Recommend a 3D printer

[daveimi]

Hi. As above, looking to buy a 3d printer to start building beetles and other parts with. Which beginner printer would you all recommend, which file types and software to use with it and everything?

[typhoon_driver]

wanhao i3

You won't go wrong with it. Easy to set up, doesn't cost the earth but will produce good prints.

All 3D printers use STL files (we will ignore the high end closed systems). Standard file format that is output from all CAD software.

There are a few slicers (the program that takes the STL file and converts it to the code the printer uses). Cura is one of the free ones. I use simplify 3D but it costs a bit of cash.

[DoubleTrouble]

If you have a little more money then the Wanhao i3 plus . . . Upgraded version of the i3 with the shortcomings addressed

S.

[daveimi]

God that's brilliant thanku will go n have a look!

[supernova]

Hi,

Is this still the best printer to get? I dont want to spend a fortune, but realise that there are a few bits for my HW that i can use the printer to make.

[Roboteernat]

Depends on your budget, the pruse mk3new one is amazing and has many features that stop failures. But this is £699 for the kit.
My experience with the wanhao i3 is that there needs to be some upgrades in order to get it to print great, like a better titan hotend etc.
I run a prusa i2 homemade, wanhao 4s and now a Moai the 4s is good, but again, i need to upgrade the dual extruders for great prints and great prints in Nylon. stock extruder works ok with nylons.

[supernova]

This looks good:

Flashforge® 3D Printer Finder Single Extruder Printer

https://www.amazon.co.uk/FlashforgeÂ...ct_top?ie=UTF8

Good reviews too.

[Deathly Hallows]

My wife told me about this - 3D printer from ALDI for £300!
She asked if it would be any good for my robots - anyone heard of the Balco 3D printer touch before?
Someone posted its a i3 clone in this review of a Australian version but looks similar

[Roboteernat]

My wife told me about this - 3D printer from ALDI for £300!
She asked if it would be any good for my robots - anyone heard of the Balco 3D printer touch before?
Someone posted its a i3 clone in this review of a Australian version but looks similar

Their product demo video really needs to be removed. at 33 seconds, the example print shown printing looks terrible!

[Deathly Hallows]

I agree - the demo print is truly awful, yet the 'finished' items shown in the stills look good, no holes or bumps. Do you think the stills are photoshopped or objects polished; or that they were deliberately printing a low density/quality object just to have fast printing? Guess no way to know unless we hear from anyone who actually has one.

[Roboteernat]

Looking at their youtube page, i can see it being a very budget printer and results may be ok, not amazing, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRo0mRXw_Gk
Mechanically it just feels a bit too cheap IMO

Flashforge printers have a good rep.

[Deathly Hallows]

Thanks - and for £100 more you can get The basic Flashforge I see. So message is save your money.

[typhoon_driver]

Back to the original question, depends what you want to 3D print with it.

My budget go to recommendation for FDM printing these days is the CR-10. A solid machine that once set up is a hit the button and leave it machine. The stock hot end will struggle with nylons and anything really high temperature but for most purposes, the base machine will do the job grand.

[Roboteernat]

I guess also, what are you wanting to print on it for your heavyweight? brackets for electronics or wanting to print gears?

[supernova]

I'm looking to make brackets, moulds, case for electronics etc. Doesn't need to be too strong... can I do this with the above suggestions? Thanks for your help so far.