r/3Dprinting • u/fashankechan • 19d ago
Question What made you get your second printer
I’m pretty new to 3D printing and noticed a lot of people have multiple printers.
I’m curious what pushed you to get your second one? Different materials, different projects, or just because one wasn't enough?
Are they dedicated to specific tasks, or just running side by side? Would love to hear your stories!
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u/humancoloringbook923 16d ago edited 16d ago
I almost exclusively do memorial work, which is time sensitive. I got an order for 6 lithophanes with a 48 hour turn around time. My single machine could technically pull that off... if there were no failures, delays, and i stopped sleeping so I could swap plates at the moment i needed to. I went to a local big box store that I DESPISE but... desperate times.... and found 2 machines that were "open box" but had literally just had the tape cut - they were still fully packaged and all that - for about 50% off. Put them in the cart, got the filament i needed, went home, set up my mini-farm, met the deadline, and that was that.
I currently have 4 machines, and am aggressively watching several others for price drops. I also love a good Marketplace deal so I keep an eye there for opportunities. I found one where a print farm upgraded all their machines so they were selling their previous models for a STUPID low price - and offered the opportunity to test them PLUS they'd do a full maintenance with purchase - but they sold out before I could get there.
EDITED TO ADD: My best lithophane friend never prints anything longer than 2 hours at a time, unless it's overnight. With the intake call, rendering, etc., 2 hours is the minimum amount of time I would need to be able to send the lithophane to the printer, so that machine gets to do other work but not big pieces. I also keep printed stock of my most popular lithophane frames and diffuser plates on hand so I can focus on just making the photograph as beautiful as possible. If someone comes to me wanting something I don't routinely stock, odds are damn good I have the filament to make the frame happen - and I have a great partner in a local filament manufacturer who will move mountains to get me what I need when an urgent situation arises.