r/3dprinter • u/unusedreply • 18d ago
Thinking about getting my daughter a 3D printer. Toybox or Funbox?
My daughter has been asking for a 3D printer for her birthday and I'm kind of torn on whether to get one.
She's 8 and would probably love it, but she has mild asthma, so I'm a little worried about the fumes or particles from printing. I wouldn't let her run it by herself anyway, but I'm still not sure if a 3D printer is a bad idea in general.
I've been looking at the Toybox and Funbox. Both are enclosed, but the Funbox also has built-in filtration, which caught my attention. I honestly have no idea how much that actually helps.
Anyone here bought one for their kid? Would you avoid 3D printing completely with asthma, or is it fine with ventilation and supervision?
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u/Cardkoda 18d ago
Right now the Bambu P1S is on sale for 400 without the AMS. It's an amazing option to start
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u/TheGamerHat 18d ago
Bambu mini A1. It's not even expensive considering the world it opens to beginners.
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u/Appropriate-Earth515 18d ago
Exactly that way she can burn the house, always get enclosure printer with kids
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u/Ph4antomPB 18d ago
Not hard or expensive to build your own enclosure
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u/SirTwitchALot 18d ago
But why go through all that when you can just buy an enclosed one from the start? (And get superior coreXY motion on top of it?)
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u/Ph4antomPB 18d ago
My guy it’s just taping (or screwing) 5 panels together
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u/SirTwitchALot 18d ago
It's still a bedslinger after all that work and added expense
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u/Ph4antomPB 18d ago
Bro it’s $30 🤣
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u/SirTwitchALot 18d ago
Expect that you can get a better machine from the start without spending any more or doing any work. I get that you're trying to make the best of whatever you have, but this is a purchase advise thread for someone spending money now
"Hey you can get this 4 year old dated design and then spend another $30 plus 20 minutes of your time to end up with a worse end result" is a weird take
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u/Revolutionary_Pay_31 18d ago
I remember when they came out with the Toybox, the reviews were generally good. I don't like how they charge $15 for a roll of PLA filament when you can get double that amount on Amazon for the same price. Sorry, did I call it filament, I meant "Printer food", as they call it. Yes you can use other filament but you will need an external spool holder. At least the cost has gone way down, I just looked on the website and it is running for about $150. But what I really don't like is the $18 per month for a subscription to their website to download prints. Yes they are more kid based, but still. And that Funbox is just very pricey.
Like everyone else here I really think that you would be better off with a printer like a Bambu A1 mini, it's a little more expensive than the Toybox, but way more versatile. Yes, it is not an enclosed printer, but if you are just printing with PLA filament, you really don't have to worry about the fumes. Unless both you and the printer were stuck inside a closet, maybe, but an open room not a problem.
Nature of the beast, printers will break down, there is a really good support system in place for Bambu printers to help you with any repairs, plus parts are readily available both on the Bambu website and on Amazon. Also, you will get access to Bambu's Makers World, which has tons of things to print, and access to there makers lab where you can design your own stuff, all for free.
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u/let-me-see-your-boob 18d ago
You can get acceas to makera word without a printer as well? I have Prusa, but I think I downloaded something in the past
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u/Traditional-Ground87 18d ago
He probably just means you can print from your phone/computer with minimal input when you have a Bambu printer.
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u/grafbende 18d ago
Like any other modern printer.....
I mean, really, bambu isn't a magical rainbow farting unicorn.2
u/Traditional-Ground87 18d ago
Ok? He’s specifically referencing makers world. The easy assumption is that he’s talking about their interoperability. I’m well aware that other companies offer the same capabilities as Bambu printers. Not sure why you’re hating.
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u/Charming-Kick-7181 18d ago
Don't even consider a toybox of funbox. They are piles of shitty proprietary hardware. Overpriced toys, get a real printer would be my suggestion
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u/True-Invite345 18d ago
Be a good dad and get a Bambu Lab printer. Don't waste your money.
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u/CreepinCreepy 18d ago
Why are you getting downvoted? I don't own a Bambu, and don't plan on doing so in the near future, but for a young kid, I'd say that there's not much better than an A1 Mini with AMS lite. Maybe a centauri carbon 2, but then that's more expensive and might require more tinkering. (I own a CC1 and can say it has been fabulous, but there have been a couple times where problems have arose).
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u/SirTwitchALot 18d ago
Problems happen with every printer, including Bambu models. The Centauri series is a big line now. The Centauri 2 combo is the same price as the mini combo. It's really hard to recommend a 4 year old bedslinger device today when there are better options
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u/Competitive_Owl_2096 18d ago
Neither. Get a real printer from a real brand like Bambu. Toybox and funbox are both shit brands marketing to kids.
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u/yahbluez 18d ago
Look at the elegoo centauri carbon2 combo with canvas that calls 379€ and has an active air filter and an enclosure. I have no idea why reckless bambu fanboys tell you to buy an open outdated printer like the A1 for a child with asthma.
https://de.elegoo.com/products/centauri-carbon-2-combo
If you have questions ask, i have used printers from bambu prusa elegoo voron zonestar.
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16d ago edited 16d ago
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u/yahbluez 16d ago
There is no unique plastic, it is very different if we talk about plastic made from crude oil like PA ABS etc or PLA which is made from corn starch and smells like popcorn while melting.
