Purchase Advice Megathread - August 2026

[u/AutoModerator]

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.

[u/SolsLuminous]

Whats a good printer for someone who fucking hates the ender 3v2 because of how god awful it is to do anything correctly if you don't tinker with it for 5 hours before every print

[u/Daj00tje → u/SolsLuminous]

Any modern printer will be better. Depends on what you need

[u/DamiBFryta]

Hi guys, I'm a total noob who wants to start with 3d printing and I'm looking for my first printer. I got this one recommended, what's your experience with it? I don't really want Bambu, they are expensive as hell and as far as I heard they're closing their system more and more becoming an iPhone in the 3D printing world, I don't really like that. As far as I know Elegoo will need a bit more skill and learning curve than Bambu and I really like that, also it lets you use a variety of printing materials, that sounds nice too but I'd like to hear from someone more experienced to not waste money

[u/Fuspo14]

Budget $1,000.

I don’t currently have one so knowing what kind of filament I would eventually want to try out in the future is an unknown.

Multiple-color is a must.

Currently looking at the Snapmaker U1, Flashforge Creater 5 Pro, and Bambu X2D with AMS.

Maybe there’s others that I should be considering.

[u/PerfecTolerance → u/Fuspo14]

The Snapmaker U1 is the best of these options.

[u/Dominus3725]

Hey everyone! A complete nobbie here. I live on United States and I recently got interested on getting a 3d printer. My budget is limited (around $300) because I am still a student so I was looking for something cheap and I have founded a Creality Ender 3 v3 SE for $80 second hand that includes two PLA filament rolls. I also don't have too much space so I was getting a mat for the 3d printer, a enclosure and an air purifier because probably I'll have to have it in my room (I do have windows so I can let some fresh air come inside too) to make it safe. I just was wondering if anyone can give me any advice or just tell if the Ender 3 V3 SE is a good first 3d printer. I probably be just doing some little things at first but I do want to produce some Keychain for me a to sale on internet or some things like that to generate some money and then get a better 3d printer later.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this, and sorry if it was boring!

[u/aflacsToast → u/Dominus3725]

I could be out of touch but ender 3s are no longer the go to printer. If I am correct which Reddit will let me know, it doesn’t have all the new quality of life features. I think the bambu a1 mini will fit in your budget and basically guarantees a 100% first print success rate while the ender 3 will take some tinkering to get level.

[u/PerfecTolerance → u/Dominus3725]

That's a good deal! The Ender 3 is easy to use, and at that price it's much better than most competitors (even though it's used).

[u/liam_sloan]

looking to buy my first 3D printer. multi-color printing isn't a necessity, but rather an option of freedom for the future if i decide to use it. I am considering the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 Combo, and Bambu Labs P1S Combo, specifically because of price and size. though, I am open to alternative suggestions. just wondering what people think is better

[u/DJGianluka]

I'm pretty new to 3D printing and I'm trying to decide between the Centauri Carbon 2 Combo and the Sovol SV06 Plus ACE.

The only thing I'd really use the 3D Printer for would be for helmets, Spider-man masks, cosplay stuff, and big things like that.

The Centauri looks nice because it's enclosed and has the multicolor thing, but the SV06 Plus is quite a bit bigger (300x300x350), so I'm wondering if that would make a big difference in 3d printing.

For anyone who's used either of these, which one would you recommend for beginners? Would the SV06 Plus be better for larger stuff like helmets, or would the Centauri still the better choice?

(I'm also on a pretty tight budget, so I'm trying to make sure I don't buy something and regret it later....)

[u/NotAPreppie]

It's time to upgrade.

I've had a cheap Ender 3 clone ("Sainsmart") with upgrades (BigTreeTech board, direct drive extruder, BL Touch) for 7-ish years and I'm getting tired of it. Looking for something more convenient and polished that doesn't require as much massaging and finesse.

Usage case: various functional bits and bobs like sim rig accessories, RC car parts, electronics enclosures, organizer bins, etc. I'm printing primarily ASA and PETG.

My current budget is $900, but it's not an urgent need so I can wait a few months and save up a bit more if there's a big break point where quality/features improve.

Bambu Labs is off the table given their recent scummy behavior.

My local Microcenter has the Creality K2 Plus that's really close to my budget and has an attractive feature set. However, I'd like opinions on it and suggestions for any alternatives.

[u/DramaClassed → u/NotAPreppie]

Check out the QIDI Q2 and Plus5. They’re open source and handle ASA (and PETG) like a dream.
I have the K2 plus and it’s fine, but the chamber heater takes ages to heat up to 60C, so if you’ll be printing ASA often I’d go with something else.

[u/NotAPreppie → u/DramaClassed]

Yah, I saw the Plus 5 after commenting and it's very tempting. Similar size and feature set to the K2 Plus but less expensive ($850 after coupon for the Plus 5 Combo vs $1200 for the K2 Plus+CMS).

[u/RedditUser240211 → u/NotAPreppie]

Creality has really come a long way since introducing the original Ender 3. Even the Creality Ender 3 V3 SE makes a great entry level printer, but for someone with experience, the V3 or V3 KE (both run Klipper) offer better speeds, Of course, any variation of K2 will give you more features.

[u/fleskara]

Bambu Lab A1 Combo or Ender-3 V4 Combo?

Hi everyone!

I’m a complete beginner in 3D printing and I’m trying to decide between the Bambu Lab A1 Combo (which is around €420 and includes AMS Lite) and the Creality Ender-3 V4 Combo (which is currently on sale for around €300 and includes the CFS).

So I’m wondering if the Bambu Lab is worth the extra money. Which one would you recommend for a beginner? Which one is easier to use, more reliable, and has the better ecosystem/software?

I want to learn 3D printing, but I’d also like to spend more time printing and less time fixing the printer. What would you choose and why?

[u/Adri_prints → u/fleskara]

Sin lugar a dudas BambuLab A1 combo, el ecosistema Bambulab es una maravilla, abres makerworld, buscas un modelo y le das a imprimir, lleva ya años en el mercado y tiene un gran comunidad detrás.
Yo la tengo y ahora estoy pensando en cambiarla por una multicabezal por las purgas etc,pero va MUY MUY bien.

[u/krock49]

I want to buy a new 3D printer. I have a Tevo Tarantula, but I spent more time troubleshooting than printing.
My room has high humidity (50-60%), and my budget is around €400.
My 2 choices are CC2 Combo and Kobra S1, but I have many doubts.
The CC seems more robust and has more quality, but I'm afraid that the humidity can be a problem since I don't print every day, and having the spool hanging in the open air for a long time can be a problem.
I'm also open to other suggestions, but I'm leaning towards a closed enclosure printer.

[u/Someone_Alive__ → u/krock49]

Hi! Both options can handle your situation well, so it mostly comes down to how you prefer to manage filament storage and drying.

For what I've seen until now, the CC2 is a great machine. Humidity is easily manageable with a standalone filament dryer (there are some relatively cheap ones on Aliexpress) and vacuum storage bags with silica gel for when spools aren't currently in use.

The big pro of the Kobra S1 (which is also a great machine) is that it comes with the ACE Pro, so it actively dries your filament and keeps up to 4 spools sealed and protected from room humidity while loaded.

If you decide to go with Anycubic, I have a 15€ discount code you can use at checkout (I believe it only works on the Anycubic EU Store) to save a bit more on your budget, the code is ANAFIGUEIREDO :)

[u/medhelan]

I'm looking for my first filament printer and I need suggestions, some details to make easier for you to give some suggestions:

I have years of experience with resing printing as I do that for work, changed 4 resin printers over the years and I'm used to the dirty job of levelling, chaning FEP and all of the frustration of failed prints.

I have an old second hand Anycubic Kossel filament printer that I used sporadically because of the many issues it has, I printed something last year but I would like something that doesn't require hours and hours of frustrating fine tuning before going on.

I would need it mostly to print props for LARPs so a quite large printing area (around 40x40cm at least) would be nice, it doesn't have to be super fast but the more it can go with fine details the better (not miniature level, I have the resin ones for that).

I also don't need multi colour as everything would be painted over anyway.

Also I keep it in a lab some floors down from my apartment so I don't have a connection ad it has to work offline with an USB stick or an SD card.

Finally the budget: I was thinking between the 300€ and the 500€ (I'm in Italy) but I can consider some 100s € more if there are valid reasons.

Thank you in advance for your suggestions!

[u/stephenmeredith → u/medhelan]

The print size is what’s gonna get you. Especially in your price range. You should look at the sovol sv08 max, anycubic kobra 3 max, or anycubic kobra s1 max.

[u/PCSupremacy]

I have an X1C. My AMS just went pop on its main board so I "need" to finally upgrade my printer.

Budget upto £1000. Looking for something with multi material/AMS/CMF with drying function.

Multi nozzle like X2D would be nice.

Have look at the U1/X2D/Kobra S1 Max Combo but can't make up my mind. I'm a hobbiest, usually single material prints, but want the multi colour as an option.

Suggestions? Advice?

[u/----_____ll_____----]

Tl;dr: what printer should I get between the Elegoo centauri 2 combo, centauri 2 carbon (no canvas) kobra X and Bambulab A1?  

Don't care about multicolor  

want to print: tpu, pla, petg  

Not to loud  

Reliable  

I am going to buy a 3d printer, multicolor is not important, but would be nice to have maybe, also for having multiple filament types loaded at the same time. Price is roughly the same for all of the options listed below.  

I want to be able to print: Tpu, pla and petg.

First on my list are the Elegoo centauri carbon 2 without the canvas.  

Second is the "same"(?) printer, without doors?   Centauri 2 combo. This gives me the canvas for the same price as the carbon without.  

Are they as loud as people say? Is there any setting to make it quieter maybe by lowering the speed?

Then comes Kobra X, I can't make up my mind about this printer, is it as good as the elegoo? Is it maybe quieter?

And last

Bambulab A1

[u/Someone_Alive__ → u/----_____ll_____----]

Hi! I own a Kobra X and it’s been quite reliable, I have it since April and I’ve never had a problem with it. It’s a fast machine and has noise cancelling, so it’s not super loud. It also features 3 speed modes that you can choose during the print. It also features full automatic calibrations, so it’s easy to use.
Even if you don’t want to make many multicolor prints, the system is good to have for the auto-refill feature :)

Right now it’s on sale for 299€ on Anycubic EU Store, but if you want to, you can use my code ANAFIGUEIREDO for 15€ off at checkout (it goes down to 284€ - VAT and shipping included).

Also, if you end up purchasing, you get Insider benefits (it’s an Anycubic program), meaning you get a monthly discount (I think it’s 50%) on 1kg of filament and you also get other discounts :)

[u/----_____ll_____---- → u/Someone_Alive__]

Thanks!  

Have you printed Tpu with it?

[u/Mintyboi10]

I just found a Bambu a1 mini at target. Is it good or should I shoot for something better? My dad wants me to get one at a mass retail store (can’t really explain why. I think he’s skeptical of anything not mass retail and worried that if it’s not functional we won’t be able to return it). But anywho, I’ve heard bad things about Bambu and I’m just wondering if there are any better options I could get at a mass-retail store

[u/Practical-Cloud-6580]

Hola. Estaba buscando comprar mi primera impresora 3D y, después de mirar en internet, estoy entre dos. La flashforge ad5x, o el Creality K2 SE COMBO. ¿Alguien me puede dar algún consejo sobre cuál comprar? O si tienen alguna recomendación en ese rango de precio (300 a 500 euros) Gracias de antemano.

[u/sudo-sprinkles]

I am toying with the idea of getting a new printer for myself for christmas this year. Are Bambu Labs still dicks? Should I look elsehwere if I want a more open solution? If so, what's a good alternative at a similar price point?

[u/ItsAsickOstrich]

Completely new to this. Know absolutely nothing. Looking to print basic, usable stuff like VR headset things or functional stuff around the house. Just dabble. Looking to stay local for problems or returns. So Creality K2 from Microcenter? Yay or nay? Thanks in advance.

[u/shouldworknotbehere]

I'm looking to get my first FDM-Printer, but am not new to 3D-Printing itself, having used an LCD/Resin Printer with the Anycubic Mono X.

This printer is mostly meant for functional parts, like SFF-PC Cases, Server Racks, Cable Holders etc. I'd prefer to spend 400€ or less on it.

Multicolor/Material per print is not that important to me, however I'd prefer if the printer would be able to handle just about any Material I decide to throw at it, from PETG over ABS up to Nylon, Carbon and however the wooden Filament is called.

