Probably price - the best printers are often out of reach of hobbyists.
Print volume - larger volumes are more friendly for printing practical parts.
Stepper motor drivers - some of the pricier ones from Trimatic are notably quieter than the alternatives.
Material compatibility - heated bed, all-metal hot-ends, enclosure option are helpful to ensure material compatibility beyond the basic PLA.
Ease of construction - some printers are a bit challenging to set-up.
Spare part availability and cost - parts wear out over time, so knowing that the printer is supported is good. Also knowing what options are available for tuning the printer to your needs is also good.
Print speed is very hard to gauge - the manufacturer specifications are rarely meaningful as higher speeds often leads to reduced quality and details. However, the design of the printer will also affect this tradeoff - CoreXY designs tend to be more capable of high speeds because the model itself (of varying weight) is not moving during the print.
Probably price - the best printers are often out of reach of hobbyists.
Print volume - larger volumes are more friendly for printing practical parts.
Stepper motor drivers - some of the pricier ones from Trimatic are notably quieter than the alternatives.
Material compatibility - heated bed, all-metal hot-ends, enclosure option are helpful to ensure material compatibility beyond the basic PLA.
Ease of construction - some printers are a bit challenging to set-up.
Spare part availability and cost - parts wear out over time, so knowing that the printer is supported is good. Also knowing what options are available for tuning the printer to your needs is also good.
Print speed is very hard to gauge - the manufacturer specifications are rarely meaningful as higher speeds often leads to reduced quality and details. However, the design of the printer will also affect this tradeoff - CoreXY designs tend to be more capable of high speeds because the model itself (of varying weight) is not moving during the print.
