christmas. I’m assuming most of their stock got sold around Black Friday. Thanks for your advice!
I need some advice about picking between the p2s and Venturi carbon. I don’t care about multi color prints all I want is the ability to use engineering filaments. Am I better off saving the money and going for the CC? Or will I be better off going with the bambu?
Looking for a 3D printer for my teenage son who wants to make mostly cosplay accessories or play items (like Hello Neighbor, FNAF). Zero experience. Multicolor. Budget is $1k in USA.
Bambu P2S combo would work great. Very easy to use and extremely capable. It will use up a lot of filament switching colors. If you are willing to try something more interesting, the Snapmaker U1 is also in the works to be released soon and will save a lot of money when switching between filament (although at this price point I doubt that is a "huge" issue (though still rather inconvenient).
Thank you so much. He wants to be able to print items by downloading models (sorry I sound so ignorant) for example buying a digital download of a Hello Neighbor lock and key set. It seems to me like this is a standard feature?
Yes, this is pretty much standard, however the way it must be sent to the printer varies. Most printers now allow you to download models, cut them up in the pre-printing software, and then send them to the printer via Wifi. Otherwise, after you cut them up you can load them onto a SD card.
Thank you so much for being so kind. I really want to get him something special. He has a lot of struggles as an autistic kiddo and so I’m trying to just find him the perfect one.
I want to get back into 3d printing, but i have too many projects and not enough time.
Therefore i would like to purchase a 3d printer that is easy to setup, and requires very little maintenance.
I used to have a crooked under 3 v2, and that was a pain in the ass.
What suggestions does the people have for me?
Budget, prefer under 500€ /600$.
I will print all sorts of stuff, mostly smaller things so the normal 220x220mm is fine
I will buy from ebay or Aliexpress, no other options for my country.
Try a bambu P1S with the ams kit?
I never had any prievious experience. Im thinking about printing some figures, maybe other sort of gadgets from time to time. My price range is probably any under $450. Is there anything good for this price? Initially i was thinking about some cheaper ones, like for example CREALITY Ender-3 V3 SE, but then someone said to me "why get cheap one that wont be very useful, maybe look for something little more expensive so it can be more solid" but with my 0 experience idk what to think about it. Basically I look for best value to price ratio.
If you're just starting out, I recommend seeing if there's a library or Makerspace in your area that offers printers and classes.
Looking for a printer for a child of 13. No more than $150. Advice pls!
The Kingroon was a very nice printer to introduce me to this world, it is still running, with this I printed the most useful thing ever.. a very good telescope (The Hadley) but now I am wanting a bigger, faster and multicolor printer. My budget is around 500-600 dlls.. in Mexico I can get Bambu Lab A1, Creality K1 or ELEGOO Centauri Carbon what are your opinions? TIA
I have a Core One L on back order, but I’m having second thoughts. I’ve been 3D printing for quite some time, having started with a Prusa/Mendel clone, then moved on to a Mk3s and finally an X1C with AMS. For me, 3D printing has slowly developed from a hobby into a tool. So here is my dilemma: I mainly use my 3D printer for engineering parts. Printing with high-performance filaments is a priority for me, as is the ability to combine two or more of these filaments. When I saw the Bondtech Indx announcement, I ordered a Core One L intending to upgrade it in the future. My positive experience with my Mk3s made my decision easier. However, doubts have started to creep back in over the last few days. So, my main questions are:
Is the Core One L as capable of printing high-performance filaments as the H2D? And, especially with the future Indx upgrade in mind, is it capable of printing high-performance filaments? What about the active/semi-active heated chamber? Nozzle temperature:
How do the two printers compare in terms of print quality? The parts I print need to be structurally sound, but their appearance is also important.
I would like to support Prusa as it’s a European brand that has contributed to the development of 3D printing. The open-source nature benefits everyone, and paying a bit more is not an issue. That said, if the other machine is simply better suited to my needs, then I’m willing to go with that.
This is a tough question because no general consumer has too much information about how Prusa Core platforms with INDX will perform. However, BamboLab H2D is already available, so there’s more information and reviews available.
If you consider the printer as a tool, H2D might be a better choice. I believe INDX will be at least a year away before the platform becomes more mature. Who knows, maybe BamboLab will release H3D with the same technology?
I genuinely wish BamboLab would design the product with an upgrade path instead. However, they’re taking the consumer path like Apple, so I suppose they’ll create a close ecosystem in the future, which is a bit disappointing.
