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What is your must have 3D printer option?

colporteur

Can you provide a list of three options that must be included, if you are going to purchase of a 3D printer?

 

I have been asked to provide a list of options for evaluating the selecting of a 3D printer. A friend of mine is considering making a purchase.  He has no experience with 3D printers. He is looking for some insight before making the purchase. The only experience I have with 3D printers is, having attended a few of the sessions of 3D Printing For Makers: Free 4 Part Webinar Series . After reviewing my notes I came up with the following list.

 

  • Number of extruders
  • Type of polymer supported
  • Closed or open case
  • Heated deck
  • Software

 

The list is pretty short. I am unable to rank importance. I'm looking for input from the Experts or rather those people that have or have used a 3D printer. These people from experience have insight into the printing. I'm thinking they can provide a recommendation on options they feel can make or break a 3D printer. If you are aware of a gotchas to avoid that would be appreciated.

 

The printer purchase is for a resident of Canada. The budget for the project is less than thousand in Canadian dollars. I would speculate the printer will be used to support primarily designs within a model railroad environment. The user is not experienced and has basis computer user skills.

 

If you were looking to purchase a 3D printer, what would be your must have options?

Parents

  • Let me tell you this first I am not an expert in 3D printing or printers but a few years back I had a similar question while choosing which 3D printer to buy. So I am sharing my experience with you here. Hope it helps!

     

    I knew only a little bit about 3D printers when I started searching for one to buy. I watched many videos and read many articles to first determine what all a 3D printer requires. I am sharing a few among the links which I referred to below,

     

    Buyer's Guides | All3DP

    10 Things You Need to Know Before Buying A 3D Printer - Pick 3D Printer

    YouTube Video - https://youtu.be/RbtINaQOzDE

     

    Mostly, it was these which decided a buy or not a buy,

     

    • Usage - Why do I need a 3D printer? For printing prototypes? or for printing industry-grade finished products?
    • Size of the print bed - Bigger the better (because mostly we won't be upgrading the printer often). You can also be innovative in smaller printers where you can build bigger products by joining smaller prints. has done an excellent job in explaining the features a print bed needs. So have a look at his comment above as well.
    • Customer and Community Support - How much information about the 3D printer is available on the internet and how is the support in case anything goes wrong with the printer.
    • Materials which the printer can print
    • Customizable/ Repairable - Will you yourself be able to modify the parts of the printer like place a new print bed, new extruder, etc. An open case is my personal choice which enables easier customization/ repair.

     

    I ended buying Creality CR-10. The main reason (even though it shouldn't have been the main reason) is the price and shipping availability to my country from Element14 online stores (because I had got a $500 shopping cart from Element14 Community). But I am satisfied with my choice because it fits my needs (prototypes - print quality is not industry-grade), the size of the print bed is big (300*300*400), has good customer and community support, can print PLA, ABS, Carbon Fiber, Wood, and customizable/repairable (open case).

     

    image

     

    Leveling the bed initially was a bit tough but once set you are good to go for a long duration. If I leave the printer unused for a long time and then when I use it, I face some bad prints, and even at times, the machine would go crazy. But a simple restart would fix them all. So I would suggest a periodic usage of the printer, if not a big print at least a test print would be fine.

Reply

  • Let me tell you this first I am not an expert in 3D printing or printers but a few years back I had a similar question while choosing which 3D printer to buy. So I am sharing my experience with you here. Hope it helps!

     

    I knew only a little bit about 3D printers when I started searching for one to buy. I watched many videos and read many articles to first determine what all a 3D printer requires. I am sharing a few among the links which I referred to below,

     

    Buyer's Guides | All3DP

    10 Things You Need to Know Before Buying A 3D Printer - Pick 3D Printer

    YouTube Video - https://youtu.be/RbtINaQOzDE

     

    Mostly, it was these which decided a buy or not a buy,

     

    • Usage - Why do I need a 3D printer? For printing prototypes? or for printing industry-grade finished products?
    • Size of the print bed - Bigger the better (because mostly we won't be upgrading the printer often). You can also be innovative in smaller printers where you can build bigger products by joining smaller prints. has done an excellent job in explaining the features a print bed needs. So have a look at his comment above as well.
    • Customer and Community Support - How much information about the 3D printer is available on the internet and how is the support in case anything goes wrong with the printer.
    • Materials which the printer can print
    • Customizable/ Repairable - Will you yourself be able to modify the parts of the printer like place a new print bed, new extruder, etc. An open case is my personal choice which enables easier customization/ repair.

     

    I ended buying Creality CR-10. The main reason (even though it shouldn't have been the main reason) is the price and shipping availability to my country from Element14 online stores (because I had got a $500 shopping cart from Element14 Community). But I am satisfied with my choice because it fits my needs (prototypes - print quality is not industry-grade), the size of the print bed is big (300*300*400), has good customer and community support, can print PLA, ABS, Carbon Fiber, Wood, and customizable/repairable (open case).

     

    image

     

    Leveling the bed initially was a bit tough but once set you are good to go for a long duration. If I leave the printer unused for a long time and then when I use it, I face some bad prints, and even at times, the machine would go crazy. But a simple restart would fix them all. So I would suggest a periodic usage of the printer, if not a big print at least a test print would be fine.

Children
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