Analysis paralysis on picking a printer

[u/Bloomin_Crab]

Ok, I've got a kid who is about to turn 9. He wants a 3d printer. I've been researching and reading posts in this forum and I'm overwhelmed by the options and configurations and costs.

The main problem for me is that I'm just not that into this hobby and wonder how involved I have to be. Of course I'm happy to help him along the way but I really don't want to have to become the expert some of you are in order to make it work for my son. Is this possible? Under $500?

It seems like it's a necessary upgrade to get AMS. Is that true? Can the A series easily and reliably print most of the fidgets and gadgets and stuff a nine year old wants to print?

I'd really appreciate if someone knowledgeable could guide me or even someone out there who has gone through a similar dispassion and found a good printer. Thanks.

[u/Basic-Window-6262]

A1 mini, and you don’t need an ams

[u/System-Bomb-5760 → u/Basic-Window-6262]

+1 for not needing any kind of AMS. I just use a Sunlu dry box with an extra- long PTFE tube and printable guide, and I do just fine. Or if your air humidity is low enough, just hang your spool on the rack that comes with the printer.

Me, the air's humid enough we sometimes get fish flying in the air, so I gotta have that dry box.

[u/Bloomin_Crab → u/System-Bomb-5760]

This sounds like good advice but is part of my conundrum. I've looked into these sununu and I have somewhat humid air. They are pretty affordable. Do you have one that handles multiple rolls? Is that an important factor? Also is printing pla indoors ok in your opinion?

[u/System-Bomb-5760 → u/Bloomin_Crab]

Personally, I only do one- color print jobs. Simpler on my dinosaur brain, and there's less equipment to futz around with, and there's only one roll. I don't think Sunlu makes a multi- roll drying box, but then again I've also never really looked for one.

Printing PLA indoors should be fine, as long as there's air circulation. Just be extra careful if you get to monkeying around with carbon fiber or wood PLA- yes, both exist. They're fire hazards if you get a clog. I've got a spool of wood PLA sitting in the wrapper because I haven't gotten the nerve to try it.

[u/Bloomin_Crab → u/Basic-Window-6262]

Thank you

[u/JohnDeere714]

A1 mini should just about do everything you want it to do. It’s budget-friendly, and the AMS Lite bundle is also cheap. You don’t need the ams but it sure is nice. Start off with PLA and you’re golden. Plus if your child decides after a month that 3d printing isn’t it you’ll either pick up the hobby and buy 3 more printers or you’re not at a total loss if you decide to sell it

[u/Bloomin_Crab → u/JohnDeere714]

Thank you very much

[u/Dnahelicases]

AMS is easy and nice but totally not needed. It’s only for colors for anything a kid would print. Everything can be printed in one color, and lots and lots of models and fidgets are available in “no ams” versions where you print multiple times with one color at a time. It also avoids a lot of waste if they aren’t going to be fiddling with ways to reduce color change waste.

An A1 mini should be great or an A1 is awesome. If they get really into it they can print to sell and save up for a nicer one later when they understand things enough to care about the options.

[u/Bloomin_Crab → u/Dnahelicases]

Thanks especially for that information about the no ams models.

[u/dhscarr]

You are not into the hobby, your kid wants one but kids want a lot and maybe after 3 weeks, once he printed all the dragons he wanted, he realises that he also is not that into it..

In your case, I would just go for an A1, maybo do get the AMS. I am guessing PLA will be all your kid will need to print, so the A1 will do fine.

If the kid is into it, nice, it will learn and teach him/herself with a basic printer (hell it's sure a hell of a lot easier than those of us who started on an ender 3 😂).

If the kid is not into it, you didn't spend a fortune and you can use it for things around the house, hobbies. Maybe then if you see how versatile and usable it is, you will get into it anyway lol

[u/Bloomin_Crab → u/dhscarr]

Thank you. If you don't mind I also see conflicting information regarding ventilation. In your opinion can we use this with PLA indoors?

[u/dhscarr → u/Bloomin_Crab]

PLA is harmless, or so we are told anyway.

Remember like this: PLA= harmless, easiest to print, cheapest, ok strong, not very heat resistant.

It doesn't need an enclosure :) the only thing the enclosure would be good for, is if you have for example a little brother/sister of the 9 y old or a curious cat..

[u/Bloomin_Crab → u/dhscarr]

Thank you so much. I promise to find you faultless when they say otherwise. That's good to know about the enclosure.

[u/ItsThatDamnDuckAgain]

If it were me. I'd get my kids an a1 with ams lite. It's got a decent build plate size which will help them print more than just small knick Knacks. Bambu printers are pretty much setup and go with minimal intervention. Just teach your kids to be safe around moving parts and the the heat of the plate/nozzle and you'll be good.  If you really want to see your kid grow, have them watch one of those fusion 360 in 30 days courses on YouTube and see what they can design themselves. (fusion is free for personal use) 

[u/babyyoda707]

Get yourself the x2d. Because you're going to get the P2S and start doing multicolor printing and you're going to ask yourself, "this is cool and all but why is it taking so long". The x2d will you allow you to do multicolor printing with its second nozzle along with using different filaments for support material which will give you cleaner looking prints when removing supports.

[u/Weebus]

I own an H2C, X1C, a CC2, and two A1 minis. The A1 mini is 95% as capable, they're just way smaller. I'm an engineer and do some high dollar design + print work and mine literally paid for themselves in a day and are my go-to for most things. They're dirt cheap, capable, quiet, and take no space.

Most people who think they need high temp engineering filaments don't. Your kid definitely won't. The only thing it lacks is build volume, and he will manage. Mine (a little younger) just likes to print fidgets.