Budget: 700-800€
Country: Romania.
After some recommendations, I'm looking at QIDI Q2 Combo or Creality K2 Combo. Qidi seems nice, but I read that Qidi Box is not yet the best, and for K2, I only find reviews for K2 Pro/Plus, which are a bit too pricey.
What type of 3D printer would be recommended for a teenager who's starting to get interested in 3D printing? As birthday gift, Aprox. 100-300 Euros. Available in the Netherlands.
Total newbie here, so best to ask the experts...
I’m a massive FNAF fan and I’ve always wanted to make my own cosplays over the years but the results with paper crafts always end up horrible. So I want to get a 3D printer to print out parts of a fnaf suit. Any suggestions?
I have a Prusa i3 Mk2 that stopped working long ago, and I found that to be very fiddly (something was always getting out of whack somehow) but it was also my first 3D printer of any kind. I'm looking to get back into printing, but this time with a resin printer. One way or another I'll almost certainly be able to vent the fumes outside, but in case not I'd like to know if an air purifier will work instead. I live in South Dakota. Our weather is really unpredictable here and temperatures can fluctuate accordingly, so a feature like a heated vat would help keep a consistent temperature
Here are my answers to the standard questions:
I know the Mars Ultra 16K is available, but I've seen a couple reviews mentioning some problems with its design, notably the build plate. My ultimate goal is bang for my buck because I don't usually have enough spare money lying around to just buy a different printer.
I’m interested in learning 3D printing. I’m wondering which brand has a good reputation? I’m looking for multi color PLA and also can do rubber, silicone, etc. Any tips I should know? my budget for a machine is roughly $1k
Hello,
My overall question for my purchase advice is should I get a single color printer, or multi? And overall suggestions based on my use cases below based on this:
-Budget: $500 -Residence: USA -experience: have tinkered with arduino, built my own pcs but would prefer something I can tweak, but not necessarily build. -looking to get into printing for personal creation and overall hobby -no overall restrictions on size
Hello everyone! I recently saw a deal for a used Creality K1 with some extras for €200, but I was thinking of buying a new BambuLab P2S. The thing is, I wouldn't be able to get it in 1 or 2 months. What would you do in my shoes? Buy the used K1 or wait to buy the P2S?
My local prices are a bit different than what I read here; so it causes me to hesitate a lot:
Bambulab P2S costs about 1150EUR/1300USD
Creality K2 combo costs about 500EUR/580USD
SV08 is around 630EUR/740USD
Prusa Core one is around 964EUR/1120USD
But most guides say that the K2 is worst "value" than the P2S, and the Prusa is crazy expensive. So it leaves me rather confused. Is the prusa cheaper for some reason? Is the P2S weirdly expensive? In comparaison does that make the SV08 and K2 amazing value?
In the US the P2S is $549 or $799 for the combo, so yours is quite expensive. Likewise the Core One assembled is $1300 for the US.
I'm not a huge Creality fan but for your local prices I'd probably go for the K2.
Thanks for the advice, will go with the k2 combo then, seems to be the better value
Should i cancel the order for my p1s and wait another month to get the p2s when I will be able to afford it instead?
I thought i would be happy with just getting the p1s but after looking at some of the reviews of all the quality of life improvements the p2s offers for only $150 more im starting to regret my decision. The p1s is on backorder and wont ship until December 30th but a couple of complete hotends, harrdened extruder assembly and filament has already shipped and on the way to me. For all the people who have tried both printers are the upgrades definitely worth the upgrade to the p2s over the p1s? The reason i first went with the p1s is because i was just short a couple hundred dollars on being able to purchase it but if i wait another month i will be able to purchase it in the beginning of January. I would love to know what everyones opinions are!
Looking for recommendations on a printer.
Had a couple of Ender 3s back in the day and got extremely burnt out with the hobby. Looking to get back into it. The main thing I hated was the constant adjusting. I got as far as putting the auto bed levelers and upgrading the extruders. Had a Ras Pi for little cameras. It got old running prints and constantly stressing about it being dialed in. It seems like they have advanced a good bit and there are multiple that are much better than the old Enders.
Looking to spend less than $300
In the USA
No interest in a kit
Would like to print some small parts and some smallish things with my daughter.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
I’m looking to get back into 3-D printing. I don’t know where to start. My last personal 3-D printer was in high school more than 10 years ago and I’ve used college ones since. I’ve now come to the point where I need them for some of my jobs that need custom parts made. Looking to buy something mainly for these 1 off projects I have.
