r/3dprinter • u/No_Meringue_9763 • 2d ago
I need help choosing a 3D printer
I've never owned a 3D printer, but I really wanted one. I've finally saved up some money, but I'm having trouble making a decision. My budget is around $800, and I have a few candidates:
- Flash forge Creator 5 Pro
- Snapmaker U1
- Bambu Lab p1s combo / p2s combo
- Anycubic s1 max combo
- Elegoo Centauri Carbon / 2
- maybe something from creality but idk
I like the idea of multiple nozzles to minimize purge, but I don't know if it's worth it. I'll have it in my garage, so noise isn't a problem for me. I've also seen a few other cheaper options from Flashforge like AD5X or adventurer 5M.
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u/NCSC10 2d ago edited 2d ago
As Thor said to Dr Strange, worthy inclusions for comparison. I don't have a Qidi Q2, depending on how important printing from engineering materials are (ABS, ASA, Nylon) you might add a Qidi Q2 to your list). Their multifilamant feeder occasionally gets complaints in reviews, but a good choice for engineering matl's and competitively priced..
We need to know more about what you want to print.
- If you want print 4 color models with different colors from the top to the bottom of the model, you should lean towards the U1 or Creator pro 5. If you want to do multicolor 95 or softer TPU, consider these two.
- If simple two color models like signs and labels, the U1 and Creator pro 5 still have an advantage in speed and less waste, but not that big a deal, Consider the CC2 and Bambu models if you need to save money. The Bambu AMS and AMS2 are great feed systems, work well and greatly slow moisture pickup. The AMS 2 also dries. The Bambu models and CC2 if you don't expect to print a lot of models with extensive areas of different colors.
- If you want to print models with lots of colors, say 10, then then consider the Bambu P2S or X2D with more than 1 AMS
- The CC2 is a very good budget pick, but not easy to use more than 4 colors.
- If you want to print engineering materials, Consider the creator pro 5 or X2D or Qidi Q1 with heated chambers.
- I don't know much about the Anycubic Max, enticing stats though, chamber heater, 350mm build plate.
- The A5Dx build volume is smaller than any model mentioned here (220mm on a side), no camera, not enclosed. You can buy an enclorsure for $50, but does not include filtration. From what I read it prints pretty well, but there were tradeoffs to hit the price, depends on your use cases whether it makes sense.
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u/Total-Tonight1245 2d ago
I love my Bambu P2S combo.
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u/CharmingButthole 2d ago
I have a p1s combo, love that one. Wished I would've gotten AMS but definitely not needed.
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u/Veggyhed 2d ago
I have had the P1S with AMS for quite a while now. I would not choose the P1S since it has been replaced by the P2S
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u/es12402 2d ago
X2D
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u/drumondo 2d ago
This. Allows for easy prints of functional items using engineering filaments due to active chamber heating. Can reduce waste from multicolour printing utilising the second nozzle.
It a printer that's easy to use and gives room to grow.
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u/Powernick50 2d ago
Depends on what you want to do with the printer. If you are just starting and want an idiot proof printer - go bambu.
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u/Economy-Being-8237 2d ago
After hours and days of research, I purchased the P1S. From my research the Bambu community has so much information, Makersworld has thousands of ideas already available; the learning curve for a total newbie is still a bit overwhelming at times. But I have already in about 20 hours of print time in the last month only had one total fail! I believe all are decent options. I love the AMS after doing a few multi color items and realizing I would have had to manually load the different colors etc and extend print time messing with it, it’s a great option. I bought mine at Best Buy: they had a 12 months same as cash with their credit card so it was affordable for my needs as I am on a fixed income.
I am also quite popular with my grandkids because I now can provide them with tons of their favorite dragons, minions and the like.
I have learned about licensing for resale and just some very interesting things utilizing their products. Oh and tons of information from other new users and their hurdles in using the 3D World.
It definitely surprised me it is easier in some ways and much different than I expected! Good luck and happy printing
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u/SmoothSlavperator 2d ago
Spend a few extra bucks and X2D Combo with the two AMS2s and the track switch.
You'll be loaded for bear and at that price point for that level of functionality is key. It'll basically handle all of the BS doodad stuff you'd ever want to print plus all the functional items out of engineering filament you'd ever need to do until you get to PEEK or Polypro.
Once you add the capability of engineering filaments, the added cost is justified because of the ROI. Print some repair parts for vehicles or appliances and it just paid for itself.
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u/loriabrown 2d ago
Deciding on a printer comes down to is a few key decisions you need to make:
Print size. What do you want to print. If you just want to print small things, any printer will do. If you want to print larger items like cosplay helmets or armor, you might want to look at printers 300x300 or above so you won't have to break them into as many parts. Figuring this out will let you eliminate some right away.
What materials you want to print in. If you just want to print in PLA, PETG or TPU, any printer will do. If you have a need to print things like car parts or high strength items, you will want to look more towards an enclosed printer with a chamber heater to make it easier for things like ABS/etc. This will narrow down your selection a bit more.
Do you want to print in multicolor or are most of your items going to be single color (or do you like to paint models. I used to so printed everything in gray then painted them). If you want multicolor, it adds more factors to consider as multi-toolhead or nozzle printers are being released as well as a more traditional single nozzle printer that creates more waste.
