The 3d printing thread

[newbmark]

It's time for me to get in on the 3D printing game. The three (massively contrasting) printers I've narrowed it down to are:

Wanhao i3/i3 plus - cost effective, I expect some issues and work needed on the printer, also would need to work on an enclosure for ABS.
Wanhao Duplicator 6 - less cost effective, less work expected, enclosure already included
and
Zortrax M200 - least cost effective, I would expect to work out of the box. Limited supply of filaments.

I'm thinking the D6 is probably going to be the one which fits my requirements most and would keep me interested rather than becoming excessively frustrated. Seeing as we have a few experts on here do you guys think there will be a noticeable (2x price) difference between the i3 and the D6?

I imagine for printing my own squonk mod and bits ABS would be my best filament to use but I'm willing to listen to other opinions. If I manage to make something I really like (that's a way away) there's a chance it would be shipped out to be printed in alumide anyway. I could just design and print now but I'm not confident enough in my work to send it out blind.

 

[ax]

3D Printing is very much you get what you pay for, if you're looking at the Zortrax M200, then you can afford an Ultimaker 2+. Ultimakers are tried and trusted and you won't regret that decision, where Zortrax is a new company on the block. The D6 doesn't have a layer fan so you're stuck with ABS which is a bitch to print and only really works properly on a fully enclosed printer. PETG is best for Enclosures, for which you need a layer fan. If you're looking at the D6, don't even bother with it, go for the original Prusa i3 Mk2 which you can get fully built and working out of the box for the same price. Both of those options come with full support from the manufacturer, which I believe you're on your own with Wanhao. Wanhao, is a budget brand, with your budget, you can get so much better.

 

[newbmark]

Thanks for the input. From where I have been looking the Ultimaker 2+ is significantly more expensive at over £2100, compared to £1500 for the Zortrax. I just did a quick search for the Prusa and it looks like availability is in the region of 8 weeks which is a bit of a pain in the arse, I don't do patience.

I'd ideally set my budget at £1k, I could stretch to £1500 but £2000 is just too much at the moment for something I may not get on with. If it's ultimaker it looks like the Go (prohibitively small?) or the ultimaker original+ at about £1100 and some fun building it.

Apart from being steel framed and ready built is there that much of a difference between the ultimaker 2 and the original+?

 

[ax]

Basically, if I was going for a fully commercially built printer, the Ultimaker 2+ (or 3 if my budget stretched that far)or the Prusa i3 Mk2 would be my first choices, followed by a Lulzbot or Printrbot. I know people with Ulitimaker2s I've seen them in action and the print quality is 2nd to none on a commercially bought printer. The Prusa i3 Mk2 is the best in that bracket currently. I can't say how the original Ultimaker will perform as it's a very old design, relatively speaking, these days. Lulzbots by Aleph Objects are solid machines with the Mini being in your budget - https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/tcj/Alep...e=UTF8&qid=1486685207&sr=8-2&keywords=Lulzbot and Printrbots just work, you can pick up a certified pre-owned Plus for $999 https://printrbot.com/shop/certified/

There is a 3rd and this is something I do (and also sell kits in small volumes) which is design and build your own. For that budget you can get something that'll work just as well as an Ultimaker 2 and you will also have the bonus of actually knowing the thing inside out to be able to fix things quicker. If you don't have the design skills, there are plenty of designs out there (including my 2 main designs) that you can build and learn with.

My 2 designs:

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2044223 - the AX-02 Delta 320mm diameter bed with a z of around 200mm, still a work in progress, but is being built. This is a balls out Delta printer that I've currently spent around £500 on parts but will be rock solid by the time I'm done. Kits will eventually be available for these, but I need to sit down and work out pricing after it joins the farm.
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1313587 - the FB2020 CoreXY - these are my workhorses (I have 3), and use them commercially. These, I sell kits for which retail at £600 for a standard and £650 for a plus version. I will also sell them fully built and tested at £750. Prices exclude shipping.

