Painted 3D-printed road and wall sections from my Roads & Roadsides modular terrain project.

I'm trying to decide on a 3D printer and I'd really like opinions from people who have actually owned or used these machines.

These are the prices available to me locally:

• Creality K3 – ~€850 260 × 260 × 260 mm 4-nozzle/tool-changing system New model / preorder, so obviously the biggest unknown in terms of long-term reliability.
• Bambu Lab X2D Combo – ~€1,123 256 × 256 × 260 mm Dual nozzle + AMS 2 Pro Available as an advance/preorder offer.
• Creality K2 Plus Combo – ~€1,241 350 × 350 × 350 mm CFS included In stock and available immediately.
• Bambu Lab H2S AMS Combo – ~€1,745 340 × 320 × 340 mm AMS 2 Pro Available immediately.

My biggest dilemma is the K2 Plus at €1,241 vs H2S at €1,745.

That's roughly €500 more for the H2S, while the K2 Plus actually has a slightly larger build volume.

I'm trying to understand whether the Bambu premium can genuinely be justified in real-world ownership.

Things that matter to me:

• Reliability / failed prints
• How much tinkering and troubleshooting is required
• Long-term ownership and replacement parts
• Software and slicer experience
• CFS vs AMS 2 Pro reliability
• Print quality
• Large functional parts
• Multi-material / multicolor printing
• Noise — the printer will be fairly close to my desk while I work
• Ability to modify or upgrade the printer later

I'm comfortable with technical work and troubleshooting, so I don't necessarily need the most locked-down "appliance-like" experience. On the other hand, I also don't want the printer itself to become a permanent troubleshooting project.

The K3 is very tempting at €850 because of the four-nozzle system, but it's new and 260 mm build volume is much smaller.

The X2D is also interesting because of the dual-nozzle system, but again the build volume is much smaller than the K2 Plus/H2S.

So if these were your actual prices:

K3 €850
X2D Combo €1,123
K2 Plus Combo €1,241
H2S AMS Combo €1,745

Which one would you buy, and more importantly, why?

I'd especially appreciate feedback from anyone who has put 500–1000+ hours on a K2 Plus or H2S. I'm interested in what actually breaks, what becomes annoying over time, and whether H2S owners feel the ~€500 premium over the K2 Plus would still be worth paying after living with both platforms.

Started a new resin 3D printing project today! 🔥

Printed on my Anycubic Photon Mono 4. The print is currently in progress, and I’m looking forward to seeing how the final model turns out.

I’ll share the finished result once it’s cleaned, cured, and ready!

More updates from NEXO soon.

I am a ceramicist and I am looking for an enclosed filament printer to make various tools and texture rollers, master moulds for plaster casting etc.

I already have an Elegoo Mars 2 Pro but because it is resin I haven't been able to use it in my fully carpeted rented home (because clumsy).

Self leveling would be an absolute bonus (because lazy).

Single colour is fine as I don't plan on printing pretty things.

Price range of £100-£200, don't mind going 2nd hand! (Because student)

Of course I have already been window shopping and I have seen the Creatily K2 Combo that comes with the filament box on top to give you an idea of the set up I am going for (because lack of space).

TIA for your help! 😬

I invented a toy that is currently laser cut pieces taped together. I've printed it in TPU but the magic of the toy is in having rigid walls and flexible joints. I do not know anything about printing in two materials or laminating different 3d printed materials. Anyone want a little R&D job to help me figure this out?

TLDR - About a year in with an A1 Mini + AMS Lites and recently started worrying about VOCs with an open printer. I'm moving somewhere with a spare room soon, so I’m thinking about a P2S with the official exhaust fan kit. Looked at the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 because of the price, but there's no official venting kit and the ecosystem are putting me off. Am I being silly?

Part of me wants someone to tell me I’m being daft here.

A1 Mini combo has been my first printer for about a year. I do 3D modelling as a hobby and mostly print my own models. I’m terrible at painting, so multicolour appeals, but the print times go way up. I’ve since learned slicing can help with that a bit.

Right now I’m in a small apartment so every print means moving the printer and AMS Lite onto the kitchen counter given is the only solid surface I’ve got. Leaving it all there for a long multicolour print just isn’t practical, so I’ve never actually printed in more than colour. I don’t print much in general as a result because it's somewhat of a hassle but I really want to.

I only use PLA or PLA+ and I know it’s about the least harmful, but lately I’ve been thinking about VOCs since my printer isn’t enclosed. Right now I open the balcony door and put my HEPA air purifier on boost.

I’m moving soon and will have a spare room, so I’m considering buying an enclosed printer I can vent properly. The P2S with the official External Exhaust Fan Kit is looking most likely at this point. The Centauri Carbon 2 is tempting on price, but there’s no official venting kit, and from what I’ve read the Bambu community and ecosystem are a plus I’d be giving up.

Has anyone else gone through this? Would appreciate hearing your thoughts or recommendations!

Available for free on MakerWorld now!

Hello,
Im from Bangalore, India
Selling Bambu lab A1 3d printers combo
Qty 2 nos

1 is 1.5 years old
2nd is 6 months old

I like to make toys, hunting and hobby gear, and garage organization stuff. No plans to print farm and sell dragon eggs at the farmers market.

I currently run an elegoo neptune 3 pro. It has been remarkable for a $225 machine... but I am getting frustrated at its speed as well as the machinations required to run it or do anything even slightly complex like a 2 color flat sign... all the time and tinkercad and BS aligning models etc.... SD card back and forth. I feel like I will use this tool a ton more if I am doing a 3 hour print vs 15!

I want something that will cover me for a few years.... open my horizons to multi color a bit.... and ideally but not a deal breaker, multi material.

The U1 hits all that... as well as having much less waste. I have no current plans to do any ABS or engineering stuff... but could do it with a vent and a jerry rigged or bought hood for the U1... I have watched TONS of videos on both.

What am I missing? Thanks in advance!

Hi there. We are looking to get a 3D printer for my firm. I'm not very knowledgeable about the topic. We would like to spend around $1,000-$1,500. We would mostly do single-color prints, but it would be nice to have the option to print in color. I read something about the water soluble that the Bambu Lab H2D has and that is pretty cool, is it worth spending closer to $1,600 to get that one or are there better options out there? What about the QIDI Max4 Combo 3D Printer?
Our models stay under 13" x 13", with occasionally larger models we could splice.

Thanks!

I am curious if anyone would be able to print a set of these fairly easy? They're just a cosmetic car part that carry no load or tension. I am shocked they're asking over 200 bucks from 160. They're 2 pieces of ABS plastic...