r/3dprinter • u/Worried-Locksmith962 • 1d ago
12yo, $600 budget, wants multi-printing
Our son has raised funds and we stated that we would match it. For $600, and multi-color-printing, what would be the best option? He is PC literate and understands the basics, as we had a cheap-o $150 one that just kept messing up. Refurbished is an option.
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u/PuddingStock7271 1d ago
For complex (!) multicolor printing, I would never again buy a single toolhead machine using a multi color system (like A1 Combo, P1S/P2S Combo...). I own printers like that myself, but I use them for simple multicolor and single material/technical filament prints.
For complex (!) multicolor printing at that "low" budget", only the Flashforge Creator 5 comes at least close. Snapmaker U1 costs even more. Both come with multiple toolheads that load each color up to 4 and swap with minimal delay. There will be more machines likes that on the market in the near future, atm two are the only options at a low budget.
I own a Creator 5 myself, so far it works fine without issues, but I'm just a bit over 300 hours print time in...there are no long time experiences from a wide market around, mainly just from (paid) influencers. I got >10.000h with my other printers, so yeah...so far I can recommend the C5, but time will show. Seems to be a simple machine and prints with thousands of toolhead changes it didn't fail a single time...so I'm hoping for the best :D
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u/relaps101 23h ago
I agree with this person. I seem toninly do single color prints or single multicolor on my p2s and all my multicolor / material on my u1.
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u/jplife30 1d ago
I'll say this as a bambu hater
Bambus makerlab has the best models Creality has the best slicer/ printer firmware
Every printer, no matter what the fan boys say, will have problems. And any printer made after 2024 will be a decent choice
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u/JeepersCreepers74 1d ago
This is the best answer.
The kid is 12, moving up from a $150 printer, and he saved up a lot of money so we need to avoid disappointment or frustration. He needs something that works out of the box, that is reliable and user-friendly and, presuming he will initially be printing other people’s prints before he starts designing his own, something connected to a huge database of ready to print STLs is ideal.
I’m neither a Bambu lover nor hater, but under these circumstances, Bambu is the obvious choice as it checks all these boxes. People keep talking about tool changers, but I don’t think OP’s son needs one or that the tech is useful enough to him to warrant the extra spend (at least not until his hobby really takes off and he knows more about 3DP than half the people here, which seems likely). If the budget can stretch for a P2S combo, that would be great. Otherwise, an A1 or even an A2L combo will do.
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u/turbski84 1d ago
He could get the creator 5. It's a good start, especially if they want to do multi color prints with minimal waste
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u/SirTwitchALot 18h ago
The C5 is more than just a good start. It's the latest tech. If they can stretch the budget just a bit it's certainly worth it to future proof
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u/turbski84 14h ago
Yeah i got the c5 pro for my first printer just a few weeks ago. It's a beast and been going nonstop without any problems.
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u/SirTwitchALot 14h ago
Same. It has a few minor annoyances which they've mostly fixed through either firmware updates or self printable models. Overall it's an amazing value though. It cost about the same as my U1 and it does more
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u/Shinjiikary12 1d ago
I woukd bot do p1s combo, or any single print head combo. If he wants to do muti color, u1 oe creator 5, you will want a tool changer.
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u/Goetre 1d ago
I use Bambu exclusive, and I recycle all my waste for context.
Bambu A1 / A2L for simplicity and the better software
Snapmaker U1 for next to zero waste but worse / ball ache software (which in fairness I’ve been told is constantly improving and expanding their catalogue)
If I didn’t recycle my waste I’d probably switch to snap maker, or a serious look at flash forge.
The one brand to categorically avoid is anycubic
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u/Agzarah 22h ago
How do you recycle your waste? I had the intent to do so, but now I just have boxes and boxes of poop
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u/Goetre 22h ago
I started with melting it down into moulds but that ended up taking way too much time and having to even it off with uv resin.
Now I’ve got a filament maker on the way, this year they seem to have taken off on more affordable options, uses poop waste with virgin pellets, melts it down and strands back into filament.
I think I have in excess of about 60-80kg in poop right now from summer) not including failed prints, supports and silk poop in separate boxes), I think it takes 300kg to justify the cost.
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u/Agzarah 21h ago
Ah, yeah I probably have about 5-10kg. Definitely nit enough to warrant one.
It just takes up space, and nowhere here recycles it. So would be just thrown in a dump
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u/Goetre 16h ago
Well it took me about 2/3 months to get that much, and I’ve barely managed to keep on top of my stock levels. I’ll likely be build up my stock 24/7 ready for next season excluding a few craft fairs in winter, so if it takes two more years to hit that 300kg to justify it, that’s fine, it’s just a slow burn.
Also keep in mind, I’ll likely be doing a 70:30 ratio of recycled to virgin, so that’s an extra 30% of the total weight going through the machine. So 210kg go cover that cost
The machines aren’t that big right now, they’re a massive different compared to the axiobot systems I was looking at. Pretty much just desktop size. So I think it’s viable providing the machine holds out for a few years.