Personally, I will never buy a Chinese 3D printer again. I have experienced enough frustration with the CTC and the Migbots to turn me off Chinese kits and pre-builts.

 

[newbmark]

Basically, if I was going for a fully commercially built printer, the Ultimaker 2+ (or 3 if my budget stretched that far)or the Prusa i3 Mk2 would be my first choices, followed by a Lulzbot or Printrbot. I know people with Ulitimaker2s I've seen them in action and the print quality is 2nd to none on a commercially bought printer. The Prusa i3 Mk2 is the best in that bracket currently. I can't say how the original Ultimaker will perform as it's a very old design, relatively speaking, these days. Lulzbots by Aleph Objects are solid machines with the Mini being in your budget - https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/tcj/Alep...e=UTF8&qid=1486685207&sr=8-2&keywords=Lulzbot and Printrbots just work, you can pick up a certified pre-owned Plus for $999 https://printrbot.com/shop/certified/

There is a 3rd and this is something I do (and also sell kits in small volumes) which is design and build your own. For that budget you can get something that'll work just as well as an Ultimaker 2 and you will also have the bonus of actually knowing the thing inside out to be able to fix things quicker. If you don't have the design skills, there are plenty of designs out there (including my 2 main designs) that you can build and learn with.

My 2 designs:

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2044223 - the AX-02 Delta 320mm diameter bed with a z of around 200mm, still a work in progress, but is being built. This is a balls out Delta printer that I've currently spent around £500 on parts but will be rock solid by the time I'm done. Kits will eventually be available for these, but I need to sit down and work out pricing after it joins the farm.
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1313587 - the FB2020 CoreXY - these are my workhorses (I have 3), and use them commercially. These, I sell kits for which retail at £600 for a standard and £650 for a plus version. I will also sell them fully built and tested at £750. Prices exclude shipping.

Personally, I will never buy a Chinese 3D printer again. I have experienced enough frustration with the CTC and the Migbots to turn me off Chinese kits and pre-builts.

Thanks, after having a bit of a read in my "designated breaks" at work I'm going to pull the trigger on the Lulzbot Mini from Amazon. Any recommendations on anywhere to source filament from (Sorry, I know I'm being a pain)? Would be nice to get some from Amazon for quick prime delivery but everything on there has either no reviews or sketchy ones.

Thanks for all of your help

 

[ax]

I get the majority of filaments from Amazon due to Prime. Brands I use are Extrudr , Hatchbox, Formfutura & Rigid.ink

 

[newbmark]

I get the majority of filaments from Amazon due to Prime. Brands I use are Extrudr , Hatchbox, Formfutura & Rigid.ink

Thanks again.

Just had a massive rant with Amazon as everything I ordered yesterday has either not been despatched or has been sent straight to the delivery office with no card being left. I was planning on having a play tonight but Amazon decided otherwise. Don't know how I'm even going to collect a parcel when they haven't left a card. I also noted Amazon have put the price up on the Lulzbot Mini to over £1400 so I ordered just in time!

 

[ax]

Meet the latest Sledz UK/AxMod 3D Printer, the AX-02 Delta. Designed and built from the ground up. Not quite complete yet, but it is gradually starting to pump out orders.

Under the hood:

 

[mrmoo]

So..... A few weeks ago a prusa i3 mk2 kit arrived. Built and printing inside 8 hours :thumb:
mainly test prints of frogs and lizards, as it keeps the bosses happy but also printed charging stands and reel holders and an upgrade part or two.
And i will second Rigidink, PM me if you want a referal for a fiver off ya first order....... , nice filament, very consistent prints, quick delivery and ive just got some carbon fibre filament to play with....

 

[andy3434]

@ax you seem to be the 3d printer guru, am toying with the idea of getting one, how much difference is there between a prusa i3 mk2 and this FB2020 thing? also whats the difference in the FB2020 and the FB2020+? Thanks