These are some of must haves features:
-dual material extrusion (water soluble support)
-300 degree hot end
-a tool head that can handle PVC with in reason
I would like:
-remote access camera
-ideally flexible nozzle sizes, for faster, printing of test parts and smaller tighter layers on final versions
multiple circuit heated bed/AC heated bed
Possible closed system (I plan to make my own outside the Printer with a close vent atmosphere vent system for printing with toxic fumes
From what I’ve seen online it pretty much seems what I’m looking for stops at 300x300x300mm range for features and anything over 450x450x450 looses features. I know it was an extreme list so any advice or help goes a long way
Hey, I'm new to 3D printing and I'm looking to get a printer. I bought a Flashforge AD5x after doing a bunch of research, but the one I received was faulty, which put me off (crashing, touchscreen unresponsive, etc.)
Im looking at 3 others and my budget is £500 but if i dont need to spend that much then I would prefer not to,
Desk space available:
40cm x 45cm
Im currently looking into these:
The flashforge has put me off quite a bit so I would prefer something that has a higher chance of arriving working 🤣
Appreciate any help.
Cobra S1 has seen better days. Youtubers and other people complain about the filament system and consistency of quality.
Bambu lab is an automatic no from me.
K2 Combo - I would 110% go for that. Even the K2 Pro, but since your budget is 500 pounds, go for K2 Combo.
By the way be aware!! that creality is releasing CFS-C sooner or later and as far as I know it's a massive upgrade from CFS. Less waste and less time wasted if I'm not mistaken.
Theres discounts on at the moment so do u think i should buy now or wait?
What's your country and where will you be buying from? The website
England and website is:
https://store.creality.com/uk/
I'm from Russia and AliExpress provides the absolute best prices. There was a Creality Hi combo for like 220$. 220$ Carl!!!
See if AliExpress ships to England and compare the prices. Soon the new year will come and there should be discounts
TPU like spacer between speaker and stand
Hi all!
I’m looking to purchase a matte (as much possible) flexible filament.
I’m going to print a 1/8 spacer to put between the speaker and the stand I’m building.
Do you guys have any recommendations? I’m in Canada. So tu filament needs to be avalaible on a Canadian store front
I know colorfabb has the varioshore, it I don’t find it in Canada, I’m sure it not looking good enough tho 👀
Add:north as a tpu pro matte, not found in Canada.
And siraya has the peba air, but I haven’t found it and on Amazon it’s a month for shipping.
Thanks all!
https://preview.redd.it/1c1zztazq85g1.png?width=1520&format=png&auto=webp&s=ae9d830e0300321d5892c721aba5b9e8a7e34341
I am looking to get a second printer. I currently have a Creality K1C that is working pretty well.
NEEDS:
Multicolor printing (without pausing / filament changes).
Similar or larger print area to the K1C (220mm x 220mm x 250mm)
Price range is ~$400 USD.
USES:
Currently using the K1C for functional prints for both work & personal use, looking to enhance that.
Print quality is one of the more important features, print speed is not a factor to me.
I am currently testing out SimplyPrint for filament management, which requires "jailbreaking" most printers to use. This is not a dealbreaker, but needs to be considered.
Given the above, it looks like the FLASHFORGE AD5X and the Anycubic Kobra S1 Combo are the two frontrunners. Looking for advice on these two printers, and if there are any other options.
TIA.
I have some friends with Bambu labs p1p’s and I have been very interested in getting one sense I paid them to make some things for me. I was wondering what options would be best for a beginner I’m looking at the P1S a lot as I’m looking for something that’s very plug n play since I’m a beginner. Please give me some suggestions for the best options for maby up to 5-6 hundred tops.
Hi! I’m looking to buy the Bambu Labs A1 for my son for Christmas and I have zero experience with 3D printing. The AMS Pro 2 is currently sold out, so I’ll plan to buy that at a later date for him. My question is- what all do I need to buy alongside the A1 right now for him to use? I’m assuming I need to buy filament, but I’m overwhelmed with the options on their website. Any recs for general beginners?
https://preview.redd.it/8xinv0vdh85g1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=266df9a58683b9d8b3bff2b424fd64efc0ac1738
https://preview.redd.it/jvpzx75r785g1.jpeg?width=1320&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=57424baa862f098222ddefc2140436a1ab9b2375
Hello!
I’m looking to purchase a 3D printer for home use so I can print small sports figurines for my son.