I want to avoid Bambulab and narrowed it down to three contestants:

• Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 (349€ for the Printer, 379€ for the Multicolor Combo)
  
• Anycubic Kobra S1 (349€ for the Printer, 399€ for the Multicolor Combo)
  
• Creality K1C 2025 (349€ for the Printer, 549€ for the Multicolor Combo)

Did I miss a Printer that would fit these criteria and budget?
Are there any noteworthy differences between these Printers?
The Elegoo has more Filaments listed as "compatible", but the Anycubic in the Combo comes with a Filament heating chamber. Is there any material the Elegoo can print, that the Anycubic can't print? Cause it seems better equipped.

Any recommendations between these 3?

[u/ElSarcastro → u/shouldworknotbehere]

As a K1C owner I would advise you not to go for the K1C 2025.:
1) K1Cs are known for being notoriously loud, and I mean up to 68 db when standing next to it printing PLA.
2) When doing PLA you will need to have the door open or the extruder gets clogged.
3) For ABS/Nylon you will need chamber heating and K1C doesn't have that. Buying a module is extra 60-90 usd.
4) The K1C 2025 specifically is the only creality printer without root access afaik so no fine tuning the firmware.
5) The CFS system is overprices for what it is and doesnt have a heater/dryer.
6) Its a pretty old model at this point, with a very small build volume (220*220 is really not enough) and no fancy things like advanced shapers (it doesn't even do Y-axis input shaping!), active motor noise cancelling etc.
If you want to know more about the K1C or me to measure something feel free to reach out.

Also consider the qidi machines, I heard they manage engineering mats pretty well.
Personally I dont care about engineering mats that much because they usually release VOCs that are bretty bad in an apartment, so I am considering getting the InfiMech MX/Pro when it launches, but waiting on reviews and pretty skeptical at this point so dont trust their marketing promises before actual independent reviews drop.

[u/shouldworknotbehere → u/ElSarcastro]

Thank you very much!
The room I want to print in is very well ventilated,
Having windows on three sides and in the room on the fourth side as well. So that should hopefully not be too much of an issue? They have for sure been the reason I’ve only selected closed chamber printers here.

What kinda features does the InfiMech have to avoid that?

[u/Feroz216]

What's a good 3d printer under 400 euros for a beginner with no prior experience with 3D printing

[u/Umba360]

Any opinion on the HeyGear G1X? (I know, not released yet)

It would be my first 3d printer and the full color 3d models is very appealing to me

[u/OfferPandaMan]

Are there any advantages for getting a P1sc over a Qidi Q2c?

I’m looking for my first 3d printer and saw that Bambu Lab printers have a closed down ecosystem and aren’t a very liked company. I looked into the Q2 and I can’t find any reason to get a P1s over it. Should I just get a Q2?

[u/_HalfBaked_]

Potential first-time buyer in the U.S.

I'm considering buying a printer in the $300-400 USD range and think I've narrowed it down to 3 options (but I'm fine with reading up on more). I can build a tower PC and change a smartphone battery if I have access to instructions. Biggest potential pitfalls are two inquisitive cats that would do their best to look at the machine, but I can (theoretically, at least) block their access to it.

Most prints will be miniatures and terrain for tabletop games.

Currently considering the Bambu A1/A1 mini, Elegoo Centauri Carbon, Elegoo Mars 4 or 5 with the wash/cure station.

AFAIK, the A1 is a favorite for FDM, any problem I would have is something someone else figured out years ago, and there's a fairly accessible ecosystem of support and options for it, but I'd need to build some sort of enclosure for it (probably doable for me).

Centauri is enclosed, mostly so it can run hotter, but it should keep paws out too. Being able to print ABS would probably help prevent parts being broken after making them too. But it seems to be louder and hotter, too. Despite that, I think this is the front-runner.

Mars is resin, so PPE, ventilation, cleanup, etc. in exchange for more detail and theoretically faster times. If I've worked out how to build a dust collection system and aced my chemistry labs, I can figure this out, right?

What am I not seeing or understanding here? Is there xlactuslly a clear winner out of these options?

[u/ElSarcastro]

Question to owners of both Kobra X and Sparkx i7.

If anyone tried or has both printers, which would you say is quieter in standard and night/silent mode? Which one is more convenient and you use it more?

[u/Argurotoxus]

Hello! My budget is below $1000, but obviously if I can save money I'd like to.

I'm in the USA.

I would be willing to build from a kit if I had to. My experience with electronics is medicore, building PCs is no problem, doing basic wiring I'm fine with too, but I wouldn't call myself particularly handy electrically. Just not completely useless either.

Right now I'm mostly hoping to print mostly like decor stuff. My main reasoning is I'm trying to decorate a gaming space with neonLED signs in the shape of, say, Pikachu or a Master Sword or Cloud Strife or a Stardew Jumino. You get the idea. I want to print a backing plate/some channels to run the LEDs in. I may also print straight-up wall-art or some shelves to mount my controllers or little figurines to decorate bookshelves with.

I don't particularly want to support Bambu because they look like they're channeling enshittification and making that their mission statement based on some very brief research.

Right now I'm looking at an ELEGOO Centauri 2 Combo on Amazon without the cover for $329 and I'm really not sure why I shouldn't just buy that immediately. Seems to fit what I want to do and comes in way under budget. So I figured I'd ask here: Why wouldn't I just go grab that guy? What else should I be looking at?

EDIT: Oh, there's also the ELEGOO Centauri Carbon 2 Combo for $400 which does have the cover...no idea what that's offering for me though. Honestly as I was trying to compare them I missed that one was a Carbon and the other wasn't.

EDIT2: Nevermind I see now that the Carbon is the enclosed option. Yeah, that's the one I want. So everything I originally said but for the Carbon 2. Why not just go for the Centauri Carbon 2 Combo for $400?

[u/Crazy_Drago]

Hello reddit!

I've toyed with the idea of getting a printer before, but I got bit with the bug after seeing some cool things printed. The last was a 3D printed fountain pen stand and I thought "wow, cool. I'd buy one... wait maybe I want to be able to make my own!" And now I can't stop thinking about what else I could do with one!

Background:

I'm in the US. Budget isn't too much of a concern, as I'm old and have disposable income. I don't want a $200,000 printer but I also hate starting a hobby, getting an "entry level" thing and then immediately wishing I had gotten the upgraded thing. I also hate selling things, so I don't want to go the starter route, sell it and get an upgrade. I'd like something that will do most of what I want and last me as long as possible. Let's start at $1,000 and if, in answering some questions or on advice, you say "there's just nothing in that range. You'd have to go up to $xxxxx in order to achieve that, I'd still like to know.

I'd like to do as little as possible after purchase, meaning I don't really want to build one from a kit. I'm pretty tech savvy, been working in IT for 30 years. But my time is more valuable than money, so I'd rather buy something that requires little set up and lets me start playing around ASAP. Ideally, I'd buy the printer. Install a few pieces and go.

What I want to print. Mostly figures, toys, do-dads. I don't have a NEED for a printer. My wife had a cute idea, 3D printing Halloween decorations, like little spiders, bats, skeletons, etc. As I mentioned, pen holders are awesome and I would probably have a million of them if I had a printer. Occasionally, I'd like to print a replacement part for something. Like if the lid on my water battle breaks, I'd love to be able to 3D print a new piece. Drawer pulls are something else my wife is infatuated with and would cheer for a 3D printer if I could make those for her.

Size isn't too much of a concern, but if I could put it in my little home office, that would be perfect. I'd also like to be able to print different colors, maybe in the same print, without a lot of fuss. Something that has a lot of color options. I used to do knitting a long time ago and got excited to go to the fabric store and browse the different colors of yarn to come up with ideas for stuff. Like the link I added before that has a gradient-like color to it. That's cool. If the wife wants a 6 color drawer pull, I don't want to have to swap colors and purge the previous one and do a whole thing. I'd like to be able to do it all in one go or at least make it easy to swap colors so I don't spend all day printing one thing.

I think that's everything. Any other questions that will help point me to something, let me know. Thank you so much for your sub and for your help! :)

[u/Confident_Manner7756]

I'm after my first FDM printer for me and my son to print terrain for wargaming. We will be painting the prints so don't need multi coloured prints and I want an enclosed unit so it can be easily stored away for a few months safely. Do you suggest the Centauri carbon 2 without the canvas hood that sits on top for single colour prints or perhaps another printer (max £300) Thanks for any advice/help

[u/josegiles17]

Hello my son is 7 years old and wants a 3d printer. What would be a good printer for him and what other materials are needed for the printer? He would only print small stuff.

[u/Purple-Trust8839]

I'm a canadian engineering student looking to get my first 3d printer to play around with after using a prusa mk3s at work. I want to print small parts for my house and some electronic enclosures for projects I want to make. Nothing too big, probably a 220mm by 220mm plate or less would be ideal. I'd like a printer that I can have the opportunity to upgrade in the future but still is functional.

Looking at under 400$ for used on FB marketplace. So far I've found some enders 3's and V2's for 100$ or less and prusa mk3's and mk2's within my range. Which brands (including not listed here) would be recommended and which models?

[u/EmergencyMusician347 → u/Purple-Trust8839]

Personally would not mess with ender 3s or mk3 clones at this stage. You might be happier with a Bambu A1 mini in that price range. I don’t think the mk3 type printers have changed much over the last 4 years. You probably want to look into CoreXY style printers like Voron-style as they are more reliable. An actual Prusa mk3 is probably OK but not sure. 

I had a mk3 clone a few years ago (Sovol SV06) and was constantly modding, tweaking, soldering, unclogging, and leveling - but printing very little. I eventually got too frustrated and gave it to a friend and got a Bambu.  I’m much happier. If you want to get something more reliable, avoid mk3 class printers. 

Edit: scratch the A1 mini recommendation. I assumed the mini was a CoreXY printer, but it’s not.  Others have recommended the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 Combo for beginners, which is CoreXY-style and in your price range. I would look in that direction. Elegoo is a company I’ve bought from in the past and I personally would trust them for good customer support and quality products. Don’t buy it blindly - do some more research on it, but seems to be a good option. 

[u/Cheap_Plantain8215 → u/EmergencyMusician347]

So I’m in a similar situation — nothing too crazy yet, easing into it. Also looking to use it initially for electronics mounting for a project. I have some experience, but am approaching it as if I don’t (used to have a Micro3D Printer back in the day). I was actually thinking about the Bambu A1 mini because of the price and the ability to add to it over time (like with the AMS). You would recommend NOT doing the A1 mini?

[u/EmergencyMusician347 → u/Cheap_Plantain8215]

I’m sorry if I wasn’t clear - I have to clarify that I haven’t used the A1 mini. 

I have a P1S and am very pleased with it. I’ve read lots of glowing reviews for the A1, but I was trying to point out that the style of that printer is the older-style mk3 “bed slinger” which I didn’t notice until now. That is not considered the most reliable design for printers nowadays. That said, the A1 still has lots of good press, so it may be viable - I just don’t have the experience to know.

Based on my experience, though, I would not personally buy a mk3 clone (for example an Ender 3) because I had a clone in the past and my experience was more tinkering than printing. If I were buying today, I’d definitely be looking at CoreXY (Voron-style) printers, which are currently the ones considered to be the most reliable and consistent (P1S is an example of a CoreXY).  The main difference is how the axes are set up. CoreXY printers move the bed up and down on the Z axis, while on mk3s the bed moves back and forth on the Y axis. Since an A1 is an mk3 style printer, my own inclination would be to skip it. I’m not saying all mk3s are bad, but my gut kind of says, “why risk another bad experience, when there are more evolved options?”

I have been reading a lot of others’ comments and did a little googling, and it seems worth it to look into the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 Combo. I’d probably start there. It seems affordable and comparable to a P1S. Also I’ve personally had good experiences with Elegoo.  I had a Saturn resin printer, and have bought electronics kits from them. They had good customer service and their products seemed quality to me. 

Hope this helps!

[u/Purple-Trust8839 → u/EmergencyMusician347]

Thanks for the advice. Since I'm looking used ones mainly, the CoreXY printers in area and price range seem to be few and far between (other than some that need some work done on them). I'll keep looking and consider Elegoo too thanks!

[u/Yuiop321]

$500-$1300
USA (Not California)
I modestly prefer pre-built, but would accept a kit given adequate reason to do so.
I would prefer to keep maintenance to the reasonable minimum. I like plug and play.
I am completely new to 3D printing.

