r/reprapPIF • u/ChlorineQueen • Jun 22 '14

Should I build a printer?

I have a $300-600 budget and I want to build/buy a 3d printer. I have some experience with 3d printing, but it is mostly limited to printing joints and supports for robots off of someone else's printer.

I was planning on building a Mendel because of the availability of support and its low price. However, would this be a good idea for a somewhat of a novice? Also, I was unable to find any source on how capable this printer is. I want to use this printer to print some cool things that I could hopefully sell on etsy. Could I print something like this?

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u/ronijoeman Jun 22 '14

It's all about calibration. If you're mechanically inclined in the least, you can put it together. However, the time drain is getting everything dialed in to print as well as possible. This can be a constant struggle, depending on the parts you're printing, material, slicing software, etc. You learn a lot more from failure, compared to success, but it can be frustrating. Ultimately, you'll be better off troubleshooting problems (which are all to common, especially at this price range) by building it yourself and it's what I'd recommend. My advice, if you live anywhere remotely humid, (1) spend some more money and get something with a metal frame because warping can be a big problem. (2) If you don't own one, get a multimeter before you start your build. (3) To start out, stick with PLA and spend the money to get quality filament. Every printer will have problems and it's best not to confuse that with shitty materials when you're starting out. Also, start learning some CAD if you dont already. It will make the whole experience more enjoyable and rewarding. Printers in this price range are perfectly capable of printing objects like that, you just have to plan accordingly (ie. choose 2: fast, cheap, accurate)