I’m putting together a big playoff-bracket-style setup for him. He’s on the spectrum and plays full sports games with his toys (full regulation time, scoreboard, penalties, the whole thing) and he really wishes he had players for every NHL and NFL team.
The figurines only need to be about 2 x 2 x 1 inches each.
To start, I’d need:
Yes, it’s a lot, but this is his passion, and I really want to support it.
Ideally, I’d love to print in multiple colours so each team has the correct jersey colours, but I’m also willing to paint them afterward if needed. Longer-term, I could also see printing small rinks or stadium pieces, but my main goal is just being able to make the figurines.
What 3D printer would you recommend for this? Anything that could be good for both figurines and stadium elements (fan stands, etc). Is there anything I should know before buying one?
I’ve attached photos of the toys he currently uses so you can get an idea of the size and style I’m aiming for. I’ve searched everywhere and can’t find toy sets that include every team, so 3D printing seems like the best solution. If you know of another option, I’d love to hear it.
Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. We are in Canada, in case that changes the types of printers I’ll have access to. Budget is under $1,000.
Thanks in advance! 🫶🏽
I’ve never done 3d printing but I just wanted to say this is possibly the cutest idea I’ve seen so far! I hope you find success in achieving this for your very lucky son it’s so sweet ❤️
Thank you so much!!!! So sweet of you to take your time to share that 🥹
Well deserved! You had such specific numbers, it was impressive! Being a parent myself it was touching. 🫶🏻
Hi! I want to buy my first 3D printer, never used one before, and would mostly use it to print gaming terrains for ttrpgs, but also would like to print stuff like masks, and some more functional things like lamps and stuff like that. In my country these are the only available options within my budget, which one would you recommend?
If you are a fan of open source and fiddling around, then I would go with a K1 SE (or if you have the additional money - K1C). I bought a K1 SE in August and been happy ever since. Printed side wall, top lid and bought a polycarbonate wall and a door. Had a blast cutting and doing stuff by myself.
I thought of buying the Hi, but I stuck with the K1 series, because of the CoreXY and shi. Though imo the Hi provides semi-equal quality prints, multicolor printing and more print area (26x26x30) against 22x22x25 on the K1C.
See my post about comparing the two printers and asking people about the right choice.
Beware - Creality is about to release the CFS-C which will work with K1C's stock extruder (any extruder)
In conclusion, if I were you, I would buy the K1C. Look out for the 2025 K1C. You're gonna have room for messing around while having very good print quality
Hi thank you so much for your answer! QQ, in a different thread someone told me that Creality tends to have quality control issues, and that earlier revisions of the K1 for example had a bunch of problems with the belts and extruder.
Have you had any problems with Creality?
Personally - absolutely NEVER.
Do you know the saying: if the customer is satisfied - he will tell his friends. If he is not - he will tell the world. That's why you see a lof of these people saying Creality is bad and this and that and rarely will you see people talking good about Creality products.
I've had (I kinda still have) an Ender 3 V3 KE and it never had a single problem. Literally not a single one that would be related to Creality's quality control. I mean yeah, I had to do this and that, install some oldham couplers, do some mods, but I could live without those and it would've worked perfectly fine anyway. I'm shipping it tomorrow (I sold it), because right now I can buy a Creality Hi Combo (with the CFS!!!) for the cost of my V3 KE + like 50$. Total would be about 250-280$ (I'm in Russia and dollar is getting lower by each day).
Ight, got a bit carried away. Now I own a K1 SE. Again - no problems about QC. Just the bed leveling that is off, but that's it (a ultra common K1 series issue). The first K1 printers were.. bad. But later the K1 got better and when K1C got released, everything turned 100% better. K1 SE by the way is a stripped version of the K1C, it just doesn't have the side walls, door and top. It also doesn't have the thermistor, some fans, but that just means you get to play with the printer: buy all the stuff for cheap, get into the config files, change some stuff. I love it man.
Btw even if you have any problems, you always have the warranty and the support answers you pretty quickly. In my case it was always up to 24 hours or even less. So I'm very satisfied with Creality and I always look forward to their new stuff!
Note that with the K1C 2025, root access is still not available and the information coming from Creality support is confusing at best.
Someone want to help me pick out some printer options for my kids?
Budget, $1000. Can go over a bit if things are right.
Located in the US.
Knowledge with tools, mostly wood and metal work. I DIYoutube my house so I can likely figure out the printer maintenance. Printer is for kids (ages 10-14) but doesn't need to be too simple as I will be maintaining and helping them.
