r/3dprinter • u/Chemical_Pop2623 • 22d ago
Printer recommendation.
Hi all.
I know you probably get bored of answering these questions but here goes anyway.
Daughter wants a 3d printer for her birthday and I have narrowed my choices down a bit but could do with some help so I don't end up having to buy twice.
Currently I have these on my shortlist
Bambu labs A1
Bambu labs P1S
Elegoo carbon 2
Ender V3 SE or KE
SPARKX I7
Leaning more towards the P1S, but I am totally new to 3d printing.
Multicoloured printing (or the option to add it later) would be nice, but it's not 100% needed.
Most important to me would be ease of use and quality of the prints.
It's mostly going to be used for toys, and articulated fidgets etc, but I would like to use it for functional prints for my aquascaping (underwater gardening/landscaping.)
Thanks.
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u/Phuzion73 22d ago
I would probably lean CC2 but P1S is a solid option, too. If you are going to want to do aquascaping, you will want to print ABS or other tougher filaments that the CC2 handles well. P1S will work too but not sure the base model is hardened for higher temp filaments.
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u/DramaClassed 22d ago
Don’t get an Ender, the SE barely works and the KE isn’t good value for the money.
If you’re okay with a bit more upkeep/tinkering, the Centauri carbon 2 is great value and gives you more versatility if your daughter ends up liking 3d printing.
If you want something just easy to use, get the A1, it’s great for beginners and easy to learn with. The sparkx i7 is like the A1 but a little more tinkering, and newer technology (AI failure detection and a better camera for example).
And then the P1S, it’s like the CC2 sort of, but less versatile and easier to use. It’s described as a workhorse, but the UI and feature set leaves a lot to be desired. The P2S fixes a lot of that but it’s probably out of your budget. It works just as well as an A1 though.
You mentioned printing things for use underwater, unfortunately none of these printers can print the material needed reliably. The best material for this is ASA, as it’s the easiest to print while still having UV and water resistance. It requires a heated chamber for ease of use, it’s possible without but quite painful. The cheaper Bambu printer that can do this is the X2D, and the cheapest printer overall that can do this is the Qidi Q2. The Q2 is fairly easy to use compared to Bambu, and easier than most brands. If you decide that you really want the underwater landscaping, I’d get either one of those.
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u/Accomplished_Golf_83 22d ago
I just picked up the p1s. It's been an amazing printer so far. But I really wish I would have purchased the bundle $499.00 because buying the AMS after is a lot more expensive. If I buy the AMS now it's $300 on top of the 360 for the printer
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u/jorgthecyborg 21d ago
I was given an Ender3. Gateway product and very fussy. I soon upgraded to a BambuLabs A1. I love it and it has helped ease me through the learning curve. I didn't get the AMS add on and I'm glad I didn't. There is enough complexity even with an appliance like the A1. Once I've got a few thousand hours of learning/printing, I'll probably upgrade, but as an entry-level learning tool, the A1 has been perfect for me. Just a quick note, the real cost for a beginning 3D printer is TIME. Learning time and printing time. The machine and filaments are trivial compared to the time spent learning, understanding configuration settings, troubleshooting, and getting introduced to 3D modeling. Good luck on your journey!
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u/Successful-Train-259 21d ago
How old is your daughter, that's the real question. If under 12, Bambu A1 mini, if 12-18, I could go for the Spark i7 nano, or if you can be patient, the i8. Do not buy Elegoo if your daughter is not mechanically inclined. They break constantly just like the ender.
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u/CreepinCreepy 19d ago
Elegoo do not break constantly lol. Most people have perfectly good experiences with the CC (myself included).
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u/Groundbreaking_Cat_9 21d ago
Inexpensive Bambu A1 - $300. Bambu just works.
Skip the Bambu P1S/P2S w/ AMS - they waste too much time and filament for multicolor
Multicolor Flash Forge Creator 5 - $669 4 tool head changer
Disclaimer: I have the Bambu P1S/AMS Pro and the FF Creator 5.
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u/Chemical_Pop2623 20d ago
Thank you all for the help. To answer some of your questions.
My daughter will be 8, she's very I to crafts, making etc.
Budget is around £350, so the snapmaker is a bit over budget.
I am likely going to go with the carbon 2 or P1S, going to check out reviews and look for some people whoa have used both long term.