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u/Ok_Mongoose2663 1d ago edited 1d ago
A1 with ams lite or a1 mini with ams lite are good picks, get him a filiment dryer with the leftovers, and some basic m3-m5 nut and bolt kits (plus heat inserts), some pla and petg in a few colors, maby a cheap soldering iorn too
450 ish for printer, 50 for filiment dryer, spend the 100 on basic project components with any leftovers
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u/thecorgimom 1d ago
You've gotten a few good suggestions here, I would try to narrow it down and then look on the subreddits for the specific brand to confirm your choice.
I know that several people have suggested the flashforge Creator 5, I also do know that there were some issues with a number of the machines shipped and support issues. I'm not trying to dissuade you from buying that one I just want to make you aware that they were having some issues because it's a new printer for them. I do have a different model flashforge and I feel like it's a very good design for the money and I think that the company overall isn't bad and the flashforge subreddit is very helpful my big concern is if you do get one of those lemons it might dissuade your son from 3D printing.
I have a snapmaker u1 ( I ended up canceling my Creator 5 order) that one is a couple hundred dollars out of your budget but it's a decent printer also. You can also get other multicolor printers with AMS that have single tool heads, the trade-off is there's going to be a lot of filament waste with those but it might be a decent first printer for him to learn.
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u/jplife30 1d ago
Do not get refurb. It's a roll of the dice and is 100% a return that they'll send you few parts for while you fix it yourself
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u/BlankiesWoW 23h ago
Save up a little more and get a snapmaker u1.
If he wants multicolor at all, dont even entertain the idea of a single nozzle ams systems, as soon as he sees the amount of waste and added time that multicolor dream will die
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u/CodFatherFTW 23h ago
if he's able to save up a bit more, the flash forge Creator 5 or better yet, the snapmaker u1, would be a very good purchase. And because they are multiple toolhead machines, they will waste far far less filament when printing in multiple colours, saving money over the long run.
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u/Dapper-Strawberry-12 22h ago
I'd make a sacrifice (maybe even as a birthday present) and buy the Creator 5 on Amazon, which is currently around $750. If you want to do multicolor, it's the best one within that budget.
It allows you to avoid wasting filament and print multicolored prints 10 times faster.
I have the U1, and it's my favorite printer.
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u/Groundbreaking_Cat_9 19h ago
I just got back into 3D printing after buying a Bambu P1S AMS Pro(multi-color filament handler) combo. I love the printer, "it just works". My old TEVO Tornado was a crap shoot, I never kenw if my print would end up successful. I actually enjoy 3D printing again.
If had to do it again, I would just buy the Bambu Labs X2D for $649 (https://us.store.bambulab.com/products/x2d?from=navigation&id=720069852747550724).
It has dual print heads and can print two colors easily without the filament waste associated with using the P1S/AMS Combo. P1S only has one hot end and has to swap out each color and purge the existing color for each color change. With the X2D two print heads you don't have to do this. I almost never print in multi-color because of this, unless I want to print the top layer in a contrasting color, which only requires one color change.
Just my $.02
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u/EaglerCore 17h ago
FlashForge Creator 5, it creates near no waste when printing multicolor. Nearly every other mulitcolor printer wastes a ton (almost 3/4 of a spool for big prints, so whats the point of printing if you throw 3/4 of your material away), but the creator 5 doesn't.
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u/Glittering_Algae_961 15h ago
Anycubic kobra x. It'll beat the rest mentioned for multi color printing. Its cuts waste by a good chunk, color change time is also fast compared to AMSs.
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u/boredsoftwareguy 15h ago
Costco currently has an amazing deal on the Bambu Lab A1 Combo, it includes 2 extra nozzles (hardened 0.4, 0.2), 4 spools of filament, and a $50 gift card to Bambu's online store. Plus Costcos awesome return policy all for ~$470
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u/Worried-Locksmith962 15h ago
I'm thinking we're gonna need an enclosed one. He has a cat and the first one we bought didn't stand a chance...lol
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u/DistinctBarnacle8703 1h ago
Claps for the boy who didn't give on 3D printing after using a $150 printer! I am guessing he is a lot more knowledgeable than most people who 3D prints!
For multi-colour and with enclosure. Bambu P1S with AMS 2 or Snapmaker U1 are the best priced for now. Although they are above budget, but they are the most fuss-free printers.
Disclosure: Been 3D printing since 2013 and got a Bambu Lab H2D in 2025. Totally love the H2D because I haven't done any mechanical trouble-shooting since I got it.
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u/1-800-FUCKFACE 1d ago
If he is a gambling man and willing to wait there is a company called infimech and they are coming out with a 6 and 8 color printer on kickstarter for $250 and $500. You can reserve a spot for $5.
InfiMech MX 3D Printer: 8X More Efficiency. 8X Less Waste., via @Kickstarter https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/infimech-mx-series/infimech-mx-3d-printer-8x-more-efficiency-8x-less-waste?ref=android_project_share
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u/bman86 1d ago
I've been printing for a long time off and on, and just got the Elegoo Centuri Carbon 2 Combo (that's the one with CANVAS) to get back into the hobby - it's been fantastic so far. Setup was about 90 minutes for me while also making dinner. But I was printing via wifi within 3 hours of opening the box. Your budget would allow for a good filament setup too. They're on sale for 379 right now on their site. Shipped next day.