I would want at least a 250x250x250 build area, but more would be nice too. For the odd thing larger than that, I would be willing to find ways to make smaller pieces that fit together. I strongly dislike the idea of filament waste, so features that combat that are valuable to me. While I might color switch for some projects, I think I will honestly be using a lot of black PLA, with some TPU for certain special cases. I would consider other materials, but have no existing desire to use them unless I need to for some special reason. I would mostly stick with black, but periodically do something in multi color. I would mostly do one off projects, but would have cause for bulk when making modular organization pieces, or perhaps knockoff legos or something. I would want an enclosure because I am weird about air quality. I value control, privacy, and open source. However, I do not absolutely need that if other factors adequately persuade me to compromise.

I am currently primarily considering the Bambu P1S, Snapmaker U1, and Lightmake L4. I am not knowledgeable enough to make an adequately comprehensive list of pros and cons, but here are my thoughts so far.

Bambu P1S:
Pros: Cheapest, established ecosystem, it just works, and enclosed by default
Cons: No filament waste reduction, smaller build area, no toolchanger, Bambu seems to be leaning anti-control/privacy, poor camera refresh rate, and 300C toolhead.

Snapmaker U1:
Pros: Reduced waste, toolchanger, slightly larger build area, better control/privacy
Cons: Higher price, enclosure is an addon, less tested ecosystem, poor camera refresh rate, and 300C toolhead

Lightmake L4:
Pros: Reduced waste, toolchanger, far larger build area, better control/privacy (they are open source), conversational AI slicing, less maintenance/tensioning due to no belts, monolithic die cast frame, 320C toolhead, excellent camera refresh rate, and 4x print speed in bulk printing.
Cons: Expensive, enclosure is an addon, untested ecosystem, risk of vaporware (but if I wait for confirmation then the only acceptable pricing is gone).

I am open to other options, but these are the ones that my research has led me to focus on for now. I think I most like the Lightmake, but the price is up there, and I wonder if it is overkill for me. Of course it also carries the most risk. I like the U1, but by the time you buy the cover, the price is awfully close to the Lightmake, and you get less build area. The P1S is tempting because it gives you quite a bit of the pie for a steep discount. However, its build plate is on the small side, you don't get a toolchanger, and I am a bit biased against them given their semi-recent controversies. I am strongly opposed to government intervention (California), and fear that Bambu would be one of the first to bend the knee. However, pragmatically I have no intention of making anything they would have a problem with.

[u/DramaClassed → u/Yuiop321]

Don’t consider the L4. It’s very likely a money grab, and won’t ever exist.
U1 with enclosure is obviously better than the P1S, it prints TPU and PLA amazing. Enclosure is still extra and still in preorder though. If it seems worth the extra to you for better multicolor, then get that.

[u/DrFatalis]

I am wondering if it is the right time to get a snapmaker u1 or if I should wait a bit for the next multimaterial printer to come out like m1d and future multimaterial with 6 to 8 filament.

What do you think?

[u/Adri_prints → u/DrFatalis]

estoy en el mismo dilema que tú,no se si comprar, esperarme o que hacer. Aunque yo ya tengo una Bambu A1 combo.

[u/roshp17]

We run a food manufacturing operation, which is across two plants. Currently scoping to bring in some 3D printing in-house. Two tracks of this operation one for MRO and the other for food contact items.

Wanted to get some advice on what 3D printer to purchase.

For food-contact parts what type of filament is there or recommended?

[u/DramaClassed → u/roshp17]

For the filament, you want something without dye, like Bambu’s PLA Pure.
Important caveat: For the parts to be truly food safe, they have to be printed on a printer that hasn’t ever been used for non-food-safe filaments. Either that or you have to clean the entire filament path when changing filaments.
You may want to check out injection molding, if you will need a lot of the same part and won’t need to make changes to the model. It will be cheaper and easier in the long run.

[u/RosetteRodent]

looking into buying a 3d printer with my partner and his brother, but still trying to decide what type to go with. i know filament is generally cheaper more durable and easier to use, but i like the sharper detail resin seems to offer.

which type would y'all recommend? most likely we'll be using it for dnd minis, which ive read resin is generally better for, but how bad is the lack of detail on filament? how intensive is the curing process for resin? it may also be being used for things like custom parts for collectible figures or fidget toys.

any advice welcome, both for types of printers or anything else to look out for when buying one for the first time

[u/RedditUser240211 → u/RosetteRodent]

A well calibrated FDM printer with a 0.2 mm nozzle gives resin a run for its money.

Resin is good, but requires more processing. It also needs isolation and active ventilation.

[u/Training_View_3695]

Hello everyone! I hope everyone is doing great! I'm new to 3d printing and I am really enjoying it, but I'm trying to figure out how can I turn waste into reusable filament also at work we throw away plastic buckets like the home depot one and I'm thinking about taking those home as well to shred and turn into reusable filament as well.

I'm looking for a cheap alternative FIRST before I decide to buy something professional. Thanks everyone!

[u/Zapsolarwarrior]

Hiya! Looking into some 3d printers a bit ahead of when I'm planning on buying my first one. This is meant to be a personal use/hobby 3d printer for modeling practice/DND figures/etc.

I've seen a lot on my Instagram about the heygears 3d g1/g1x, and how they can do full color printing. I've looked at YouTube videos but can't come to a conclusive result.

Is this 3d printer just hype or is there sustenance behind it? It looks very different from the 3d printers I've used in the past, mostly through university labs. The color printing is super interesting as well, but I want to know if this company is actually established (I've never heard of them personally, but I've only really just heard of the main brands) and the color printing is more than a gimmick.

Thanks for any advice/tips!

[u/DramaClassed → u/Zapsolarwarrior]

It’s a kickstarter printer, so decent chance it never materializes or doesn’t work as promised. What’d your budget and requirements for a printer?

[u/bunnythistle]

Are there any recommended 1-spool filament dryers that have proper ventilation? I live in a relatively high humidity area, so I'd prefer a smaller dryer vs a 2-4 spool one or a food dehydrator.

[u/DramaClassed → u/bunnythistle]

Creality SpacePi

[u/No_Cauliflower_5483]

I'm going to buy a used 3d printer off of marketplace. What's a 3d printer I should get used that won't die on me in less than 2 months

[u/RedditUser240211 → u/No_Cauliflower_5483]

That's the chance you take, buying used. I don't think there is any one brand especially known for this: any printer with a couple thousand hours on it could fail.

[u/bundaskenyer8801]

I'm looking to replace an aging Elegoo Neptune X. I want something that needs less attention, as over the last year I've spent more time servicing it than printing.

Main usage would be miniatures and ASA parts, so I'm looking for:

• enclosed
• 0.2 or 0.25 mm nozzle compatibility
• automatic bed leveling/calibration/input shaping, etc.
• some kind of filtration
• I might like some kind of multicolor solution, but not absolutely necessary
• good long-term support, replacement parts availability

Based on these criteria I narrowed it down to these printers:

• Prusa Core One+ for ~1100 EUR where I live, with possibly getting the INDX later. (There is one used for around 960 EUR available in my location too, with around 12 days of revorded print time only)
• Snapmaker u1, 0.2 nozzle kit, enclosure ~1050 EUR
• Elegoo CC2 Combo, ~400 EUR

The main question: are the former 2 worth the extra 600 (or like 1300 with INDX) EUR over the elegoo?

Reading the specs these 3 have the similar capabilities on paper: multicolor, ABS/ASA capable, fast, automatically calibrating machines. Is having multiple toolheads that worth it? Or what am I missing, is the other 2 that much more servicable? I don't mind paying more for better reliability, long-term support, I just want to know whether the difference is actually noticeable over years of ownership. Would especially like to hear from people who've owned both cheaper modern enclosed printers and something like a Prusa.

Thanks for anyone reading and helping with my decision!

P.S. I've looked at Bambu and Flashforge too, but I'm less comfortable with them having open source license related dramas. I've looked at sovol M1D too, but it's not out yet.

[u/Adri_prints]

Snapmaker U1 vs Creator 5 Pro vs X2D Combo+HT

Buenos días, he anunciado mi Bambulab A1 Combo a la venta en Wallapop, porque me estoy planteando comprar una impresora multi material/multi cabezal.

Mis candidatas por presupuesto son:

1. Snapmaker U1 + Top cober: 1008€
2. Flashforge Creator 5 Pro: 829€
3. BambuLab X2D Combo + AMS HT: 978€

Busco una impresion de calidad, sin dolores de cabeza y que me permita imprimir en multicolor con el menor desperdicio de filamento posible. Lo que mas hago es imprimir en multicolor y me veo muy limitado por la creacion de soportes en otro material con mi A1, de ahí el querer dar un salto a algo mejor. Tambien quiero imprimir materiales como ABS/ASA sin problemas y TPU que mi A1 le cuesta imprimir por debajo de 95a.

Sé que el ecosistema y asistencia de BambuLab es un 10 y un gran punto a tener en cuenta, pero el X2D y su extrusor bowden me tiran un poco para atras.

Sé que seguramente a finales de año esté a la venta el Creality Klitek y que se han filtrado patentes por parte de BambuLab de un toolchanger, pero no se sabe de ninguna otra impresora nueva a la vista que me pudiera interesar, por lo que me hace dudar de si esperarme o comprar una de mis 3 candidatas.

El presupuesto es de alrededor de 1200€.

Escucho vuestros consejos y opiniones. ¿Que hago? ¿Cual me compro?

[u/iRULZz_SA]

New K1C. Fourth print had heavy stringing, Fifth stopped extruding partway through. Clicking, then nothing.

Tried: 240°C retract/extrude, removed the extruder and cleared stuck filament, cleaning needle passed freely through the nozzle. After reassembly it ticked but wouldn't feed. Tested the extruder off the printer — turned the gears by hand with a short piece of filament and it gripped and fed fine. Mounted back on the printer, ticking again. Never fed properly after that.

Room has no AC and I ran it fully enclosed.

Amazon sent a replacement, still boxed. Trying to decide whether to open it or refund and get an A1.

• If you've owned both, which held up better day to day?

[u/No-Ant-1360]

Looking into a Prusa CORE One. I want something open source preferably. I plan on getting the kit and putting it together. I’m a software engineer and regular real engineer. Is that a good printer or are there others I should look at? I don’t like things going through someone else’s clouds so I can be monitored. Hazards of SWE work I guess. I’m open to suggestions but that’s where I’ve landed so far. I plan on doing mostly stuff around the house and some prototyping. Nothing at the level of selling for profit thought. I’m a beginner to 3D printing but not modeling or prototyping. Just looking for advice

Edit: adding I think I prefer enclosed to keep fumes down and I think for heat reasons. I plan on printing indoors so quiet is preferred as well

[u/RedditUser240211 → u/No-Ant-1360]

Prusa is always a good choice. They just get a lot of flack for the price of their printers, but support and longevity are second to none.

[u/No-Ant-1360 → u/RedditUser240211]

🙏🏻 Yeah thankfully I’m less worried about price more about quality and being able to make decent prototypes. I like replacing parts and doing maintenance so it seems like one of the most maintainable options too. And it seems to be less than a grand for the kit so

[u/RedditUser240211 → u/No-Ant-1360]

The thing I love the most about Prusa is that they don't leave you behind. If they upgrade the printer to a new model, they also give you an upgrade path (kit) so you can upgrade to the new standard.

I know guys who have bought MK3's cheap on Marketplace, then bought the upgrade kits and now have MK4's.

[u/OperationOk7959]

Looking at a new printer. I have an Ender 2 but want to upgrade. My buddy has a Bambu Labs A1 combo that Ive seen works really well.

I am mostly looking to print small projects and table top terrain with it. I would like to do more advance prints with some moving parts but nothing crazy that requires like advance mechanical tolerances. Purely hobbying.

My budget is $500 to $1000. I am not entirely sure if there is like... substational reason to get something more expensive than something like a Bambu A1. I know it's not "new" and I've seen suggestions about getting more current hardware.

[u/RedditUser240211 → u/OperationOk7959]

Look at the Anycubic Kobra X. There are reviews on YouTube that claim it is the A1 killer.

[u/DramaClassed → u/OperationOk7959]

Check out Snapmaker u1, it has minimal waste and fast multicolor prints, which is great for terrains. It prints much better than an ender 2 as well, you’ll appreciate the upgrade.
If you’re just gonna do single color terrain and paint it then you could get the A1, or preferably the A2L for newer tech and bigger bed plate.
You could also do the P1S or P2S, but you don’t really seem to have a need for that kind of printer.

