The LEARN section is the best place to start Press the menu option that says LEARN from the top menu of this website. You can select a robot and wander through the tutorials. That gets you a good idea where to start.

We have made it incredibly easy - and double so if you follow the instructions

Which of the three ezrobots intrigues you most? Maybe we can help you with making a decision on which one to get

Take your time and don't give up

I'm sure this will surprise a few but I had no previous knowledge or experience with robots or servos (other than toy robots) before I found EZ-Robot.

As has been mentioned, follow the learn section. Read forum posts and showcases. Check out the topics in the tutorial list I started last year (there's some good info in there). Ask questions, we will answer them.

Would you guys suggest a 3d printer?

Makerbot Replicator is the one with the best reviews. Some will claim it's the only one worth using. Others have success with other brands etc. but it seems the cheaper ones will need more attention.

I looked at that one, unfortunately it isn't quite in the budget. Initially I am wanting to spend about $700-$1000 between the 3d printer and the first EZ- robot revolution kit.

3D printers are more hassle than they're worth - in my opinion. Now, we have 6 of them and they were a great asset to Revolution prototype design. However, i could not imagine being a home user with a 3D Printer. They're not reliable - at all. When they work, it's great! They mostly don't work often, so you spend most of the time frustrated and learning everything about them to diagnose issues.

It is an amazing technology for schools and companies that can employ staff to maintain them - other than that, they still are not ready for consumers... yet

That will change in a few years I have no doubt! However, a new approach is necessary that changes the way the technology currently works the current method is not reliable. They mostly use the same bruteforce approach of a gear to push filament through a heated nozzle.

In the future, I assume we will see a cartridge that contains a liquid or a method of melting the filament before the nozzle as a "material reservoir"

What ever it is, it has to change

Haha, thanks for the info I'll just put it toward another kit.

See if there is a makerspace in your area, or if your library system has a 3d printer. I just found out that my Maryland library card lets me use DC library resources and they have a printer at the library one metro stop from my office. They charge 5c/gram for materials and $1 for setup and will print from an stl you provide.

My town library is getting a 3d printer this spring, and getting a new makerapace which will certainly have one or more.

Alan

@sidui... First, get your ez robot kit(s)... then the 3d printer.... I have to agree with DJ "somewhat" on 3d printers...However.... I am relatively new to 3d printing and have bought 2 printers over the last 3 months... Here are my thoughts. Currently 3D printers are fussy, no doubt... However, if you are mechanically inclined and computer literate it's not so bad. I have a flashforge Creator Pro and an UP! Plus 2 printer... Both are really good printers... The UP Plus is by far the easiest printer to live with.. It's been out a while, has a 1 year warranty, it is a snap to level the platform (actually it has auto leveling) and the prints are of fantastic quality... Software is free and simple to use. This printer is not fussy at all... I would recommend the UP to anyone in a heartbeat...

The flashforge creator pro has a bigger print volume (actually it is pretty much a makerbot replica) and with proper software, prints come out amazing... I use Simplfy3D... User control over the Creator pro allows for serious fine tuning... Both of these printers print in PLA and ABS.... I am happy with both of these printers.... I might have to revisit this thread down the road when I see long term how these printers get on....

@thetechguru I wish, I live in a small town in oklahoma so there aren't many nearby.

@Richard R I've been looking at the Da Vinci 1.0 because of the low price point and from what I've seen it is pretty easy to deal with after a firmware swap.

Check amazon.com... they have a slew of 3d printers and even better tons of customer ratings on these printers. This way you can read feedback on what users think of the printer they bought...

sidui, how far are you from Oklahoma City? There is a makerspace called ProtoTech there. There is also one I want to say in Stroud. If you are closer to Tulsa, there are some up there. If you are in the western part of the state, I dont know. I would guess that there would be one around Altus but I don't know for sure. You would have to google, but with the base there, I would guess that there are some ex-military who would be into robotics/3D printing. Let me know where you are and I will see what I can find for you.

Just north of OKC I'm in Guthrie. Also, as I probably should have mentioned earlier I am only fifteen and so I do not have access to my own transportation. However, I am very excited to have found that their is a makerspace in OKC.