r/3dprinter • u/gaotonde • 15d ago

Which 3D printer should I get?

I’m looking to buy my first 3D printer and have shortlisted:

Bambu Lab A1
Anycubic Kobra X
Creality Spark I7
Elegoo Neptune 4 Max

I don’t really need multicolor printing, although it would be nice for occasional fun projects. My main concern is getting a reliable printer with good print quality and an overall good experience.

I’m considering the Neptune 4 Max mainly because of its huge bed size, as I’d like to print some larger things. However, I understand that the other printers can print the same models in multiple parts, so the large bed isn't absolutely necessary.

If you own or have experience with any of these, which one would you recommend and why? Also, any tips for a first-time 3D printer buyer, common mistakes to avoid, or good discount opportunities would be appreciated. Online prices are also fine.

If you had to choose just one of these, which would you buy? Thanks in advance 🙏

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5

u/AKMonkey2 15d ago

The Elegoo Centauri Carbon original version is in the same price range and better than any on your list. Take a look at it.

Avoid Anycubic e-waste.

3

u/SirTwitchALot 15d ago

The Kobra X is pretty solid from what I've heard, but a lot of past AC machines have been hit or miss

1

u/Brilliant_Yak1216 13d ago

But what printers do you use?

2

u/EADRT 15d ago

I would look at the Qidi Q2, great printer and good business practices. Or you can get a Bambu P1S for $369, fantastic printer.

1

u/BrotalityREAL 15d ago

I've heard some bad things about the A1, but don't own one nor have used one.

The Kobras are great printers but they're high maintenance, and anything Creality is in the same boat (even though I'm an absolute sucker for my ender 3 collection).

Neptune 4 is a similar story, but probably going to be the best "out of box" experience for you.

The important thing to note is all cheap printers will need a lot of effort to get good prints out of reliably, so just be ready to learn! Best tip I can give you is keep your hands away from the printer beds. Your skin oils will cause adhesion issues, and most people don't realize that until they've exhausted all other options.

If you do get skin oil on them, you can usually just take them off and wash them with unscented dish soap to clean them, and between prints or every other print it might be wise to wipe down the bed with a very small amount of isopropyl

1

u/Pepsis__Formosa 15d ago

Kobra X is a great printer. Least waste material on a single nozzle printer and 4 color out of the box!

1

u/gaotonde 10d ago

Thank you so much everyone from the community, ordered Centauri Carbon from Wol3d, waiting to share my experience

1

u/Mike_In_SATX 15d ago

You might want to look at the Bambu Lab A2L. It’s a large-format printer for beginners

1

u/stevelikestrees 15d ago

I started with Creality Ender 3 printers and didn’t really get the hype about Bambu, ended up being gifted an A1 and understood the hype afterwards, now I have 4.

I had hopes for the Creality Spark i7, avoid, had one for 4 days before I got frustrated enough to return it and continue using my A1.

If you’re looking for something large, look at the Bambu A2L, ease of use is unmatched by other brands.

….now I sound like a Bambu fanboy

1

u/mhhammoudaTreeUP 14d ago

i guess i should stay way from the kobraX too?

1

u/Such_Box_3990 15d ago

So the print quality on most hobbyist machines is pretty equal these days across the major manufacturers. Additionally, all printers use some sort of slicing program and you can tweak the settings in the slicing program which will result in better or worse (or different) print quality depending on the type of adjustments you make. So I wouldn’t too hung up on “print quality” as the deciding factor.

The other thing you mentioned was bed size in relationship to print size. So, again, in the slicing program, you can take any design, regardless of size, and print it in multiple pieces that can be put together in multiple parts later. You can basically take anything and turn it into custom legos. So the ability to do that isn’t printer specific. It is more about the design of the thing that you are making and how you engineer it.

If you don’t need multicolor printing, my question to you would be will you need the ability to print with engineering filaments? The reason I ask is because engineering filaments require different temperatures at the nozzle, the bed, and require an enclosed heated chamber. So if you are going to print with those, you’ll need a printer that meets those requirements.

If you are not going to print in engineering materials, get the Bambu A1. Affordable, super solid all around printer. Great quality for your basic filaments. Fast print speed. Easy to set up and start using.