3DPrinting

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3DPrinting is a place where makers of all skill levels and walks of life can learn about and discuss 3D printing and development of 3D printed parts and devices.

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Recommendations for teenager's first printer. (lemmy.world)

submitted 2 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

25 comments fedilink hide all child comments

My son is about ready for his first printer. His school is running Cetus MK3 printers, he has a class using them, and his teacher has recommended this printer. He also has an educational seat of Fusion 360.

I'm proficient with Mastercam and hand written/modified G-code. I can help him with CAD no problem. Alignment, assembly, adjustment, and backlash are second nature for me. Have a little better than layman's understanding of printers. (Lusted over the Markforged printer that could do continuous carbon fiber.)

Eventually, will be building my own shop and hope my son might work with me. Hope to include printing, especially in metal.

I've seen some of the flap about Bambu and them closing up the software tool chain. I would like to avoid that sort of thing, for now, openness is better.

Top of my budget is around $500, with $200 probably being better.

Usable prints for tooling/spacers/repairs would be a bonus as would being able to print UV resistant plastic.

My goal for him is to get gud at modelling and get a feel for computer controlled movement. Another goal, harder to describe, is him finding the joy in mechanical tinkering and producing an idea made physical.

Thank you much! What do?

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago

I had great luck with Anycubic as my first printer... If you want to have a larger variety of materials available I recommend a printer with an enclosure (depending on the age of your kid, it's a bit safer too?)

I will try I haven't used them recently but a friend of mine uses a Kobra 4 which produces prints very close in quality to my X1Carbon (I know...). That one has no enclosure, but the Kobra 3 is still available for even less if you really just want to see if the hobby takes hold. They have a Kobra S1 which seems like a decent option but I haven't done any research.

My personal advice would be to not skimp too much on cost... Trying to stick with my older hardware nearly killed the hobby for me since everyone around me was printing higher quality it a quarter of the time....