3D printer purchase questions

[Nessy2143]

Hi guys, 

 

The club I'm in a my school is trying to expand our 3d printing capabilities and we are looking into a new printer.  We own a Flash forge creator pro and its been great so far but we are trying to get something that augments our capabilities not just another printer that does exactly the same thing.  Basically we are looking for something that can do something the creator pro cant do so we can have more options available to us.  The budgets around $1000 US but is flexible to change and really any help is appreciated.  It doesn't even have to be a 3D printer type thing just something that will help us better serve our community and let them and us make really cool stuff.  

 

Thank you,

Michael

[Hackentosher]

If you have a reliable 3D printer, then a CNC router may be a good choice. Have a look at the Shapeoko.

[Nessy2143]

Yes! that's a great idea but we already have one in the school so it would be "pointless" in the eyes of the almighty gods that control the $$.

[kelvinhall05]

If they won't let you get CNC machine or something similar, look into a resin printer.

[Nessy2143]

sadly I dont think we have the air circulation to pull that off.  I would love an SLA printer they seem so cool.  

[Lii]

Most of the prebuild 3d printers are carbage

I would suggest to do one starting from odrive

[ColinLTT]

2 hours ago, Lii said:

Most of the prebuild 3d printers are carbage

I would suggest to do one starting from odrive

Yeah don't do that IMO.  

So if a resin printer and a router are off the table, I'd start looking at improving your printing setup. This would be tools to clean prints, print finishing tools (sandpaper, primer, paints, airbrush, etc) and perhaps look at getting a filament drier (make your own from a used food dehydrator). You could also look at making a filament storage/dispensing solution that's airtight to keep moisture out of your filament, kinda like the Repbox

[Lii]

@James Evens and @ColinLTT might I ask why?

[ColinLTT]

Because adding servos to a 3D printer isn't done at the hobbiest scale. Odrives are awesome, dont get me wrong, but without a specific project for them it doesnt really apply to the original question

[Drakorius]

The Flash forge creator pro is a great printer but his build volume is somewhat limited, maybe another option could be to increase it by buying a printer like the prusa i3 or the Wanhao D9.