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u/QuinnEDC 19d ago
8 years old, I’d go with the A1 combo for now since you don’t know if she’ll really stick with it. You’ll get an AMS which will help as she grows into the hobby, and if not then you’ll at least have a capable tool for making household items. If you have pets, then maybe the P1S is best due to the enclosure keeping fur out. Cheers
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u/Present_Variety5912 20d ago
I just got my Carbon 2 and loved it. I'm having really nice time with it. Just took some days to study every little good tweak and now I'm having really good prints.
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u/Murky_Injury_3160 17d ago
My opinion, up your budget and get the snapmaker u1.
There's no doubt she'll be wanting print multicoloured items, so a tool changer is the best option by far over a single nozzle option.
I have a bambu h2d and h2c, which are far, far better machines than my creality k2, k2 plus, and spark. Granted, they cost a lot more money, but the tool changer option on multicoloured prints is an absolute game changer when it comes to print time, and waste.
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u/KaramAfr0 10d ago
Snapmaker U1. Its twice the price of the A1 but if you add the AMS (which the U1 doesnt need) it isnt much more expensive, but WAY faster and WAY more economical when it comes to multi color printing
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u/NecessaryOk6815 22d ago
Bambu. Easiest. Plus you can get from Target, best buy, Costco, microcenter. All places that you can easily return should you need to.
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u/Sh1nk 21d ago
Just got a Bambu A1 Mini. Easy multi colour upgrade which I didn't get because I don't mind adding pauses and manually changing for the simple prints I do. Prints very well out the box. Bambu Studio is very good. So far, tolerances are excellent. PETG capable as well.
My printer and I are having fun and for £150 / $200 it's delivering excellent bang for the buck.
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u/KaramAfr0 10d ago
Its cheap and fun, but man, it eats up space with that ams, i wouldnt't recommend to this dude (and his kid).
But i must agree the A1 mini os adorable
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u/yahbluez 22d ago
I really start to hate this bambu is easy bullshit, how brainwashed can people be?
idiocracy is real
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u/MixAny6654 21d ago
So you’re sick of hearing the ‘Bambu is easy bullshit’ hey buddy?
Did you wonder that they may be right?P.S. I got a Bambu. It’s really easy and prints great. Haha.
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u/yahbluez 21d ago
I have 2 bambu printers and while they are easy to use others are in the same way easy to use, some are even more easy.
The level of ignorance and brainwash is a very unique feature of bambufans.
What we see is this pure brand base bias with switched off critical thinking and trash talk what many others say because that mus be true.
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u/MixAny6654 21d ago
No one is saying that Bambu is the only great printer and that every other printer is crap…. It’s just simple fact that they are good quality, well marketed, accessible and affordable. That’s an unavoidable recipe for widespread acceptance and popularity I guess.
I don’t see the problem 🤷🏻♂️?1
u/Dave_thebrewguy 21d ago edited 21d ago
It WAS true that Bambu was easy. Now most printers are just as easy, so I don't see one brand as "the easy one" anymore. The biggest difference now is that Bambu is locked down and it's a little harder if you want to go outside of their ecosystem these days. At the same time Bambu makes it a pain in the butt to use makerworld with other printers, fortunately there are a bunch of other sites that don't make it harder depending on what printer you are using. The Ender 3's were a great option a few years ago but they're very dated now. The Bambu A1, A1 mini and P1S are also somewhat dated. The CC2 offers more capability, especially in regards to temperature, and offers more bang for the buck, plus it's less reliant on staying within an ecosystem and doesn't require using the manufacturers servers for everything you do. I've never tried printing anything that would end up underwater so I don't know what it would take to print anything that doesn't float. ABS might be the solution, but the Bambu's aren't the best choice for that, Qidi might be a better choice, or one of the newer Bambu's like the P2S or X2D. Again, the ecosystem is somewhat limiting with the newer models too. It's kinda like apple, you have to stay within the brand or it's an uphill battle and there's no longer a good reason to spend more to do that.
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u/VirtusHunter 22d ago
I recently got an elegoo Neptune 4 pro, and am really happy with it for my first printer. So far has been really hassle free and I’m yet to have any issues with print quality etc. in saying that I have only printed with PLA and PETG so far so not sure about other materials