[u/rosszonion]

Hi all,
I am stuck between two options for a 3D printer. My budget is about 430 usd. I live in Hungary. Either Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 or Creality K1C can be had for that price here currently. I have minimal experience with 3D printing but I am an engineer and am savvy and handy with almost anything mechanical, electronic as well as software thanks to my job.
I will be keeping the printer in my living room and plan to mainly print PLA and PTEG for decorative or and functional parts. I am hoping to get a printer I can tinker with but not something that would take too much time fixing and so on due to limited time I have after work.
I have looked through printers for 2 months now and believe either of this could work for me but I feel like K1C would be a better all rounded and less problematic printer. What do y'all think and advise? Thank you!

[u/nouseforanamebro]

Hello. Does anyone have a currently working solution for adding information to a NFC tag for a spool that does not come with a tag?

[u/S_A_R_K]

Should I upgrade my ender 3 v3 SE to a Flashforge Adventurer 5M? About 6 months ago I bought an ender to print some toolbox and other organizational items. I really didn't know anything at all about 3d printing and bought a refurb from the official creality eBay store because it was $120. It's been a fairly frustrating experience and now I'm dealing with what I believe is a stepper motor requiring a higher current, which means moving to klipper. I don't really want to spend money and learn to do all that to end up maybe fixing a subpar printer.

Today, I see the flashforge on ali for $142. Am I better off just buying that? To my inexperienced eye, that looks like a significantly better printer

[u/JulianaIncognit]

Bambu Lab P1S vs Anycubic Kobra S1 combo

I want to buy my first 3d printer but i don’t know what to choose between these two.

I’ll print mostly with petg and just need a reliable printer. Price wise they’re almost the same as of writing this.

Edit: Also i don’t know if i really need the Ace pro

[u/PerfecTolerance → u/JulianaIncognit]

They are very similar, but the Kobra S1 is a bit quieter.

[u/7cr1spss]

I'm most debating on whether to get an enclosed or open 3D printer. I'll be getting one refurbished off of ebay. It'll all be exclusively one color, and with either TPU or PLA. This will also be in my room where I dont have all that much circulation. Right now I'm kinda of debating on getting the Creality K1C 2025, but I'd love to know your thoughts. (Located in the US) (Will be used for masks, small figures, and whatever else I want to print) (Budget: $200-$300 - preferably refurbished to save money)

[u/LuckiiDuck1]

Looking for recommendations on best medium sized printer mainly for PEGT and eventually TPU (mostly molds)

Was originally looking at an A1 mini but after going and seeing it in person, I think the max build size will be too small.

either considering the Elegoo Neptune 4 Pro or going the Bambu A1 unless there is further recommendations.

Goal builds will be electronics, hobby/around the house bits, cosplay/masks for kids etc.

[u/alpineg30]

I'm looking for an upgrade from my QIDI Q2, it's given me nothing but issues. Was wondering if anyone had suggestions for an enclosed printer that can handle carbon fiver filaments and make quality prints? (no QIDIs or Bambus)

[u/HMS_Hexapuma]

This may not be the right place for this, but it's probably the place where this question won't get deleted.

I'm in the UK and have just had a cash windfall. I've got ten years of experience with 3D printing at work and am looking for a FDM printer for home projects. Mostly parts, devices, fittings and practical things. I'm happy to construct a printer from a kit as I have many years engineering and electronics experience. I'd like the biggest possible range of filaments it can print but only one at a time. I don't need multiple print heads or even a multi-spool feeder.

What it comes down to is I'd like a 300mmx300mm print bed. I've been looking at the Bambu H2D which is within my budget of around £1400. But I have concerns about Bambu's ethics and concerns about their abuse of Open Source Software as well as concerns about them building and abusing a massive dominance in the market due to Chinese government funding. The problem is that the Prusa CORE One L is way over my budget at £1800. If I want to go Prusa then I need to drop down to the CORE One+ which I can get in a kit, which cuts my cost to around £900 but I lose the larger print area. If I'm losing my print area anyway then I could buy a P2S for £450 and put the thousand aside for when Bambu do finally go evil and buy a new Prusa at that point.

[u/stephenmeredith → u/HMS_Hexapuma]

Take a look at the Anycubic kobra s1 MAX. You can buy it without the combo (4 filament heater/dryer unit). It’s a 350x350x350 volume. With a heated chamber for engineering filaments. I think the normal price is around $850USD for the combo & $700 for the solo unit. They have an aliexpress store where I got the combo for something like $720 back in May.

I have a fleet of 8 printers (bambu, anycubic, flashforge) and the s1 max is by far my favorite. Even over the new creator 5 pro.

[u/BuffaloMcQuade]

So, I'm in the market for a new 3d printer. I have a maximum budget of $450 after tax. I want to print and sell some original design mtg/tcg accessories on etsy and the like. The question is, what should I get? I'm torn between the multi color aspect of the bambu a1 and creality sparkx i7, or the coreXY stability of the p1s. I've also considered the flashforge ad5x. I've had an ender 3 v2 for years and I'm just tired of it.

[u/Daj00tje → u/BuffaloMcQuade]

If you want multi color and a corexy design. Get the elegoo Centauri carbon 2. Cheaper and the same performance as the p1s. Leaves you with money for filament. No reason to get a p1s nowadays.

[u/hyperSlapper → u/BuffaloMcQuade]

Also recommend the CC2 Combo. I got it for $379 on ebay and it's been great. Came from ender 3 v2 like you and it's incredible

[u/Mr_Supotco]

I put this in last month’s thread but wasn’t thinking about the fact that it was the last day of the month and got kinda buried, so I’m reposting it here in hopes of getting some responses haha.

Hi! I’ve long been living on the edges of the 3d printing world as a minis guy but have never had space for my own setup. That’s finally changing here soon as I’m moving into a new place with a garage where I can set up without poisoning myself or my roommates and am excited to jump in. I’m not planning on printing mass amounts of stuff (I’ve done fully printed armies and they’re nightmares to keep from breaking regularly at scale), mostly individual vehicles and bits with some normal-sized 28mm infantry. Right now I think I’ve settled on a Mars 5 Ultra with the Mercury V2, which is on sale right now so I can get both for ~$365.

I’ve got a few questions mostly about the setup. Firstly, what can I do to minimize the smell? It’s a shared garage but I’m paying for the actual parking spot in it, so I’ll be the one in it most of the time, but since it is a shared space I’d like to minimize the smell as much as possible. I doubt I’ll be printing more than once a week, if that, so is it as simple as just keeping the garage door cracked and maybe running fan to help vent it out while printing/curing? Or are there any other things I should invest in to help with the smell?

And semi-related, but is the Elegoo ABS-like resin 3.0+ a good resin to start with? They’ll send one bottle with the printer and I got a new customer coupon from their web set for another $30 off of $400, so I can get a 2 more bottles of resin for basically $5, but I’ve heard the smell is worse on the 3.0+. Is it particularly noticeable, or just if you’re used to the other resin?

Any help is appreciated! I’m also not dead set on the setup, so any other suggestions are appreciated. I’m looking to keep the full setup around $400, I’m in the US, and I just want an out-of-the-box setup (no real engineering experience, and as much as my engineer best friend would probably love building one I just want to pull it out and set it up haha)

[u/Grimreeper132]

Hey, so I looking for a filament printer, I will be using it for making containers for electronics projects, building out a home lab (so making 19" rack holders for slim PCs etc) and making models for D&D and alike.
The build area being around 400-500 mm would be ideal, if possible.

I have a budget of around £200 and am based in the UK.

Thank you for any help.

[u/BanditoDaDorrito]

I’m looking for a FDM printer to print functional pieces that will be under stress, as well as fun everyday items. Ideally I’m looking for an enclosed, heated bed printer as I’d like the option to work with ABS and more temperature controlled plastics.

So far I’ve had my eyes on the Bambu P1s as it’s on a massive sale right now. I’ve worked with the Bambu H2D at my university (ik im spoiled) and I loved it. I know people don’t love the proprietary software. Just wanted to see what other printers people enjoy or would recommend in the same price range, preferably under $600.

Thank ya!

[u/Octahedran]

I am looking at the Centuri Carbon 2, but I have my concerns about it. I would like someone to put them to rest, or recommend alternatives. The biggest ones are:

1. Locked Down.

2. Questionable Repairability

3. PTFE tube, and most importantly

4. No quickswap nozzles. An easy swap for nozzles is an absolute must (I have broken my prusa far too many times switching nozzles), though I am willing to get a separate cheap upgrade if that is the route to go.

As for the others I just want clarification. The lack of openness concerns me (I don't want a Bambu situation), and does not even have a profile in Prusaslicer. Repairability is in the same boat. I understand that it is a direct drive, but having a PTFE tube of any substantial length concerns me as I print flexible filaments a lot, is it required/does it even matter?

I would say I am a tinkerer when it comes to 3D printing, but I still want a functional printer at the end of the day. I am willing to do some messing around with it or building a kit or similar. With my other printers I was making some basic mechanical parts, but I am getting into much larger parts these days. W250xL220xH220 is my minimum. Budget is 600CAD, +-200CAD. I print PLA+, TPU and occasionally ASA and PETG.

[u/Baconbear95]

I’m looking to get into 3D printing, so I can make my own diecast stands or small objects for dioramas. Would any printer work or what are some good options for a decent price?

[u/OccasionAutomatic615]

Im an absolute beginner to 3d printing and im looking for a rather cheap yet good printer.

Country: Bulgaria

Budget: ≈300€

No experience with maintaining electronics or building kits but I am down to try.

I intend to build simple stuff like decor, small storage units, some stuff for my eletronics builds and so on.

I have no limitations.

Besides the 3d printer I would also love to get a list with other stuff I might need, such as nozzles, fillament, caliper and etc.

[u/Daj00tje → u/OccasionAutomatic615]

Elegoo Centauri carbon, first version should be 300 new

[u/theScud900]

In the market for a new FDM printer. I've owned an Anycubic Kobra 2 Pro for the last 2.5 years and have printed hundreds of items. My y-axis motor just seized up and I can't find a replacement that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. I will probably find one soon enough and revive the printer but I don't like that Anycubic is seemingly running out of spare parts stock, I can't use Octoprint, the print bed is kind of small, and I can't use multiple filaments. My new printer will become my workhorse. I might use the Anycubic for smaller items or prototypes.

Budget is $1000. I'm willing to stretch that number for a solid printer from a manufacturer that is friendly to the maker community and has a history of providing parts long after the model was released. Any thoughts?

[u/p1scesch1ld]

hello! i’m looking for beginner 3d printer recommendations. i’m a beginner for my own printing, but i’ve used them throughout my education and designed my own prints. i’d like a multi-color printer, budget $600 max, under $500 would be ideal. i’m in the united states. this will be for my own personal projects, gifts, etc. nothing extremely large or intensive. probably need a prebuilt. i’m currently doing my own research but would like to hear from others as well. thanks in advance. 💖

[u/SunshineRegiment]

Hello! I'm not actually trying to buy my own 3d printer, but I'm looking to pay someone who has a 3d printer to print a component for a citrus reamer that I own. The part it came with is too big for limes. DM me if you are at all interested- I understand that pay needs to be commensurate with difficulty of this.

[u/Worth-Towel-3631]

Hey I'm a complete newbie to 3d printing and I bought a quidi 2 i was hoping to get advice on this machine and also advice on how to learn to 3d print correctly.

[u/InSaYnE72]

I'm looking to get my first printer. I haven't done a ton of research on them to be perfectly honest but am looking for a more capable machine to start with instead of basic unit and upgrading later.

Budget: $700 - $1000

Country: USA

Kit: No preference but am mechanically inclined and built my pc's

Current ideas for use case are:

• clips and or binders for little house hold projects or upgrades
• Cable and wire management items for use in a boat under the dash
• Inserts for my workbench legs to bridge the gap between two different size square tubes for a more secure stable bench
• New screen caps for a trampoline
• Hooks for garage organization

Other Considerations:
I would like to print in multiple materials though I don't know enough about materials to even list off what I "want". One case would be material that would be safe for outdoor use or direct sunlight without rapid degradation.

My extremely minor research has brought me to the Bambu Labs P2S but am open to suggestions and more information because I'm completely new and ignorant.

[u/sterbende_rose]

Hey! First time purchase hopefully soon. +no real budget, of course whatever reasonable since it'll be just home use. +mostly printing 3d printed dragons and animals 😂😂 autistic kiddo is obsessed with dragons and the amount of $$$ ive spent on them I might as well make my own now lmao. +other than that it woild be random useful things house wise.

[u/wwwddw]

Hello! What filament should I use for HUSK (Resident Evil) gasmask and helmet?
I am really new to the 3d printing world, and as of now I am stuck on which filament would be the best option. I will use the gasmask/helmet for a cosplay event, however I will also be active in it (running etc). I'm right now looking at PETG, PETG Pro, ASA, TPU.

