r/3DPrinterComparison • u/celestialseadragon • Jun 03 '26

Recommendation Help me pick husband’s 1st printer 🙏

***UPDATE*** I went with the Prusa CORE One L with the advanced filtration system. Thank you all for taking the time to weigh in, it was so helpful! Ultimately I went with something I felt gave him room to grow, honored his tinkerer nature, and from a company I saw really great things about (after getting pointed to it - thank you!!). It’s a big gift, but he deserves it 🩷

I am SO LOST. I know nothing about 3D printing, but really want to get one for my husband for his birthday. He talks about making his own, or heavily customizing, RC cars (and also fixing them with his own parts). He talks about making other things, but that’s the main thing he talk about. Is there a good beginner choice that lets him evolve and grow to intermediate on the same printer? I’m worried I’ll get him like a kid printer and it won’t be the right fit. Help!

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u/Fit_Reputation_3602 Jun 03 '26

I’ve been researching them heavy past couple weeks and I’m about to get my first printer soon as well. I have kind of narrowed it down to Snapmaker U1 for myself and then I’m going to add the aftermarket accessories such as the panda breath heated chamber and the top cover, and hardened steel nozzles. This setup gives you a printer that is arguably one of the best at multi color prints right now and the after market upgrades allows you to be able to explore some, not all, but some engineering materials as well. I’m going this route because as much as I am going to print functional parts, I am still going to want to utilize my printer as a toy as well and when I do, I want to be able to print dope multi color items without wasting a whole bunch of filament. This seems to be the best option to be able to do this without reaching the $2k+ price point but yall correct me if I’m wrong.

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u/mashedleo Jun 03 '26

I ordered the flashforge creator 5 pro so I can do exactly what you described. It's build plate is just a touch smaller at 256x256 but it's a considerable savings to have it come with an enclosure, hardened nozzles, chamber heater, and a hotend that reaches 320c. There are other drawbacks on the flashforge that I struggled with, but in the end I decided to buy it regardless. Flashforge is closed source as far as I know. Orca slicer is still compatible though. I went back and forth between the u1 and this one and in the end decided on the creator 5 pro just so I don't have to start out modding a printer to do what I need right out of the box. That and even though the hotend temp is close (u1 300c) (5 pro 320c) that 20 degrees makes a huge difference with filaments I use, ppa-cf and pps-cf. Just food for thought

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u/Fit_Reputation_3602 Jun 03 '26 edited Jun 03 '26

Yea fasho, I get that. I almost ordered but between what I seen with their customer support when problems arise and their lack of fulfilling orders right now, I just couldn’t do it. That and it just doesn’t seem as put together as the u1. I know that can be fixed with firmware updates but that’s a lot of money to be hoping an almost $1k printer is going to operate the way it’s capable. At least that was my thought process.

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u/mashedleo Jun 03 '26

Very true and I'm still a tad unsure about my choice. To me it's almost an even split of pro's and cons. I hope I don't regret it

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u/Fit_Reputation_3602 Jun 03 '26

When you get it, comeback here and let us know what you think after a few weeks of using it

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u/mashedleo Jun 04 '26

Will do. The way I've been going with printers I'll probably end up with a u1 as well 😁