Printer will be indoors, not a real enclosed area or ventilated, but it can be placed in a closet under the stairs. Wiring areas are setup to pass through any side.
I need something I can print stuff with the kids but also make sturdy objects/projects of my own.
I would suggest a Prusa MK4S kit. To build a machine and memories with your kids. Maybe the Core 1, if you may be printing larger objects.
Currently browsing Prusa Core1 and Sovol SVO8 from the generic guide here. Both look like good options from my newb perspective. Price is a bit different. I appreciate your comment.
hi im getting the final parts my 3d print setup
and i need advice on five things
Hi, I've been looking at getting a 3D printer for a while now. My hope is to print minis for TTRPG, home decor and other small DIY parts.
I have 2 cats and 2 small children. The printer will be behind a door, although not locked, but for those reasons I am leaning towards an enclosed printer.
I've had my eye on the P1S Combo and with the recently launched P2S I've glances at that too.
I would like to have a multi color printer if possible, and I don't know yet what filaments I would need for DIY projects.
Budget is €800 incl filaments and accessories. Based in EU
Hello everyone. I'm searching for a 3dprinter so I came here to say hi ! I'm french, have a budget of around 500€. I'd prefer not to build it but I'm really good at lego if needed :'). I would like to print mini figurine with detail like Warhammer and maybe fidget toys. Ideally I hope to print 15cm figurines without having to cut them. I think I've said all you need to help me Thanks a lot !!!
So I've been eyeing a 3d printer for a while now, the Creality K1 max, its about $1500. i had heard good things about it, but i want to be sure before dropping that kind of money on it. I'm looking for something overall good at most things, trinkets, cosplay, holders and so on. do you guys know of any other 3d printers i should look into and or purchase? I live in Australia if its at all important.
So I want to get into 3d printing, I have worked with 3d printers but never owned one and I dont want to spend too much on one so I was thinking of a getting a compact or small 3d printer. At first I thought of the bambu lab mini but in my country only the bundle with the multi color is available and not the printer on its own meaning the price raises by about 150$ and im not willing to spend more than 300$, so my next option is the bresser raptor which is way less quality but for 240$ and is compact. My main use is for projects that include arduinos and esp32s and from time to time cute figurines or useful parts. Should I go for it ? (Keep in mind that I am from Lebanon so prices are more expensive here and the range of printers to choose from isnt that wide especially since I'm searching for a compact 3d printer)
Hey, I am in the market for a printer upgrade. I currently have a longer l5k pro. Ive never had an issue with it and I love the build size. I was looking at the h2d but I care a lot about print times so I was looking into getting an X1C but since it is dated it seems like the P2S is not only newer but also better priced. My main thing is quality and has to be enclosed. I am looking to print mostly abs for car parts. I have done tons of printing on my lk5 but nothing demanding and all solid color. If anyone had any better suggestions than the P2S and thinks I should look at a different company. I would be willing to spend up to 3k but I doubt I will use any features the H2C or H2D have the best $ to performance would be best.
Around 500 to 600 no more than 700 comparable to the bambu labs p1s with all the add ons i would just buy a p1s but its on back order and i wouldnt see it til january in the US no kit idk how to do that filament printer for random stuff of thingiverse doent need to be giant any recommendations?
Me and my dad are planning on getting a 3D printer soon and are we are hoping to find a printer that can print metal and plastic but I haven’t gotten a 3D printer before so I don’t know what to look for. So what are some good options that hopefully don’t break the bank to much
Looking to buy an Elegoo Centauri Carbon on FB marketplace. The seller is listing it at $220 and I'm hoping to get him down to at least $200. The post says it's "new" but open box. The pictures does seem like it's still in its original packaging. They are also willing to run a benchy upon inspection. I'm very tempted to buy but what else should I look out for when I inspect it?
This would be my first 3d printer. I'm looking to print practical things for around the house and room like organizations. I have a VERY limited experience with 3d designs but willing to learn as a hobby.
Me gustaría empezar en el mundo de la impresión 3D. Tengo un presupuesto de unos 200-300€. Vivo en España, y no me considero especialmente hábil con la electrónica (fuera de lo básico me pierdo). Me gustaría utilizarla para hacer figuras de decoración y crear piezas que me ayuden a solventar problemas de mi casa.
I'm looking at 2 used 3d printers on craigslist for my 8yo interested in 3d printing. I don't think he's old enough yet to get into designing; just likes the idea of printing his own trinkets. But (for context) he does love his legos and is doing increasingly complex custom builds with them. I have no experience in 3d printing.