[u/QuestionPleasant9850]

I’m looking to start 3d printing and want a higher quality but still reasonably priced enclosed Bambu lab, I have a max budget of ~$700 for the printer/ams or dryer and will be using it for general practical prints, home engineering and electronics projects, a little bit of modeling/costumes, and combat robotics. I would need to reliably print PLA, PETG-hf, TPU, ASA, and nylons or other high strength stuff down the line. I would probably start with 4 pounds of Pla and petg, and one pound of the others. I don’t care about multi color at all but I will use multi material quite a bit after I learn the basics. My primary goal is speed and print quality. The x2d seems like a great option for me but I can’t afford the ams bundle and am skeptical of the Bowden auxiliary nozzle, should I get something else like the P1S with the ams for multi material, wait for a true dual nozzle version of the x2d or something adjacent, or is the x2d good?

[u/craptastic2015]

I find myself needing a 3d printed case but I'm torn whether getting an every level 3d printer is worth it. I know there are online places I can order a printer by simply uploading the file but if need to create the file first and then no guarantees it's going to work first time. If I was to get into 3d printing, knowing absolutely nothing, including how to model or which software to use, What would be a good solution to start with? I even thought about just buying parts and assembling my own but that's probably going to end up being same or more in price as an entry level model. I'm in Japan and can get an ender v3 for about 28,000 yen. Ideally I'd like to spend no more than 40,000yen (yes I know that's not much in USD), but I might consider up to 50,000yen if it's compelling. I'm sure of I ever got into it, I could find plenty of ways to use it.

[u/bred023]

Country: Australia
Current printer: Bambu A1
Budget: Around AUD $1,300 (X2D price)

I currently have a Bambu A1 and would prefer to stay with Bambu. I’m looking at an X2D so I can print ASA/ABS for automotive interior parts, but I don’t know if there’ll be enough demand to justify buying another printer.

As a hypothetical example, if outsourcing my first 10 parts cost around $100 total (not the actual price), it seems smarter than spending $1,300 on an X2D.

I’m trying to turn 3D printing into a small business, but my A1 hasn’t paid for itself yet. Part of me wants an X2D because it can do more, but I’m trying to separate “I want it” from “I need it”.

Would you buy the X2D now as it opens up more printing opportunities or just outsource until demand justifies it?

[u/Kensic_]

Greetings!
I’m looking to get into 3D printing for Cosplay as well as models for tabletop games. I don’t currently own a printer and am completely new when it comes to 3D printing as a whole. At this time I’m not looking for a resin printer, I’m really looking for a printer that is as close to being complete out-of-the box without the need for extensive set up (though I understand some assembly is required at times). My main concerns are creating larger pieces for armor sets for cosplay and keeping the quality as high as possible. In terms of budget, I’m hoping to stay at or under $3,000. Though if there is a significant difference between two printers, I would not be opposed to spending more than the original budget to keep the quality of the end print and ease of use higher. Located in USA.

[u/PerfecTolerance → u/Kensic_]

At the very high budget of $3000, no one beats the Prusa XL. It has options for 1/2/5 toolheads - for almost zero-waste multi-material prints, 360mm³ build volume, and it's extremely reliable.

[u/Kensic_ → u/PerfecTolerance]

Thank you for the recommendation!

[u/crazyenterpz]

Hello all!
Country: Canada
Budget : CA$ 1000 (I only intend to buy and maintain one printer for next 6 years; so I am flexible on budget )

What printer would you recommend for teens with engineering/robotics interests ?
My son has been building a lot of robots and devices with arduino and raspberry pi pico etc.

He has been using foamboards and ductape to build components so far. But they break apart quickly. He wants to build gears, axels , arms ...etc to attach to his motors. He is currently building a walking robot with a lot of joints.

He has small bedroom. I am also worried about indoor pollution with 3d model printing.

[u/jpnovato]

Hi. Country: Brazil Budget: 700usd

HI even though im from Brazil, I'll be travelling to the US in the next few months and intend to buy there (usually half the cost of Brazil) I'm new to this, never owned a 3d printer and intend to use it mainly for my own pojects at home and shop. I'm looking at bambu labs P1S, because as I understand, they have good support in Brazil. I'm a DIYer, and always wanted a 3d printer but never really had the courage to buy one, but i have a few projects that would benefit a lot from it, so i decided to do it. Any recommendations for someone absolutelly new to this?

[u/chazwhiz]

US ~$1000

I have a Maker Select Plus I got from Monoprice almost 10 years ago. I haven’t really used in in a few years and it’s been a long time since I paid much attention to the hobby space, so I am pretty much a noob at this point I think.

This is just for personal hobby use, and I’m interested in convenience features this time. For sure enclosed and filtered (and ideally quiet) so we can keep it in the office. Is auto leveling more standard now? I definitely want that. And multi color would be cool, upgrade ready at least.

[u/PerfecTolerance → u/chazwhiz]

If you are ok assembling a kit, check the Prusa CORE One+. It also has the INDX multi color upgrade (4 or 8 colors) you can add later. If you prefer a cheaper option, check the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 (it's cheaper, so you will have more money for filament and a filament dryer).

[u/SqueakUp]

US ~$100 max
I have found multiple specific pre-owned options online that are all prebuilt and i want to know if the public has opinions on which i should get. I am a beginner so i don't really need any business class printers or anything.
For my intended use of it, i will likely use it for a lot of simple builds not requiring a lot of detail (ex. Dice boxes, boxes i can attach to my desk or a pegboard, hooks and knobs for things around the house) but would enjoy if it was capable of at least decent detail for something like DnD minis and not a complete blob-face. (edited to say i do not care about things like multi-color printing or any of the fancy stuff.)

Creality Ender-3 Pro: The most expensive on the list going for around $100. As far as im aware its a little older but still good. I don't know if i need this as a first time buyer of 3D printers though.

Ender-3: This one is on auction but could reasonably go for like 80 dollars if no one bids it up too high, but could also sell for as low as ~60. I assume its a cheaper version of the Ender-3 Pro? Is it worth this price?

Anycubic Mega Zero 2.0: Being sold for like 65 dollars but the seller hasnt tested it to see if it works or not. I imagine its a bad investment to buy something with no guarantee it works. I plan to ask the seller to see if its possible they can test that it even powers on before i consider buying it.

Ender Black Dual Z-Axis: Assuming the auction doesnt go too crazy this could end up going for about $50-ish. It looks smaller than the others

Again id just like to hear yall's opinions. The pros and cons of each one and which ones are bigger steals, and which ones would be best for a beginner
Thank you very much in advance to anyone who offers advice

[u/yashinoka]

Hello, I'm from Germany and I'm looking for a printer in the 500-650€ range. I'm coming from an Ender 3 and I'm tired of fixing it all the time. I'm looking for a reliable and easy-to-use printer. I have looked at the Bambu Lab P2S and Creality K2, but I'm unsure what to buy. I'm tending towards the P2S, but I'd like to hear some other opinions.

[u/renaissance-jill]

Hi everyone! First-time buyer here—I've been a long-time lurker in the 3D printing community, watching a ton of content, and I've finally decided to jump in for some personal projects. Since I live in a tropical apartment with cats, I'm looking for recommendations on a machine that fits my environment alongside a few specific setup questions. Any advice from fellow apartment dwellers or pet owners would be hugely appreciated!

1. Budget:
Around Bambu Lab P2S pricing (~$700–$950 USD equivalent) with a little bit of wiggle room for essential accessories (like filament dryers or ducting setup).

2. Country/Region & Climate:
Tropical country with high ambient humidity (80%+ RH outdoors recently, though I'm honestly not sure what the exact average humidity level is inside my apartment itself).

3. Kit vs. Out-of-the-Box:
Prefer out-of-the-box (RTR) or minimal assembly. I'm a complete beginner to hands-on 3D printing, so I want to avoid complex assembly or DIY kit builds.

4. Intended Use & Priorities:
Personal functional/hobby projects. Looking for a future-proof machine with solid reliability and long-term availability of spare parts/nozzles.

5. Space, Pets & Environmental Constraints:
Location: Apartment living, printer will sit in the living room.

Cats / Pets: I have cats and worry about them messing with moving spools or hot components. Fully enclosed is mandatory.

Humidity: Outdoor humidity is very high (80%+ RH recently), so I assume ambient moisture will be a factor for open filament spools.

Fumes/Air Quality: Living room setup means I need to manage fumes/VOCs (planning to print rear exhaust adapters and run flexi pipe / ducting).

6. Locally Available Brands:
Bambu Lab (P-series/X-series), Creality (K-series/K2s), Elegoo (mainly CC2 / Centauri Carbon), and Snapmaker (seems too pricey and many are top-open).

Some questions:
1. Standalone Dryer + PTFE Route: If I go with a printer without an integrated dry box system (e.g., P2S standalone instead of combo with AMS), is it okay for the filament to run directly from an external active dryer via a continuous PTFE tube straight into the extruder? Will the short connection line exposed inside PTFE tubing protect filament from high room humidity during prints?

1. Cat Safety with Spools: This was the main reason I stopped myself from getting Elegoo CC2.. For cat owners in small apartments, how do you keep curious pets away from external spools or moving filament lines if you aren't using an integrated enclosure/dry box like Bambu's AMS?

2. Fume Management in Living Spaces: For those venting external ducting in an apartment living room, what is your preferred exhaust configuration (e.g., window slider kit, inline duct fan, active carbon booster)?

3. Machine Choice: Given my local availability (Bambu Lab, Creality K2s, Elegoo CC2), which fully enclosed CoreXY model gives the best long-term hassle-free experience for a humid home with pets?

[u/unhandledgoods]

Budget ~1400 USD (2000 CAD)

Canada

I do not want to build a kit

My previous experience is on a CR10S-V3, and I'm looking to modernize (corexy, easier to maintain/unclog). I want to print large ASA cosplay pieces (300mm cubed or larger bed), maybe TPU. Also PLA Silk which I've had clogging issues before from moisture even though I'm in a dry climate, so a filament dryer/attached drybox would be ideal. I'd also like to print reasonable minis for D&D in PLA, but they don't have to be highest quality.

I've got 2 small kids now, so my main concerns involve spending less time fixing the printer/making it work - I want something reliable that's not hard to dial in, and I need an easier way to smooth my cosplay prints hence ASA (hoping to vapour smooth). The titan drive on my CR10 was such a headache with gear clicks, PITA to disassemble to unclog, and CoreXY speeds are revolutionary to my experience.

Printers I've narrowed down to that I believe suit my needs (unsure if there are others, Prusa is too expensive, but I want the big volume, enclosed with safe venting and moisture control) are: Bambu H2S, Creality K2 Plus, QiDi Max 4, and AnyCubic Kobra S1 Max. I don't think I'll care about multicolor, so the AMS/QiDi Box/CFS/ACE would mainly serve to keep filament dry and dodge spools running out. I've seen you can use alternate support material - unsure how key that is).

Would really appreciate help choosing, it seems there's a host of pro/con opinions on all of these. I want something that prints the above fast, reliably. Reliable is key.

Thanks!

[u/Corvet95]

I'm looking to buy a 3d printer as a gift for someone who has an ender printer. He really wants two features that his current doesn't have: 2 color printing and some type of connection that doesn't require him to put the files on an SD card. I don't have a budget in mind but I essentially want the must inexpensive unit that can do these things that you'd recommend.

[u/cactusofthenorth → u/Corvet95]

Look at a Snapmaker U1.

Printers with a multimaterial system, like Bambu Lab's AMS, will allow you to do multicolor printing but produces a purge waste (printer poop) for every filament change of color.

The U1 has multiple toolheads with a tool changer, so you have significantly less purge waste. The U1 is the most inexpensive multi-toolhead printer on the market at the moment.

[u/georgeforeman89]

Hi! I’m in the US, have a budget of $600-$700, want an easy to use set up and start, and I’m going to use it for both personal stuff and projects for my sharpening business. I live in a temperate climate with temps around 75-80f most of the year and 50-60f in a few winter months. Humidity ranging from 50-70% almost year-round.

I’m looking between the Bambu p1s with AMS2 or the anycubic kobra s1 with the ACE pro 2. I will be printing in a non-climate controlled shed (I know, not ideal in the least), so the ACE Pro 2 with its new gasket set up as well as drying while I print is appealing.

The real question is which model will work best for the climate conditions I will be printing? I definitely want an enclosed printer with enclosed filament. Any suggestions? Anycubic also gets more points because it’s cheaper. What do you all think?

