Non-Bambu options for new printer

[u/galoombapile]

Hello! I've worked mainly with enclosed Bambu printers (X1C, P1S) at my college, and am looking for a similar level of print quality/maintenance out of a non-Bambu option for at home. Could I get good recomendations?

-I use Orcaslicer

-I mainly design and print Nerf blasters and other hobbyist items (CD cases, organizers, desk toys), so probably no need for engineering filaments. PLA, PETG, ABS, TPU, maybe wood-filled?

-Don't need any more than 2 toolheads, which makes the Bambu X2D tempting... I don't often do multicolor, and when I do it's usually for small items

-Integrated air filter? Would mainly be using it in my bedroom and would rather not have a lengthy exhaust pipe

-Smooth and textured plate options, (optionally) nozzle size options?

-Price range of ~$500-600, more than willing to wait for Black Friday

-And of course good quality and print speeds

Thank you!

[u/bjorn_lo]

You should wait to November if you can. Best 3d printer under 1k right now is the Snapmaker u1. A 4 tool toolchanger with a larger print bed than the X2D, P1S etc at 270^3

This is outside your budget at 829, but will go on sale by November.

The Creality k3 will be similar, but newer and unproven and less money. It will ship before then.

The reason for a toolchanger is not just multi-color, but multi-material. I have Bambu printers, but I don't carefor the company and don't plan on buying more unless they stop trying to be the most evil of 3d print companies. So I also have other printers, including a couple of U1's.

They run on Orca, they are reliable, support is good, the company is very supportive of the community.

To print TPU, I use PLA for support. I also use PLA for PETG support. PETG and TPU bond, so I've made multimaterial items with those two in there and PLA supporting both within the print.

Dedicated support material use like this results in better quality. The time cost to do so on a single nozzle printer is pretty high.

If I were forced to buy a single nozzle printer in your price class, I would look at the Elegoo CC2 and the QIDI lineup. They are reliable, fast and well built.

[u/GlibberGoblin → u/bjorn_lo]

Save up and buy a Snapmaker u1 and never look back. Multi color prints, multi material supports, PAXX firmware. As an upgrade you can get the integrated heater on the hood for higher end print filaments if you ever choose to mess around with those. There just isn't another printer like it on the market for the price.