kim
Print Junky answered 5 years ago
Hi Kim,
My answer may not be the most popular or best answer and I’m sure, as there always is, someone is going to have some negative comment. But oh well, here’s my answer.
The best beginner printer is one that fits your budget, whatever you can afford. The prices range from $160. U.S. up to several thousand dollar desktop printers. I’m of the opinion that the best way to learn 3D printing is just as Edison did with the light bulb, make one. The ever famous or imfamous Anet A8 is a good place to start. It’s cheap, which is both good and bad. Bad because it come with potential hazards, although I have never in the 2.5 years of owning one had any issues. Good because you can learn from what makes it bad and improve it to make it better while making it a safer printer. While making these improvements, you will learn the parts of the printer, the differences between the various types of filaments, how to calibrate and level the bed, the different slicing softwares, and even learn to design with simple cad software, such as Tinkercad. The worse thing you can do with these such printers is learn something. There is plenty of sources online, and an equal amount of opinions. Deciding on what you want to accomplish with a 3d printer will help in determining the best printer to satisfy your needs. You may even find that 3d printing is not what you thought it to be. Rule of thumb, don’t break the bank for a simple interest. Start small and grow from there.
It’s a fun hobby and exciting hobby, after 2.5 years I have not lost interest and I have learned so much by doing and making.
Stay inspired,
Randy
Tom Baxter answered 5 years ago
I have to agree with Print Junky. Don’t break the bank on your 1st printer, but be prepared to drop a couple hundred bucks to get up and running, If you are worried about being able to build a printer from a kit, there are some printers that come pretty much ready to go out of the box. Monoprice has a few options that are ready to go and the company has really good support. Creality has made a good reputation and some of their printers, like the ender2 don’t require much setup. It’s kind of inbetween a kit and ready to print.
Mike
Markus answered 5 years ago
if you are Beginner a good choice is the M3D Original or +,its easy and has the vantage it dont begins very frustating….
Markus answered 5 years ago
if you are Beginner a good choice is the M3D Original or +,its easy and has the vantage it dont begins very frustating….
Ken answered 4 years ago
Old thread, so I assume the original poster has their answer a few times over by now and is hopefully happily 3D printing.
That said, recent news warrants posting a new answer for anyone poking around on the site.
The Prusa i3 Mini is not yet released (still in pre-order), but given the reputation of the company, the quality of the components, ease of use, and features for the price, that’s got to be my new go-to for a first 3D printer recommendation.
It has a smaller footprint and smaller build volume compared to the Creality Ender 3, and the price is higher. That said, we’re talking about a Prusa; auto-leveling bed, premium removable buildplate, full color display, 32 bit main board with advanced features enabled by Marlin 2, and of course the dependability and quality you expect from any Prusa, all for $349.
I have no ties to Prusa, and my opinions are my own. But that printer is absolutely going on my Christmas list. I might finally get my own Prusa.
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replied 5 years ago
I would think about a tevo flash or creality Ender 3. The Anet A8 and tevo tarantula aren’t much cheaper currently and require a lot more work to assemble get printing well. Designs are older the newer models are probably better/better print quality with less tinkering. I have a tevo tarantula and have spent more time on upgrades than printing other things. I have enjoyed it and I have learned a lot, but I think with the newer models a lot of the upgrades people made/problems fixed won’t need doing.