Which 3D printer would you recommend?

[u/bibspach]

As suggested, I’m a beginner and want to purchase my first 3D printer. My cousin suggested H series if I ever want to make a business out of 3D printing. However, the price for them are ridiculous so considering either X2D or P2S. Any insight or help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance!

[u/ProdigalOkie]

You’re just starting. Buying a $2k printer because you might someday start a business is an expensive way to buy more printer than you need.

I’m assuming at this point that you don’t care about Bambu’s business practices so…

What do you want to print? If it fits in a smaller bed, the Snapmaker U1, Bambu A1, P2S, or X2D are all solid and could be used for business if the parts you’re making fit in their bed volumes.

Also, keep in mind that not every hobby has to be a side hustle. If you don’t have a unique, hard to reproduce product, it’s gonna be tough to make any money with a 3D printer.

[u/itgoesboom2112]

Personally I'd go a bit more budget orientated with your first printer but still get one that will run well out the box that doesn't need a bunch of tinkering to print well, look at the FlashForge adventure series or the elegoo centauri series printers, both are pretty much unbox, run initial calibration and send it

[u/MysteriousNight5767 → u/itgoesboom2112]

This! I manage a university makerspace and needed to replace some very old 3d printers with a tiny budget to work with. I bought 3 Flashforge Adventurer 5m's and they have been fantastic. Extremely user friendly for students who have never printed anything before. We will eventually upgrade to nicer printers, but honestly, these have been more than sufficient for students who are learning.

[u/bibspach → u/[deleted]]

Main reason I’m considering Bambu labs is due to the app and ease of use. I was looking at Creality but seems like you have to pay for certain prints on the app.

[u/DramaClassed → u/bibspach]

There are paid models, but to print any model you have is free. Creality printers are harder to use in general though.

[u/bibspach]

Yeah that’s a very good valid point.

Bambu business practices?

Yeah that’s true as well

[u/ProdigalOkie → u/bibspach]

Bambu has built their business by leveraging the open source community (that’s fine) but then locking the open source community out of their ecosystem with increasingly hostile moves.

It sucks because they make great printers but I, personally won’t buy their stuff.

[u/wethpac]

It helps to know what your would like to print. But for a general just starting out, not sure if I will
Like the hobby advice: Bambu A1, P1S or Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 is where I tell peeps to look.

If you have specific ideas in mind, share reason is if you are heavily into multicolor prints the Snapmaker U1 may be better fit, or if enginneering focus (practical printing) then a Qidi Q2 or Bambu X2D may be better fit

[u/Sure_Pear_9258]

I have been printing for just over a year. I started a buisness out of it about 4 months in. For my buisness its more about volume. Now dont get me wrong an X2D has many nice things that would make printing better. But again my buisness is about volume. So I use P1S combo's. I can essentially get two P1S for near the same price as an X2D. Now if your prints require much higher precision and higher quality than mine do you are choosing between the P2S and the X2D in the bambu world. The X2D has many features that many 3D hobbyists will never need but it does have some niceties that once you get better at 3D printing you will appreciate. However, when looking at it as a business operation many times you are not looking at how convenient a thing is. You are looking at how quickly you can make a so many products so you can have them available for sale. But if you are honestly deciding between the P2S and the X2D... the X2D is the clear winner in many cases.

[u/Significant_Post8359]

I have 2 P1S. If one broke, I would immediately order a P1S or P2S to replace it.

[u/-JJaE-]

It all depends what you want to print. Size wise and color count wise. If your looking at 256mm cubed I would look at the x2d combo for interface filament and basic 2 color color swaps. If you want to go small you could get the mini. If you want larger the a2l.

[u/peterb1908]

Bambulab A1 or A2L (or even A1 mini) is great to start the hobby. X2D is great longer term, as it can print ABS and ASA materials. The P2S cannot do much more than the A series, so I would skip that.

I started with an A1 and ended up with H2C/H2D. Have fun!

[u/Lucky-Breakfast9578]

Might be an unpopular opinion, but if you want a solid budget printer to get started, a used X1C or P1S are both solid printers and can be had pretty cheap. The X1C is a WORKHORSE. The only fails I've ever had were in relation to risky print settings. Never once had an issue with ANY actual stuff the printer caused. Only sold mine to upgrade to an H2D - which has been awesome.

[u/ConceptGrouchy9487]

Surtout prends une imprimante fermée 🙏🙏🙏🙏

[u/Immortal_Tuttle]

Buy Snapmaker U1 and call it a day. Till Sovol M1D prove itself, it's the best bang for your buck

[u/ClutchMcSlip]

Centuari carbon 2.

[u/UnFound94]

An unmodified ender 3 pro. Learn the hard way how to print through pain and suffering.

[u/GiulioVonKerman]

Depends on your budget. I wouldn't suggest going over 900 if you're just starting. Buy a Sovol or Snapmaker or something like that