The 3 options are:
1.) FlashForge Adventurer 3 with 4 spools of filament. Seller claims it is barely used, and it looks it. Asking $100
2.) Bambu Labs A1 mini with AMS and some other accessories. Does not come with any filament, and it looks like it's been pretty heavily used since its purchase in xmas 2024. Seller asking $250
3.) Fusion3 F306 with 1 spool of filament. Seller claims he's the original owner and it was never used. Also comes with lots of accessories, tools, and a print stand. Asking $350
I'm leaning towards the FF Adventurer 3 just because it's the lowest price. I don't want to overinvest in a setup until i'm sure my kiddo really likes 3d printing. I can always upgrade a year or so from now if his interest holds. I gather that FF no longer supports the Adventurer 3, and it may need firmware updates. I also understand that its print speed is the slowest of the 3. However, it's also my understanding that many of FF's hardware like their interchangeable nozzles will still work with the Adventurer 3. Seems like a decent deal for a plug & play printer that's about 5 yrs old.
I know everyone here sings the A1's praises, and it coming with the AMS for only $250 is very tempting. I think my kiddo would be more likely to get into 3d printing if he can easily do multi-colored projects on it.
I also know the Fusion3 is the oldest option of the 3, being at least 10 years old. It's not as fast as the A1, but 2x faster than the Adventurer 3. I'm also attracted to it because of its 306mm (12 in.) print volume - I like the idea of making big prints! Its print speed is slower than the Bambu, but faster than the FF, and was top-of-the-line in its day, from what I gather. It's also the only Core XY motion system of the 3. I don't know if that's a pro, con, or just an older-school design. The old click wheel menu screen combo doesn't seem terribly user friendly, but looks reliable. I also gather that the original msrp for these was about $4,000, so it seems like a "deal" for a never-used printer, despite being 10 yrs old.
What do you all think?
Budget: $1000-$1500 USD (can be a little more if I save a bit) Country: US Kit preference: no preference, but don't mind assembly Purpose: hobby/learning mostly, the odd functional print Experience level: long time lurker, first time buyer. Done some modeling/printing, nothing in last 5 years Filaments: flexibility is nice, but figure I will stick to PLA to start, and generally avoid the caustics until much later
Preferences: - enclosure - decent sized bed(~300mm2) - customizability a plus
Background: Been thinking of buying a printer forever, never did because of free time/space limitations at the time. thinking it might be a good time to pull the trigger. Been thinking either Prusa or BambuLab(but am open to suggestions). Leaning towards a Prusa( I like their general approach/support), so the core1L looks tempting (if a little expensive and very new/untested), though I wonder if it would be a bit overkill for a first time purchase.
Appreciate any advice. (Edit for price typo)
Son (15) really wanted the A1 Combo for Christmas, it's sold out everywhere I have checked. I see I can get the non-combo one. With limited knowledge of 3D printers, is there another best option? He has owned 2 lesser quality 3d printers but never worked out, always had issues. He is set on the A1 Combo being the best to get him going full time. Wondering if there are any other best ones this sub would recommend? Thank you from a mom who knows very little about 3D printing!
I have neptune 4 currently. I heard from a friend that bambu lab printers require way less configuring. Checked them out and it seems that they could be way more hassle free. I could get A1 for 250 euros. Should I go for it and upgrade?
For the context I have already tinkered wifi and klipper to neptune 4 and calibrated most of the settings. I honestly just hate recalibrating the bed with paper or really anything and I would rather focus on designing things. I print with sunlu pla+ and sunlu pla meta. For now I don't plan to move from pla soon. I use orcaslicer but I am not bound to use that one although I like it.
Hi all! I work as a therapist at a residential mental health treatment site for kids and teens (highest acquire in CA). Many of the kids would benefit from pain stim fidgets (lil ouchies) and other stim toys. I was wondering if anyone would donate their extra filament and time to create some? I’m happy to work something out for time and shipping!
I am looking to get into 3D printing mostly to make figures and cosplay on a very beginner level. I have a budget of 375 dollars. I have no prior experience with 3D printing but I feel like I know enough about electronics to be able to build it myself off of a kit if necessary.
ender 3 v3 as a first time buy ?
I'm looking at the Bambu lab A1, I'm just a hobbyist and would like something that is easy to use, low error rate and will last.
Does anyone have any feedback to this make/model? I would appreciate it TYIA