I think it's probably about time I tried printing some of the 3D parts I've been creating for the last couple of years (there are a fair few of them, I just hit a big milestone with the number of "things" I've created) so it's time to look at 3D printer options.
There's no way in hell I'm about to be able to afford a Makerbot Replicator 5th Gen since over here they are a minimum of 2,000 + VAT (20%) + Shipping so we are looking at around 2,500 ($3,800) if not more - now you know why I'm hesitant about 3D printing!
Makerbot "clones" on the other hand are a great deal less expensive. I appreciate that the components and construction will be lesser quality than the official Makerbots however we are looking at a 2,000 difference so the clones are extremely tempting (although only from a source which comes with great feedback and support, so probably more like 1,500 difference)
But I'm not naive enough to believe a clone is as good as the real thing so am reaching out to anyone who has experience in using the clones for any advice.
Yes, a makerbot would be the wiser choice but not for one who cannot drop 2,500 on concepts which may never have any return on them at all.
Alternatively, I have the option of the following 3D printers which do fall close to my price bracket...
Cube (2nd Generation) - 140x140x140 print area, 200 micron finest print. XYZprinting da Vinci 1.0 - 200x200x200 print area but stuck using their filament (unless "the people" did find a hack). 100 micron is finest print.
The da Vinci is the one which is tempting me most, especially if that hack is available (I'll search soon). But at 20% of the price of a MB Rep 5th Gen it's screaming out that either MB are darn expensive or it's not going to be much more than a paperweight.
Help... stress (Ideally by saying "I have a da Vinci 1.0 and it's awesome once you do this and that and tweak this")
@rich
I've been looking at the Velleman K8400 kit printer, it seems to have a very good Spec, and very good reviews, and a huge improvement on the K8200 kit.
I also like it as its a Kit and would enjoy building it has well.
Seen some sites in Germany that are doing it for about £500 with £27 shipping costs.
In the UK, you can get it for £540 plus delivery.
http://www.theelectronicsshop.co.uk/contents/en-uk/p677_k8400.html
I've been tempted.
Yeah $1000 in the US. Over here we aren't luck enough to have prices that low.
A clone is about £400. A real thing is about £2500. What I've read about MB does not justify a £2100 cost difference to be honest.
Although thanks for the info on the 4th gen. I read some disturbing comments about the 5th earlier (extruder isn't user serviceable and MB recommend buying a spare "just in case"). I'll look towards the 4th gen but I have to be honest, clones or the da vinci is edging ahead.
Ideally I'd like to hear from someone who has a clone and has used both clone and real MB and can give a justified opinion on it.
I think I found one which has some good and honest reviews (not the usual "this is awesome" reviews the manufacturers leave for themselves) but is cheap enough to not put too much of a dent in the bank balance. If nothing else it should be enough to see if my ideas and concepts are worth taking further.
So now to save like mad and make a little space for it
@Rich... so which one was it... Was it the Da Vinci?
No, it's a makerbot clone, built using makerbot open source blaa blaa... Pretty much the same as the others like the flashforge and the ingeniously named "3d printer".
Cheaper than the Da Vinci too and comes with 60 day return policy so if it does turn out to be a large metal paper weight it can go back at only cost of shipping and probably the 1kg of ABS (or PLA if I decide to go for PLA) that I'll have opened and used.
Having just dropped £1,300 on car maintenance ;ast month and dropping about £500 on art supplies the month before (I have a lot of strings on my bow, robots aren't the only thing I play with) I need to recover from that but once I see the buffer is back (the smallish amount of cash I like to have in the bank in case of emergencies) the credit card will be coming out and the nights of stressing over failed prints and setting it up will begin.
I am going against everything I say mind you. I made the mistake of buying cheap before and paid the price. But sometimes risks pay off.
Look at it this way... print as much as you can up until 60 days... If it is doing fine by then... then it may be worth keeping. If it bricks itself, send it back... Be prepared for a lot of tweaking... Prints will get better as time goes on. I learned one thing. There is no need to print at the highest possible resolution... Personally I can't tell 200 microns from 250... However the at 250 microns it finishes prints quite a bit sooner....
It's likely a CTC then , they put the "3d printer" tag on the front of the build platform where Makerbot would normally go.
I can speak to:
MakerGear M2 $1800.
Then if you need a decent less than $1000 go with the Robo 3D R1 @ $800 and do the suggested upgrades (cheap). You can a nice big LCD screen for under $75.
Next in line would be the Dremel @ $1000.
If you need really cheap, I would go with the Printrbot Metal @ $600.
ALL printers have their quirks and suggested tweaks. I would highly recommend spending $140 on Simplify3D software.