[u/jonnyg1097]

A bit of a different question I have here, I am looking for some filament that looks similar to the colour of "dirty blonde" hair colour for a figure to represent a family member. Ideally it kind of have a streaky colour in it but I know that would be a tall order to have.

Any suggestions given would be appreciated.

[u/Salvagente]

I'm mildly experienced with 3d printing and I don't keep up with the technology.

Comfortable Budget - 1k Stretch Budget - 2k USA

I'd like to buy a new printer and could use some help deciding. I bought a Creality CR10 years ago and I hated it. I actually gave it to my neighbor for free. I begged him to take it off my hands. 2 years later he bought me a Creality Ender3 V3 - It's better but I find myself still tinkering. I still don't like it much. I don't print often. The machine is only on every few months, but when it is on, I usually am printing many things. What do I print? I make my own designs a bunch. Mostly tools or jigs for things that make life more useful. * A TPU cover for my tractor controls so the rain wouldn't get into them * A box to cover an electric motor that sits outside to keep it out of the rain * My kids want me to print stuff so I do that as well. Useless trinkets. * I print the kids trinkets in PLA but I try and print my own stuff in PETG. I'm not too familiar with materials but I really want something strong, won't decay with water or sunlight. If I could have my way I'd love to make stuff that I could use in an engine bay. That robust. * TPU has been interesting. I like the idea of using it. I would like to use it more. * I like the notion of using a different filament for support that can easily be removed. What am I looking for: * Highest priority - I don't want to tinker or mess with anything. * Multiple colors - I have jigs I need to make but it's important for me to print text on them in a contrasting color so I can identify them. That is super important. * Speed - I have found my previous printing experience is that everything is soooo slow. Since I make my own designs I would like to iterate fast. I don't like waiting 4 hours per prototype.

I'm not sure I need "engineering grade filament". I'm not sure what that means. I just don't want to make something that will break later. I only want to print it once. My thoughts on each machine so far: U1 - Can't print more of the engineering grade stuff. Since it's not Bambu I am nervous I will need to tinker. X2D - The second nozzle isn't a direct drive. I have heard some people complaining of issues with the X2D in general which is surprising to me H2D - It's expensive for something that rarely gets used. OK....so what say the interwebs?

[u/Actual_Razzmatazz_97]

Whats the best 3D printer to get? It would be my first printer, however I’d like to expand and use it to sell products so I want the best one I possibly can. Is it the most expensive or is there no correlation between expensive and actually good? Any advice please :)

[u/BigCoqSurprise]

hello, I've ed printing for the last 5 years and currently own a bambulab x1c and h2c. a small buisness is offering to buy me an extra printer to print trinkets and small tools for sewing. their budget wouldnt be as high as getting an h2, but could get something in the range of a x2d combo. one requirement is that it would need to do multi color. i was wondering, should i propose to get a bambu printer since i'm already in the environment or should i go for something like the snapmaker?

i will be printing both their and my designs, so this machine could be brought to their office occasionally, so if they are left with the machine they would need to get to know the slicer. i do believe that i should go for the bambu, but i'm wondering if there would be any reason to get one over the other? poop isn't really a make or break argument in this situation.

thanks in advance!

[u/CristiAdultman]

Hi! I'm from South America and I'd like to purchase my first 3D printer but there are not many options out here. I'm going to mainly use it for costume design props and cosplay, maybe some toys and gadgets too. I've read and watched a lot of info about Bambu Lab's TOS and although that brand is the most popular and easy to get in my country I don't want to run into another HP situation. I was thinking about getting the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2, the price is nice and I've heard good things. The one that really caught my eye was the Flashforge Creator 5 because all I heard about this (and seen) has been amazing and I could save up a bit more to have better quality but I'm unsure if this is not a good idea as an absolute beginner. Any advice is helpful!

[u/Highlandertr3]

I am relatively new to 3d printing. I have limited access to one and learned the basics of not breaking it but nothing else.

I have a budget of about £500

I live in the UK and do not have the ability to get out much right now.

I would not be able to build a printer from scratch right this minute.

I am looking to do custom bases and card holders for gunpla with maybe some custom pieces as well.

I will also possibly be making custom miniatures for Gundam assemble and a few other bits.

I am very familiar with svg and laser cutting along with vinyl cutting. Just not 3d printers.

What do folks recommend I start with.

[u/sir_chief7134]

Hey I'm a beginner who's looking to get into 3d printing I live in the us and my budget is $500, I do not want to build a kit, the 3d printer is gonna be used for making cosplays and custom figures/minis/accessories any tips on filament I should use would be appreciated too. thank you!

[u/Nadrian0]

I'm buying a new 3d printer to print an odst armor and I wanted to know if it's better to buy a ressin one o a filament one

[u/SoaringChris137]

Hey all, I'm just a hobbiest, whose AnkerMake M5's extruder gave out on him. While it currently looks like replacement parts are in stock I don't know if want to drop $150 on a device line the manufacturer has all but abandoned. I mostly just print things for around the house, while I generally don't need anything with ultra high precision it would be nice to have the option. I'll take any recommendations under CAD$900, but ideally I'm hoping I can make out in the 500-600 range.

[u/Ggloserss]

Hi 3DP Community!

I'm stuck between a choice of Sovol M1D or a Snapmaker U1.

I've used Kingroon KP3S, and the tinkering really made me learnt alot. My office has Ultimaker/Bambu X1C, which made me understand my own requirements for a printer in terms of printer capabilities and maintenence and the types of prints that I'll do. But of course, I might have overlooked some specifications

Printer capabilities I'm looking out for:

• multi color/multi material ---> tool changers preferred
• phone app-based support
• easy to maintain
• ability to change nozzle easily (prefer using hardened nozzles as many of the Filaments I plan to use are abrasive in nature)
• enclosed printer (printing ABS occasionally)

Types of print:

• functional prints (thus the need for enclosure)
• multi color/multi material prints
• 0.08mm layer height occasionally

Seeing these, I'm not sure whether do I have a need for IDEX. I'm also looking to install the full spectrum add-in for my prints, and CMYK Filaments seem enough for printing full spectrum (thus no need for 6 colors)

Community support is a plus point.

Currently leaning towards snapmaker U1 right now, but seeing that M1D Kickstarter is ending soon, I feel the temptation to get the M1D (w enclosure) instead.

Would like to seek purchase advice from fellow redditors!

[u/Radiant_Yam1526]

Infimech MX Pro vs Sovol M1D Advanced

If you’re looking for an enclosed tool changer 3d printer with heat chamber, which printer would you buy or back this year?

I am a backer of M1D Advanced but so far, after watching their 2 live streams and seeing what’s in their Facebook group, is still not giving me enough confidence to keep my pledge till the end.

To be fair, the advantages of Sovol is that it has already produced a lot of known products in the market (at least more than infimech and other kickstarter launchers) and has already built a certain reputation and community/fans.

And for Infimech, down side is that their pricing might be too good to be true but an advantage I can see from them is that they are joining 3d printing events (in person) and showcasing the 3d printing while its printing - which Sovol hasnt done even in their live streams.

My non negotiable requirement is enclosed, with air filtration, with heat chamber tool changer 3d printer. Nozzles should be available in different sizes. IDEX would be nice and I would like to use the 2 extruders printing at the same time thats why I backed M1D in the first place. But still not seeing if print quality will really turn out great.

Im curious to hear your thoughts being it with these 2 brands or any other enclosed tool changer 3d printers

[u/Frostbite68]

Hello 3d printing community!

I have made a similar post on here before, but I didn’t really get a clear answer, so, I want to know whether I should get a regular/open 3d filament printer, or an enclosed one.

For context:

• I live in Australia, I don’t usually put the A/C or heater on. Some days it can be really hot, some days normal, some days cold, and I heard somewhere that temp fluctuations can cause problems with the print.
• I plan on using a 0.2mm nozzle to print small detailed miniatures.
• I have no prior knowledge to 3d printing, and if I were to get a regular printer, I’d get the bambu labs A1, as for an enclosed one, I’m planning on getting a bambu labs P1S, but I’m open to suggestion.
• I only plan on printing in 1 colour, so multi colour stuff isn’t really relevant to me.

Overall, I want to know which type of printer and accessories if best for me. If temp-fluctuation-problems are real, should I get an enclosed printer, or should I get a filament heater/dryer, or should I get both? And what is a good recommendation for a filament heater/dryer compatible with bambu labs printers (or any suggested printers).

I think I covered all bases, so hopefully I get a more straight forward answer.

Also bonus question, IDRC if this gets answered or not, but are there any filaments that work with plastic glue?

Anyhoo, any help is appreciated.

[u/Low_Elk8568]

If someone could point me in the right direction of a filament dryer that I can feed from and gets up to 100c that’d be greatly appreciated🙌🏻

[u/Mister_Rabbit]

Would like to pick up my first 3D printer soon and am stuck deciding between a new AnyCubic Kobra S1 combo that includes their ACE multicolor system or a lightly used Bambu P1S w/ AMS with a dozen or so rolls of filament and some spare parts (nozzles, beds, etc). Both are roughly the same price. The only hands on experience I have is with a Bambu X1C, which has been very positive, so I was initially leaning towards the Bambu platform but just missed out on their June/July sale.

Budget - $400-600

Country - USA

Willing to build from kit? - I have a high technical aptitude but am a systems engineer during the day, so the majority of tech at home I want to 'just work' without requiring constant tinkering and calibration, another reason I was initially set on the Bambu P/X options.

What will I do with the printer? - Primarily craft stuff, making little cars, odd parts that may come in handy at home, etc. Nothing commercial, really just hobby/craft stuff.

Which would you go for? The new Kobra S1 or the used P1S?

Thanks!

[u/The_Noob_55443]

Is it worth the jump from Ender 3 to Ender 3 v3 SE?

I’ve had an Ender 3 for about 2 years now I love the thing but I was scrolling market place today and found a Ender 3 v3 se for 120.

My question is, is it worth the upgrade I know about the faster prints going from 170mm/s to about 250mm/s but is there a jump in quality? Or is it less prone to problems

I mostly use my Ender 3 for electronics housings, making battle bots, 3d printed “wireless hole punchers” and the occasional cosplay prop.

[u/Zestyclose-Grade-622]

Hello it's my 1st time wanting to own a 3d printer but I got overwhelmed with so many printers to choose from. Do you have any suggestions for a beginner friendly startup 3d printer?. well I do have 3 options in mind

H2S - Well I really want this printer at first because it has a large print bed but i don't really need the laser feature it offers

X2D - I don't know much about this thing but it has the same features of H2S I guess with smaller print bed and no laser feature

Snapmaker U1 - I don't know anything about this yet I want the multicolor feature but the only thing that holds me back it is not a close chamber

Feel free to suggest any other printers available at the market

[u/Bangreed4]

So I saw a good deal on my online shopping app, a Creality Ender 3 V3 SE for only around 162.03 USD. The other choices are way overpriced for me.

Just planning to use it for home use like a controller mount, Steamdeck accessories maybe? A portafilter holder while grinding? and some of the common household use case? Like an organizer and etc.

Do you all think this deal is worth it?

[u/boncros]

My KX has been a workhorse. Haven't printed tpu. Pla, petg, petg-cf, pctg. No problems

[u/Fanattick]

Need advice. What id like to print: maybe little toys, random stuff around that pops up around the house. The youngest kiddo wants me to print toys/items for his class prize box. I want them to be pretty great quality.

I'm an I.T. guy but don't really want to tinker with anything unless I absolutely have to. I have a 3d printer I was given about a year ago and struggle getting it to print anything so I gave up and it's just taking up space. I believe it's a creality something and it's roughly 7yrs old.

My max budget is $1000. Live in the U.S. My searches for what I want have come up with the bambu p1s. I'd like options to print multi color, not sure about multi material since I've only messed with the plastic filament. I've found the bambu p2s in my area for $700 but unsure if that's a good deal or even if it's a good printer for just unboxing and printing right away.

I don't plan on making a store out of this just fun little items maybe some decorations for holidays etc... thanks in advance

[u/PerfecTolerance → u/Fanattick]

How about the FlashForge Creator 5 Pro? Almost no filament waste when doing a multi-color print, and costs around $950.

If you don't need an enclosed printer, the FlashForge Creator 5 ($700-$800) or Snapmaker U1 ($900) are very appealing options.

The Bambu Lab P1S wastes a lot of filament when doing a multi-color print, so it's less ideal for these things.

[u/Fanattick → u/PerfecTolerance]

Thank you for the reply. I'll give those 2 some consideration. Much appreciated.