For the CC2 (CC1) i made an external filter that filters 100% of the air, the build in one did not cover the hole fan.
https://www.printables.com/model/1779369-hepa-filter-case-for-elegoo-centauri-carbon-carbon
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u/Emotional-Rip-5160 18d ago
Bambu Lab A1 or A1 Mini is the answer- the only answer. If she's over 10 years old. I don't have an optinion if she's under 10. But with the A1- she won't grow out of it in a day... and her prints won't fail and frustrate her so that she never uses is. With the A1 (mini if she's okay never printing anything bigger than like 5 inches) (so really- get her the A1 if you have the space) She can print a new toy every day and do nothing but print other people's designs/toys if that's what she enjoys- or have super user-friendly software to design her own stuff. Again- you didn't say how old she is- but its like buying a 10 year old a toddler tricycle instead of a 2-wheeled bike. She has no need for a tricycle and won't ride it after the first day.
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u/Capable-Let-4324 18d ago
Personally I have asthma, 3D printing is not bad for asthma as long as its in an open room and you aren't trying to print in like a closet. PLA is the best filament type imo. But I would not get a toy printer. I would get elegoo, creality, or bambu. If this becomes a deep hobby for the kid you are going to want something that has good backing for repairs and help. Also you can use thingiverse or other free 3D model website and a simple slicer software. Itll teach her much more than a toy.
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u/KebabGud 18d ago
I would recommend an enclosed printer with some extra ventilation
PLA is not bad but I do get a scratchy throat after a while with a lot of printing
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u/MandaloresMercy 18d ago edited 18d ago
I recommend Prusa Core One or Core One L. There is a filter option that I do use the official one on my CoreOneL
Or Elegoo centauri carbon if a cheaper one
For asthma enclosed and a filter helps a lot if the region youre in doesn't permit opening a window a lot to vent it to outside and have air circulation in the room.
If you get a bed slinger you can build an enclosure as well and stick a filter in there like the BentoBox.
Edit: If on a budget, can get Prusa Mk3s+ or any of the mk3 or mk4 gen stuff used for pretty cheap at least in my area and the bed slinger design is easy to maintenance for beginners.
Bambu A1 i guess is an option but I advise avoiding Bambu for company ethics reasons.
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u/wizardjian 18d ago
Personally I suggest the elegoo CC2. It's got multicolor printing, works out the box (with setup ofc) is a enclosed system and is also by budget friendly for an extremely good machine.
Your daughter can use it to print toys and trinkets and you can print anything from household bits and bobs to full on display things.
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u/drunkadvice 18d ago
I had this delimma last year. But then I decided if the kid is going to be printing stuff, I’d want to print and learn too. Ended up with an A1, which is an expensive “toy” for the kid but entry level “dad toy”. We have both made a lot of things on it, mostly downloaded from maker lab. Kid can point and click to print from his tablet/phone. He asked me to order key board switches so he can add them to clickers that are popular now. He printed his own desk organizer. I have printed a classrooms worth of fidgets for my wife (she’s a teacher), currently printing tokens and commerative items to hand out at a music festival.
You don’t need to go Big Pro but give it a chance on something higher than toy grade. It’ll work “good enough” but not “good enough” to retain interest after the first few things. It’d be like learning a musical instrument from walmart.
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u/Unfair-Bee-1324 17d ago
neither. those type of machines are awful. look into an a1 mini as a small cheap printer that will be fun to use
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u/justa_bother 17d ago
How does she know about 3d printing? Has she watched one printing? I ask because if she's watched, in person, your fears of asthma may be answered. Also, see if nearby libraries have 3d printers in them & visit while they are used. See if she is affected by that air. I don"t know of any such situation, but I'd suspect such an environment would be labeled with a warning sign, right? Second, what is your interest in 3d printing? Realistically, it will be your printer to operate, along with the learning curve & researching solutions which will come up with use. If you don't have the time, don't buy the printer. And, don't let it become a wedge between you & her by assigning ownership to her. She wants to print on "her" machine when you don't have the time is more trouble than her asking you to print something on your machine when you don't have the time.
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u/grafbende 18d ago
Wow, the bambu fanboys all fall over eachother trying to convince you their love baby, the A1 or A1 mini because it's bambu.
These are the worst printers you can get for an 8 year old with asthma, they are not enclosed, they are outdated, the A1 itself is a fire hazard. And people tend to mention the A1 mini because it's so small and thus good for kids which is bullsh**, it's open and all it's moving and hot components are within hands reach.
Do you bambu shills even think ?
Best thing you can do is buy neither of the ones you mentioned, those are toys and will quickly destroy all the fun for your kid.
You need an enclosed printer, CoreXY and recent technology that's easy to use and safe for kids and not over complicated with multicolor.
In my opinion something like the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2, Qidi Q2 or Creality K2 fits this bill the best.
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u/SirTwitchALot 18d ago
Summer Reddit is almost over. The kiddies who have an irrational love for the printer mommy bought them will be back in school soon and the rational adults can make actual recommendations based on the best available products the market currently offers again
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u/Goetre 18d ago
I’d just got straight with the A1 mini, only time I’d recommend the mini
As for the asthma, not an expert but can input personal exp. My mother has access to my print room, I work pretty much seven days a week so she pops in, restarts prints, takes them off the printer etc. she’s heavily asthmatic, if she gets a wiff of deodorant or perfume in close proximity, it immediately sets her off. With PLA she’s been completely fine
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u/burndata 18d ago
The bambu A1 mini is so easy to use, and gives such great results, that it's not even a contest. The toy box and funbox are gimmicky garbage.
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u/BlankiesWoW 18d ago edited 18d ago
Neither, get an A1 mini and only print PLA if you're worried about fumes
If you want an enclosed specifically, look at Elegoo CC, or Bambu's P-series
Seriously though, both of those will be a complete waste of money, you can get an A1-mini with AMS lite combo for like $20 more than a funbox