3D printer recommendations

[Sc8808]

Location: Canada

Budget: 400 CAD

 

Hi All,

 

I am looking for a 3D printer for myself (beginner)...I will use it to print some small figures, and a single color is fine for me.  I attached two small Pokémon figures as well (My friend did that for me), and that will be what I'm gonna print...

 

So I came up with three different 3D printers and wondered which one is best for a beginner.....

 

1. Creality Ender-3 V3 Speedy FDM 3D Printer, Silver

 

2. Bambu Lab A1 3D Printer

 

3. Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra 9K Resin 3D Printer

 

I want something reliable and hassle-free

 

Thanks!

 

 

[strange13930]

17 minutes ago, Sc8808 said:

Location: Canada

Budget: 400 CAD

 

Hi All,

 

I am looking for a 3D printer for myself (beginner)...I will use it to print some small figures, and a single color is fine for me.  I attached two small Pokémon figures as well (My friend did that for me), and that will be what I'm gonna print...

 

So I came up with three different 3D printers and wondered which one is best for a beginner.....

 

1. Creality Ender-3 V3 Speedy FDM 3D Printer, Silver

 

2. Bambu Lab A1 3D Printer

 

3. Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra 9K Resin 3D Printer

 

I want something reliable and hassle-free

 

Thanks!

 

 

Im part of a robotics team and we have two Bambu a1s and use them for a lot of stuff.

[OddOod]

Bambu recently took a hard heel turn. If you go with them be prepared to get locked in. 
Creality and elegoo are both well regarded (as far as I know), but I'd warn a new user away from playing with resin. There are serious health and safety concerns (you'd better have a vent to the outside) and just handling the resin can be a pain. 

[manikyath]

43 minutes ago, Sc8808 said:

I want something reliable and hassle-free

dont get a resin printer.

 

if those 3 printers are your options, get the creality.

[Sc8808]

30 minutes ago, OddOod said:

Bambu recently took a hard heel turn. If you go with them be prepared to get locked in. 
Creality and elegoo are both well regarded (as far as I know), but I'd warn a new user away from playing with resin. There are serious health and safety concerns (you'd better have a vent to the outside) and just handling the resin can be a pain. 

Yess....I'm aware that as well...but besides the locked-in firmware, would you still recommend the Bambu brand?

 

Safety is also one of the issues, because I have kids and don't want them to touch the printer...

 

 

[Sc8808]

15 minutes ago, manikyath said:

dont get a resin printer.

 

if those 3 printers are your options, get the creality.

If you have other recommendations other than those 3, please let me know....

 

I selected those 3 because I think they are famous...But I don't know too much about 3d printers....

[Sc8808]

44 minutes ago, strange13930 said:

Im part of a robotics team and we have two Bambu a1s and use them for a lot of stuff.

Yes....Bambu was my first choice before...But so many people complain about the locked-in firmware, I am concerned about that....

[manikyath]

1 minute ago, Sc8808 said:

If you have other recommendations other than those 3, please let me know....

 

I selected those 3 because I think they are famous...But I don't know too much about 3d printers....

a friend of mine is pretty happy with his elegoo neptune.

[Sc8808]

Also, do you guys think is a good idea to go to a retail store and take a look at it? 

 

Like, take a look at the size or even talk to the staff for more information? 

 

[Kyle2907]

7 minutes ago, Sc8808 said:

Also, do you guys think is a good idea to go to a retail store and take a look at it? 

 

Like, take a look at the size or even talk to the staff for more information? 

 

 

I know Canada Computers might have 3d printers displays in some stores...I know they have it in the North York location....

 

I suggest you call before you visit the store.....

 

 

[FlyingPotato_is_taken]

BambuLab A1 mini

Those machines are reliably and just work out of the box.

 

 

Elegoo Saturn ... SLA/resin printer isn't easy to operate due to chemical safety and you need more equipment that would blow the budget

Creality (any model): It's a creality. It might work but it might also be trash. No good reason to gamble if you can get the BambuLab A1.

 

Recently Artillery announced the Artillery M1 pro. Very promising printer but at the same time it is artillery and their last X4 launch/line up was a total mess of announced models that didn't released and printers that had a fairly big share of issues.

 

1 hour ago, Sc8808 said:

Also, do you guys think is a good idea to go to a retail store and take a look at it? 

 

I am in the privileged position to just hop once a year on a train and visit FormNext. Imagine it as a place where more or less every consumer 3d-printer is on display.

 

Yes if you know what to look out for. Often it is pretty easy to tell if a printer is good or not by looking at the details. They cut corners out on the hotend? Run.  No attention to details (e.g. Creality shipping a print bed for PLA (label) on a printer advertised for carbon fibre reinforced materials)? Run. 

 

You know nothing about 3d-printer? Still interesting to see them but likely won't be able to tell them apart.

1 hour ago, Sc8808 said:

Like, take a look at the size or even talk to the staff for more information? 

 

Hit or miss.

The staff is average joe? Yeah. Nothing of value.

You are lucky and the staff is an enthusiast? Absolutely talk to them but I lean on the side that Canada computer staff is knows more about PCs than prototype  & small batchsize manufacturing equipment.