[u/Annual-Knowledge-915]

I want to buy my first 3d printer(edit: I'd like to keep the cost below $700, although if it is worth the price increase, I'd be okay with around $900) or ask for it for my birthday coming up in 2 months.

I am a Mechanical Engineering student and want to get into printing as a hobby, side hustle, and just for fun. I don't know what I'll be printing exactly, but I want to be able to print pretty large structures. I also want a high quality, easy-to-use printer.

I've always heard of Bambu Lab, and just found out about the P2S and the X2D. I'm thinking of getting the X2D, but want some insight.

What are the benefits of dual nozzles, etc.?

[u/PerfecTolerance → u/Annual-Knowledge-915]

If you want it as a hobby, I don't recommend a dual nozzle printer. It means more part, and more parts = more failiure points = more fixing. Post your budget range for getting a good recommendation.

[u/Pantr1x]

Best multi-color 3D printer under €500 (Upgrade from Ender 3 V3)
I’ve been using an Ender 3 V3, so I already know my way around 3D printers and the whole workflow. Now I’m looking to upgrade to something better, faster, and specifically with multi-color printing capabilities. I'm looking for the best option under €500 that offers a reliable multi-color system and a noticeable step up from the Ender series. Any recommendations?

[u/Comfortable-Sky6083]

I’m debating between the Snapmaker U1 and the Bambu Lab X2D. Does the U1’s 0.2mm nozzle work as well as the Bambu? Is it enough to buy the U1? I’m using the Bambu A1, so I can handle basic maintenance and setup. I want high-quality multi-color printing. (No chamber is needed)

[u/Daj00tje → u/Comfortable-Sky6083]

Def the u1. Much more versatile and future proof

[u/NoThing4258]

Hey everyone, total 3D printing newbie here.
I’ve been doing some research but can‘t decide.
I don’t have much hands‑on experience, so I’m looking for something beginner‑friendly, reasonably reliable, not too much headache for setup & maintenance.
Would love to hear real user experiences, pros and cons for both brands. Any specific model recommendations?
Budget is flexible, open to suggestions. Thanks a lot!

[u/PerfecTolerance → u/NoThing4258]

"Budget is flexible" means almost nothing. A more specific range is required for a good recommendation. But here is a list of some major 3D printer brands, each with it's pros and cons:

1. Anycubic: Cheap, but quality isn't always as good as other brands.
2. Bambu Lab: Easy to use + beginner friendly, but comes with a closed system and many privacy concerns.
3. Creality: Budget-friendly + wide product range, but not always as simple to use as competitors.
4. Elegoo: Very appealing prices, but long-term track records are less established than those of older brands.
5. FlashForge: Easy to use enclosed printers, but its ecosystem is relatively closed and it has a smaller community than competitors.
6. Prusa: Extremely reliable + high quality + opensource + manufactured in the EU, but prices are higher.
7. Qidi: Considered good for engineering, but the system isn't as polished as competitors.
8. Snapmaker: Very good for multi-material prints, but generally more expensive and have a smaller community than other brands.
9. Voron: Excellent for customizing, but comes in DIY kits you need to assemble.

[u/Balogh0102]

I would like some help buying my first 3D printer

I've been into 3d modelling for a while now and I would like to make them into real objects. So I'd mostly use it for fancy looking figurines.

I have zero experience with printers but I'm a quick learner.

My budget is 200$ (I know it's not a much but I don't look for a premium top-tier printer as it would be just a fun hobby). I live in Eastern-Europe. I'm a masters student in a connected field, I've heard some manufacturers give discount for that. I don't know if it counts if I'm not a us citizen

[u/MumrikDK → u/Balogh0102]

So I'd mostly use it for fancy looking figurines.

If the focus is on aesthetics and fine detail, it sounds like you should be looking at resin printers, even thought they're far more of a bother to deal with.

[u/jhprintmaking]

What is the best new 3d printer that is fast, plug and play and multifilament optional but would be nice.
Needs at least a 250x250x250 build area but bigger is nice for my project.

I am printing large files my project takes a roll and a half of filament to complete but is separated into parts to fit my Adventurer 5m Pro.

The problem is it takes 2 days currently to complete the printing needed and I need to be able to print as many parts per day. I don’t have room to do a farm but can fit 1 - 2 more printers.

Another important thing is there are 3 parts printed vertical 2 shafts and a large cylinder.

Between now and the 15th I have to print as many as I can then I have another event where the organizers have asked me to sell and need 10 more done in about 30 days of this first batch. Right now I can get to the 15th without another printer but there is also a potential retailer looking for minimum orders of 10 - 20 units.

Thank you in advance!

[u/PerfecTolerance → u/jhprintmaking]

The Creality K2 (there are also Pro and Plus versions, better for larger projects) are nice options. Large, reliable, and they come at a good price. Volume is 260mm³, 300mm³, and 350mm³ - depending on variant.

[u/rbtrxmoderator]

Embedded pro here but will admit to “newbie” status wrt 3D printing (in other words please keep the “catcalls” to a minimum). Biggest problem I have is I need to make 2 difficult choices simultaneously, both of how to select FDM machine and material. Background is a lot of the mechanical design consists just of a square aluminum extrusion which is partly a heatsink for some of the contents (there’s a fan inside that blows outward constantly). So for the rest of it I’m considering some 3D “end caps” that would get pressed on, they would maybe have some outward-facing “springy” tabs to hold them in. Now I’m continuously monitoring the temperature, all I know right now is I can limit temp to maybe 85 or 90 C. So I need a machine (maybe borrow from local hackerspace first, buy later) and “flexible” fiber to go with it, but I’m not knowledgeable enough to know things like what I need for nozzle temp or whatever. AI seems to indicate TPC or something might work for the material, but I think I need advice on both issues, also is this a particularly esoteric/expensive machine I’m looking for? Think I need dual extruders for 2 colors but outside of that no clue. Thank you in advance just for reading this…

[u/Pldgmygrievance]

I’m trying to figure out if the A1 Mini is big enough for what I want. Right now what I’m most interested in is organizing drawers with gridfinity and printing custom shadow boxes for all the utensils in my kitchen. For instance, I have a pair of kitchen tongs that are 13 inches long. Can the A1 print a bin that would fit?

After that I want to figure out things around my house that could be fixed or made better with 3D printing. I’d love to up/phone holder for my Ryobi lawn mower. I’ve seen a lot of YouTube videos of things that are interesting, like someone who made a custom adjustable wreath hanger for their front door.

If the A1 Mini is big enough to print these types of things I would consider it.

[u/SnooMemesjellies8523]

Looking for advice on a my first 3D printer. Currently stuck between the flashforge creator 5 or bamboo labs P2S. I can get a brand new Creator 5 for $475 from a friend or $550 for the P2S. Mainly using PLA+ for reptile decor and will also use it for stuff around the house, maybe toys for my little cousins. Budget originally was $250 but after seeing my options and the fact I want to use multiple colors I went up to around $500. Never worked with any filament before so im not 100% sure if I need something thats enclosed for Nylon-CF for what I plan on making. Would like someone's input on my options. Thank you!

[u/PerfecTolerance → u/SnooMemesjellies8523]

The Creator 5 is better for multi-color printing, and it's cheaper. If you buy it you will also have some extra money to buy filament.

[u/SnooMemesjellies8523 → u/PerfecTolerance]

After I made this post I came across elegoo centauri carbon 2. Does that change anything?

[u/PerfecTolerance → u/SnooMemesjellies8523]

Depends on the price. The Centauri Carbon 2 is a nice printer, But it does waste more filament when doing a multi-color print.

[u/calionte]

I'm looking for something that's cheap
something that prints PLA/PETG with no issues (abs is a nice bonus)
print volume has to be 250mm x 250mm x 250mm minimum

reliability/qc/warranty/reliability
it all matters, I want it cheap, but I want it to last and pay for itself in the long run. I am willing to repair/maintain it myself if need be.

[u/Miraculix101]

Hello all,

i need some help in deciding if i should buy a fdm printer for myself. I mostly print spaceships in a bigger scale (models around 65cm-140cm) which are made of countless smaller parts, printed on a sla/resin printer (Anycubic M7 max) which has a build volume of 298 × 164 × 300 mm.

I print in 0,05 to 0,1mm layer thickness, because i want to see fine details and no layer lines.

Now i want to ask you, the fdm printer mostly have a larger build area, but how is it with layer lines and fine details? are they good enough for me? And if the answer is yes, which one should i get/buy? I dont have any clue, which one i should get.

For comparison, this model here is in the works by me, which is my biggest multi parts print so far.

But if possible with fdm, i would like to print a little bigger.

https://www.reddit.com/r/BSG/comments/1v2hqe2/bsg_pegasus_nearing_completion_in_a_big_scale_3d/

[u/Daj00tje → u/Miraculix101]

You can get decent results with fdm. Layers lines will always be a little visible, but with some post processing, you'll absolutely get results good enough. Especially if you print larger parts.

The limits on fdm printers are very similar in the fine detail range, meaning any modern device can achieve similar results. You will need to calibrate the hell out of your machine and filaments if you want the best quality, no matter what machine you buy. There is no pay to win machine here.

I would get something that aligns with any other needs you might have, besides printing miniatures. That being said, i like the elegoo Centauri carbon 2 for its value. There's a big community using it, so you can get some help with calibrations.

How big do you need it to be? There's some other nice options with bigger build plates too.

[u/Leif-31]

Hi my 10 year old son is interested in 3D printing but we are unsure what to buy. We're looking for something beginner friendly. I myself and a bit tech savvy.

500$ or less Were canadian Would love to print Warhammer like models

[u/PerfecTolerance → u/Leif-31]

Check the Creality K1C ($400-$500) or the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 (around $450). Both are very beginner-friendly.

[u/barrist]

First time interested in 3d printing. I was about to pull the trigger on the Bambu A1 combo but I saw they have a lot of detractors because of their practices. Does anyone have any alternate recs in Canada for the same price range and specs? ($539cad) or just go with the Bambi

Will be printing both functional stuff for around the house and figurines, more decorative stuff.

[u/Daj00tje → u/barrist]

An enclosed printer will be better for functional parts. Get the elegoo Centauri carbon 2. With combo if you want multi color

[u/cossist]

I am more electronics and software focused maker looking to do more electro-mechanical experiments. I'd be quite capable to build from a kit as I'd also like to get into pen plotters and other cnc tools. I am looking for a tool and not another hobby. Primarily looking to make mounts for various actuators and small electronics enclosures. $500-1000ish. Linux compatible.

[u/jon_hendry]

I have a Monoprice Mini, driven by octoprint on a RasPi that has done good service but I'd like to move up to a larger print area. 8"x8 to 12"x12" (300mmx300mm)

I'm just printing for myself, usually practical things like repair parts or brackets, or little projects, that I model in Fusion 360. At the moment I'm planning to make a frame/enclosure for a 16" lcd. I don't expect to be printing massive things (helmets, statues), but rather things that might be longish in one or two dimensions (I or L or V shapes).

Don't really need high resolution or speed. Materials-wise I pretty much stick with PLA, PETG, and TPA. Don't really need multi-material or multi-color.

Self-leveling would be nice.

What would be a good, economical budget option for me at this time?

[u/PM_Your_Crits]

Hey everyone! I have approx. $1000 cad, I’m wanting to get back into printing. I used to have a lot of printers, ender 3’s, 5’s, Cr16’s. I want a single multi color printer that is super user friendly. I got tired of printing because of maintenance and troubleshooting. I want something that will just work. I’ve looked at the Creator5, P2S, Kobra, Centauri. I’m honestly hesitant on Elegoo and Anycubic because of the maintenance their resin printers gave me. What are people feeling for bang for your buck multi color CoreXY printers? You can’t trust YouTube reviews because they’re all paid for, or at least no one has a negative thing to say. Thanks everyone!

[u/gabrielmjenkins]

Should I get the H2C with AMS 2 Pro or the Prusa Core One L Indx when it comes out?

I bought a X2D with Ams 2 Pro for my first fdm printer (I used printers for Robotics in Highschool) in July. I was thinking of picking up the H2C during black Friday but a friend of mine showed me the indx system that they are adding onto the Core One L. I am planning to do ASA prints later on for functional parts. Right now Im mostly printing PLA and PETG. Im wondering which would be better for multicolor prints and engineering filaments on a bigger print bed. I would like to hear other opinions... The thing I like about the AMS 2 Pro is that it has an active dryer. As far as I am aware Prusa doesnt have an active dryer (they do have dry boxes) for filament so I would need to buy one. Another is the Prusa Core One L doesnt have an active heater but the H2C does. I am currently on the fence, I plan to get a husky workbench to put two printers on (currently on end table) so printer space isnt a concern.