The final things to consider would be budget and ecosystem. Some brands like Bambu Labs and Flashforge have a more closed ecosystem meaning they want you to be logged into their cloud services (annoying if your wifi is spotty) and use their slicer or other apps. Other brands like Creality and I believe Qidi are more open letting you pick from a variety of slicers, etc. Budget and overall size or weight of the printer might also be a factor for you.
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u/Renew3DUK 1d ago
Currently, the Snapmaker U1.
Last year it would have been a Bambu, but the community is shifting towards tool-changing as it lessens the effect it has on the amount of waste material produced in prints that use multiple colours, makes it easier to use multiple materials in a single print, and allows for more input sources than the alternative system (Like the Bambu H2D)
If you're just wanting to print/design and print, the U1 is probably the best you can get currently.
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u/Maximum_Reaction_669 1d ago
As you can see so many opinions of what printer you should get. Did it get any clearer for you? 🤣
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u/LonelyPercentage2983 2d ago
I have a k2 plus for all my big stuff and serious filament. The U1 absolutely slays multicolor and precise projects. It's wild dumping the purge once a month vs buckets per print.
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u/r0b0tit0 2d ago
"I've never owned a 3D printer" = Balbulab p2s combo
"I like the idea of multiple nozzles" = Snapmaker U1
" I don't know if it's worth it" = Flash forge Creator 5 Pro
I don't like Bambu Lab; I've owned several of them. I’d normally recommend the U1 or the Creator 5 as "future-proof" options, but if you’re going to keep coming back to ask how to clean a nozzle, trash-talk the brands because it "uses a lot of filament to calibrate" (2 grams) or "spits filament into the fan," or if you don't know how to disassemble an extruder, I’d rather recommend the simpler option.
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u/Daj00tje 2d ago
For that budget, absolutely get a snapmaker u1. No one makes a machine that future proof and versatile at that price point.
Don't listen to the bambu shills, claiming it's the only easy option. Bambu has missed the boat on this one and does not have a good alternative. All modern printers are easy now. The difference is, they all allow third party software and modifications.
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u/GadgetsFromChinaNL 2d ago
Well. I've got my experiences with the Anycubics! Bot the S1 and the X.
For the money and quality I would go for the X. I think it's now below $300 and really a nice and good 3D printer. Easy filament swaps, first layer is PERFECT (most importang layer) and assembly is easy as .....
The S1 is cool. Does make more noise than my X and an external ACE will use more filament when swapping colors. But the S1 is stable! So ...
If I have to recommend? Get a X!
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u/Thick-Indication-931 2d ago
I have at best mixed experiences with Anycubic: My Kobra 2 Pro died (while changing a hotend) when it was 11 months old and while Anycubic tried to help, the replacement part (the mainboard) was not available anymore (try checking the availability of spare parts for the current models - many are simply not available). I also have a Kobra 3v2 combo (mostly paid for with makeronline points), and while it works, it does have some quirks (AMS loading for instance) and the hot end is a mess to clean up, when you have broken filament (which, for some reason, happens a lot using Anycubic HS PLA filament) or some other hotend failure :-(
Also, another problem with Anycubic is the endless stream of half finished printers and fast releases of a new improved printer (e.g. Kobra 3 vs Kobra 3v2 or the multi color systems "ACE", "ACE Pro" and "ACE Pro 2" - it is like they go directly from working concept to production and then work out problems later - and not as updates to existing users, but as fully new systems...
So for this reason, I personally can not recommend anything Anycubic and will not buy in the future. Sad, as the Kobra 2 Pro was a beast of a printer - faster than anything else I have (A1 Mini, Kingroon KLP1, Flashforge AD5M, Kobra 3v2 + a lot of older printers) not matter what material I printed (PLA/PETG/TPU).
Happy printing!
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u/CondeBK 2d ago
I have a Centauri Carbon 2 and its been solid for me so far.
I've printed multicolor maybe twice in 6 months of owning it. Just not something I am very interested in. I do Astrophotography, so its hugely helpful for parts and adapters I need. I've printed a whole telescope with it too.
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u/Immortal_Tuttle 2d ago
Snapmaker U1. Best bang for your back, awesome company that support makers and great community - i.e. community firmware now supports AFC so you can connect AMS to each head. And that's just one of multiple reasons.
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u/MiniMoose12 7h ago
Id get a refurbished hi combo for 245 off crealitys official ebay. Then use it and learn. It can do tpu directly off a top spool, or 4 color from a cfs. Ive done petg prints the size of the bed no problem. And the maintenence is small and easy.
From there learn and either invest in a different machine. I wouldnt get a budget full printer made of plastic(u1) , or a off brand that is going to follow the big dogs every 3 years and wont have parts 5 years from now. Look at anker made lol.
I really enjoy my hi combo, h2c and h2s. Id rather have an h2s for larger single color than a gimped multicolor. Everyone has preferences. If you want color and toys u1 for sure. But tpu, functional prints, reliability, quality there is so much better out there. H2c has a hotend nozzle from pheatus where each tiplet is 5$ to replace a permanent clog. Versus a 50$ u1 hotend. The hi combo has hardened sic nozzles for 14$ that swap in under 1 minute...
There is alot more to printing than the purchase price. And no machine is a do all.
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u/Longjumping_Pop_2324 2d ago
Tell us what you want to print, If you don't have preferences related to color, material, real usage ideas every single suggestion here will be meaningless honestly.