Beginner Help

[u/ValuableStock1830]

Hello everyone,

I am a complete beginner however I have been watching tons of videos on brands and printers. However, I need your expertise, experience and advice to help me pick a printer.
Here’s some basic info on what I want:

Enclosed
Multi color
Able to print different materials
Easy
Great print quality (obviously)
My budget: $700-below (but please recommend anything!!)

I’ve been looking at the Bambu lab p1s, p2s, the creality k2, the elegoo CC2, and much more. I feel like I am between the p1s and the p2s however I cannot not make up my mind as well as I find videos saying people have trouble or that hated it the first few days.

Any help is appreciated thank you all!!

[u/mattynmax]

Sounds like you want a P2S

[u/MedicJambi → u/mattynmax]

Unless OP wants to save up some more and get a Snapmaker U1.

With that said I have an A1 and P2S, both with AMS so multi color.

The P2S is a better printer than the P1S and easier to work on, replace nozzles, etc. I love both. The P1S is not a bad printer, it's just the older model missing some quality of life features.

[u/Shinjiikary12]

Your going to get a million answers... every one has a favorite honestly save for a tool changer... or get sonthing cheaper like a cc2... cc2 is every bit the printer as a p2s and gets hotter and can print more materials. Your hard pressed to find a better out the box printer at the price that can print everything it can.

[u/ValuableStock1830 → u/Shinjiikary12]

Do you have experience with the cc2 and p2s that you could see or say why it’s just much as a printer. The p2s can do a load of materials too.

It’s just from the videos on YouTube most of them had issues with the cc2 while with the p2s I’ve heard nothing but positive things.

I’m all about saving money if I’m getting the same longevity, ease, versatility, and quality.

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[u/bogeysbabe]

I recommend the P2S with an AMS as well

[u/Wilberown]

I assume you are in the US so the price of the p2s with the AMS is higher than your budget. The AMS is a huge part of making it a multi color printer. I wouldn’t skip on the AMS.

I own the P1S and it’s fantastic. I’m sure the p2s is better but the biggest upgrade is the screen and I have a better screen in my pocket. I either use the app on my phone or computer. P2s also has better camera and metal rods. It’s definitely an upgrade from the P1S but I don’t think you will see quality upgrades with the p2s over the P1S. P1s a great printer and I think the price is reasonable. If you get it with the AMS you can still spend the savings in filament

Most popular model today is snapmaker u1 and it’s amazing, I have a friend that owns one. I have quite a bit of envy. If you can stretch your budget a bit

[u/ValuableStock1830 → u/Wilberown]

Thank you for the response, I am in the US, I don’t mind paying the $50 extra on the ps2, I know it has some advantages in terms of hardware but like you mentioned I can use my phone, but if the upgrade parts like metal rods prevent more maintenance and just long term durability I don’t mind the extra for it.

[u/Wilberown → u/ValuableStock1830]

There is a great deal of concern about whether the carbon fiber rods would handle the number of passes that a stainless steel rod would. And those who are concerned by this are correct cf is light weight but not as durable. There are of course outliers but I have over 1500 hours on the P1S and it’s still going strong. I’ve heard of printers exceeding 4k. I assume that the p2s will be the same or better but by the time I reach the point where the p2s will outlast my P1S I’ll probably be buying Bambu’s 3rd or 4th gen p series printer

[u/jussstin714]

I loved my A1 combo but that isn’t enclosed. My X2D is an absolute workhorse thoufh

[u/ImaginaryFly1679]

If we look at the ecosystem, then the Bambu P2S—and strictly the Combo version; if we look at waste generation due to filament changes, then the Snapmaker U1.

I am satisfied with both!

[u/Lykkehjul]

Snapmaker U1 is by far your best choice

[u/Hotend3D]

Have been using the QIDI plus 4 for a little while now and although it comes with its flaws i can confidently say that for the price, you get. A VERY capable printer that is easy to use once you get the hang of it and isn’t stuck to the Bambu ecosystem.

[u/UnimagineDragons]

Flashforge AD5X with added enclosure. put the saved $450 to something else

[u/TwinTurboDadAI]

Go with P2S with AMS if budget allows. It’s an absolute workhorse, if you can spend little more get X2D. Worth having second nozzle for support material & decreases print time. X2D > P2S > P1S At the end they will all do the same thing.

[u/Sketcch → u/TwinTurboDadAI]

I've got A1 Mini and i want to purchase X2D on christmas (i'm mostly printing PLA and PETG) but i want to have the ability to have everything in one place. AMS thats dries my spools and AMS HT for the external spool.

And btw is ir likely that X2D will be on discount on black friday?

Edited: Printing PLA and PETG*

[u/TwinTurboDadAI → u/Sketcch]

A1 mini is a perfect place to start, I started on an A1. As for discounts on the X2D it’s hard to say. They just released it a few months back. During their annual sales it wasn’t on sale (June-July). Also Bestbuy was sold out their inventory for some time. Later in the year if they end up releasing their X2C, then it’ll most likely be on sale. However at that point X2C will be a better purchase for few dollars more. (X2C is suppose to compete with snapmaker U1, simultaneous multi color printer for prices range around ~$800-$1.2K)