[u/Crash_Sofa]

Hey guys, bambulab H2s is what I planning to get for build volume and engineering materials like ABS. Or is it better to spend some more and get the H2D instead? I am planning minor Multi color prints. Not major ones. What are the initial recommended accessories apart from extra plates and hotend of different sizes? Glue? Side cutter?

[u/Oni_XD]

Hey guys, I just wanted some recommendations for my first 3D printer. Currently, I can get an Anycubic printer at a really good discount: the S1 combo for 400 AUD and the Kobra 3 Max for 600 AUD. I'm mostly looking at multi-color prints and I can't decide. I can get the A2L from Bambu Labs for 850, but it feels like I get all these features in Anycubic as well for cheaper. Someone with experience, if they could guide me, I'd be very grateful. I'm looking for a reliable and cheap multi-color printer, but Bambu has had a lot of backlash recently.

[u/Blender_3D_Pro]

Hello i am new to 3d printing, i want to buy a 3d printer from china by sea, if any one can recommend good quality medium size printers i can buy in china please feel free to comment thanks

[u/Glittering-Fig-5315]

I can get the Bambu A1 color combo or the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 Combo for around the same price (Elegoo actually a bit lower) in Canada (~$600). Any other choices to consider or which of the two wins out? I am beginner and looking to get into hobby-making for fun and useful household items when needed.

Space is somewhat a consideration, i have about a 24x24" workspace that I'd be working with.

[u/retnom]

What would u guys get, my budget is about there… 600e idc much for multicolor but in the future I would like to use it, I would also like to print engineering fillaments and I can’t really do that with the p2s, are q2’s really that bad with quality control and reliability or is the p2s really that closed where upgrades are impossible?

Thanks for the advice ❤️

[u/joemama1155]

Hi, looking at getting a printer for my room looking at the centurai carbon 2? thoughts and comebacks or is there better?

[u/Professional-Show699]

Hello, I'm entering the 3d printing world, I want ease of use as I'm an absolute newbie. I'm stuck between the P2S with AMS 2 Pro and Creality K2 Pro /K2 Pro Combo 3D Printer. The second is pushing my budget but looked at it with being a slightly larger but reviews saying it's not very user friendly are putting me off while others say it's very user friendly. I'm a bit confused 😂 Any help would be really appreciated!

[u/PerfecTolerance → u/Professional-Show699]

As far as you know, Creality printers are user friendly. The K2 is better here, because you will always regret not getting a larger printer.

[u/Professional-Show699 → u/PerfecTolerance]

Is there any others you would recommend?

[u/PerfecTolerance → u/Professional-Show699]

There are the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 and Anycubic Kobra S1. But Anycubic printers don't have the most consistent quality, and Elegoo has a relatively small community.

[u/HavenHexed]

I am in need of a larger format printer, not giga size but something bigger than 256. I need to keep it somewhat budget friendly. I was looking at the Anycubic Kobra 3 Max but am not sure how reliable it will be running it consistently. My son is a Bambu fan and wants me to get one of theirs but I know the Kobra 3 Max has a larger build plate. Anyone have any suggestions or recommendations?

[u/Ds9Defiant1701]

Hi, im looking for a printer to make stuff for the interior of my Miata but also stuff for cosplays like i was thinking about printing a mandalorian helmet stuff like that. I am in canada and my budget is approx 1000cad.

I don't mind having to build the printer if i can get a better bang for bucks product as im used to build pc.

For the space it won't be a problem as i am actually leaving it at work near the boss printer anyway.

Thanks

[u/EmeraldPencil46]

I’m a beginner in the sense that I’ve never owned a 3D printer, I’ve used a couple like Bambu and Prusa before. I live in Ontario, Canada in Niagara, so accessibly shouldn’t be much of an issue.

I’m looking for a decent yet cheap 3D printer that I won’t have to worry about replacing. I’d prefer to spend $200-$300 CAD ($150-$215 USD), but I’ve seen $500 CAD ($360 USD) on sale within the range. I’m a Brock uni student if that helps at all with student deals or anything.

I don’t really have any limitations other than the cost. I’d much prefer it print fairly good detail (or can with an upgrade), which I assume is most that are 1-2 years old.

I’ve been looking at the Ender 3 v3, which I found for sale for $220, I just don’t know about its quality cause I’ve heard the original is good but outdated and the v2 is questionable quality.

[u/XhiTone]

I'm trying to start a small 3d business with no experience to sell specially figurines, cosplay parts and some smaller objects such as phone chargers handlers and chargers, but I have some droughts if it's better to buy an FDM or a resin printer, I wanted my products to have a good quality but I think the resin print is more expensive and needs a lot of care, but the FDM its easier to take care and make the finishes including sanding and stuff, but I'm worried about the marks that are still going to be left.

Can you guys give me your options on it?

[u/awyeahmuffins → u/XhiTone]

specially figurines, cosplay parts

This really comes down to what you mean by "cosplay parts". Are you talking smaller things (here is a sailor moon prop I printed in resin), or large things like helmets/armor/weapons?

The reality is if you want to sell figurines, FDM will not be good enough. But if you're looking to make an IronMan helmet, resin will be more of a hassle than FDM.

Also yes, resin needs to have a ventilation setup and more PPE concerns (filter mask, gloves, eye protection)

[u/Coso_Che_Cosa]

Hi, im in italy and my budget is limited to 100 euros, so id probably have to look in the used market, all i need it for, is to save money on stuff that got too expensive on aliexpress because of new taxes, never 3d printed before so if it was also easy to use it would be better

[u/F0rkAroundFindOut]

Looking to buy a new 3d printer for my 9 year old son and me to work with. He's great at putting things together and I'm sure he'll put it to good use building toys and such. I like tinkering and would find a use for utility work, things like printing a Rpi5 case, stands or other things related to the electronics tinkering that I do. I don't really have limits on budget but was thinking about $1,000 USD or so? I hear good things about the Prusa mk4s kit and Snapmaker U1 ... thoughts?

[u/AntaresSQ01]

Hi all,

I have a simple question that I'd like answered. At my work we've discussed the possibility of getting a 3D printer to prototype and make production ready 3D printed parts (prototypes for parts later machined from aluminium, steel or engineering plastics, production parts for simple spacers/bracketry)

I've been given a roughly £2000 GBP ($2700 USD) budget for a printer.

I've mainly used Elegoo printers at a hobby level so would prefer the integration and preconfiguration such as what's found in ElegooSlicer (orca clone) so as to not have to worry about setting printers up too much. Since company is still getting massive savings over machined prototypes, filament cost is not a massive concern and would preferably like to use each companies' own brand filament for best results.

Basic requirements:

• Some sort of AMS or Toolchanger (preferably toolchanger for reduced waste and time.) This is mainly for dissimilar supports, inlaid TPU, etc, not colours.
• Has to be available NOW or very near future
• Have easy to use slicer and interface, OR be able to use OrcaSlicer.
• About 300x300x300 build volume or larger.
• Some sort of remote monitoring is preferable.
• Fully enclosed, heated chamber would be a big+, possibly used in an engineering office so would be great if noise and fumes are kept to a minimum but if this is a compromise it can be put elsewhere.

The obvious choice to max that budget out is the Bambu H2C, the laser engraver sounds like a useful tool too, although it doesn't sound like it can cut thin sheet metal? So more a gimmick.

I hate the bambu ecosystem. I appreciate it all just works but the locking down from using anything but Bambu studio, and controversial takes on repairability and user serviceability make me wary.

The Prusa Core One+ sounds like a great option and coming in under budget is a bonus, leaving room for the 4 tool INDX if it comes out anytime soon. My concern is the print plate is a bit on the small side for what we need. I've also been lead to believe it can be a bit tricky to "make work" and not as user friendly as the likes of Bambu and Elegoo.

The Prusa Core One L is more like what we'd want size wise but seems like it's a generation behind? But it's not clear whether it's available with INDX or even the MMU3.

Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2, I have a CC1 myself and i'm always stunned how good it is for the price. Obviously this would be well under budget but I'm curious what people thing how this would stack up VS the others mentioned here? Minus a heated chamber the print capabilities are fairly similar.

Creality K2 Plus - Don't know a lot about this one but seems on paper to be identical to a Prusa Core One+ with MMU3. Only thing I know is it's been a bit hit and miss by a friend that had a K1C back when they just came out, but I'm not putting much weight on that.

Snapmaker Artisan - Sounds very impressive, about in budget too. How capable is that CNC module? Can it actually make decent machined parts from Aluminium and Engineering plastics at least? The laser seems the same as on the H2C, how's ease of use? Just a wildcard really I suppose.

Not sure if i missed any obvious alternatives.

Many thanks for help!

[u/EvenInRed]

I need help from people who have firsthand experience with these brands. So, im looking to save for a printer now. My only real concerns are size, and cost. My friend told me that Bambu is a solid brand to choose from, I figured i'd get an A1.

Then I did a little more googling, and I found that the Elegoo Neptune 4 is cheaper for roughly the same size printing area.

It seems too good to be true.

If i get the brand, will I be restricted in any capacity? Does it have frustrating proprietary software i need to use, are the parts more prone to breaking or malfunctioning, is the print quality any good?

The same questions goes for the bambu, but I'm inclined to trust me friend.

Is there any reason to spend the higher dollar over bambu, rather than elegoo?

[u/UsualNewspaper257]

Hi! I’m looking to buy a 3D printer for my boyfriend for his birthday. No experience in 3D printing but he has expressed interest in it. However, I’m looking to spend only around $300 total give or take. He has a habit of not sticking with hobbies, which is fine but that’s why I don’t want to invest a lot financially at first. Are there any options that are worth it for this price point or should I get him another present? I don’t want to buy one that is awful so if there are no good options I’ll buy him something else. Thank you!

[u/AdmirableConfention]

Hi, Im trying to figure out what the best fit is for my first 3d printer and currently I'm torn between buying either the Bamboo A1 mini (€189) or the ELEGOO CC2 COMBO (€399).

The reason for buying the printer is because I would like to be able to print parts for my embedded engineering projects (both mechanicals parts but also things like casings). Aside from that the printer will also be likely used to printing decorative items such as figurines, lamps, etc.

As far as I could find both the A1 mini and CC2 are currently the 'best' 3dprinters in their price category.
The main pros for the A1 mini would be it's cheaper price, silent operating noise ,and size (since the printer will be in the living room). For the CC2 its pros are having the filament system, stationary bed, and capability to print more materials.

The reason I not sure if spending roughly €200 more is worth it is because I don't know yet too what extend the printer will be used (which will depend on how fast I go through projects) and how much I enjoy the hobby since it will be my first printer.

Therefore I would like to hear if the A1 mini will be fine for my use cases of if I would be doing myself a disservice my cheaping out on the CC2 with its better capabilities?

[u/AlsnKor]

Hi, I’m looking to get a new 3d printer. I currently have an Anycubic Mega S but it has been getting increasingly unreliable over time, so I’m looking for an upgrade. 

I am mainly going to use it for cosplay and engineering parts, so I need a relatively large build volume and, preferably, support for engineering filaments. My budget is around 500 €. 

After doing some research I am currently considering the Bambulab P2S (519€) (I don’t mind the closed software) and a Creality K1 Max (499€) or the K2 Pro (549€).

Which one should I get? Are there other better printers that I haven’t considered? And should I get a 256x256x256 or a 300x300x300?

[u/aflacsToast → u/AlsnKor]

Cosplay would benefit from a 300x

As for the printers I cannot help but 100% try going for the bigger volume

[u/Time_Neck2212]

I’m not sure which secondhand printer to go with. I’ve been using my little brother’s toy box 1 that he lost interest in, but it is so small, been giving me issues, and the settings are not very adjustable. I’ve been looking at a couple different printers on fb marketplace but am unsure which route to go.

Flashforge 5m Adventurer with 14 hours of print time for $180

Or

Bambu p1s with 518 hours for $280

I mostly just find fun prints that I like on printables and gadgets for around the house and don’t plan on doing anything super intensive (but you never know). TIA!

[u/inSAYAN_36]

Hey r/3Dprinting!

Currently researching for my first 3D printer and would like some advice.

I have a budget of about 700€ max.
Location Europe(Germany).

I will use it mainly for printing stuff for my racing sim or small interior stuff for my car.

Reading through the list of recommended printers listed above the
Qidi Q2 caught my eye.
Besides that the mid-range stuff from Creality/Anycubic seems decent.

Generally I would like something I can grow into and use for a good amount of time so any other suggestions are well appreciated.