What is a good starter 3d printer?

I know next to nothing about them. Strongly considering getting one. Currently running a small business, part of it is craft/paint classes. Mom runs that part, and she wants to start having a time for kids to come in and paint ceramics and stuff. She has a bunch of ceramic stuff stored away, but that won't last forever. So we need a way to create our own things to sell/paint.

Is 3d printing worth it for something like that? Is it easy to get into? Would I need to be able to create my own models on a computer first? Would any computer work?

One that uses thread is cheap. The resolution will be kinda shitty but it's a low investment and not a big deal to just throw everything out if you change your mind

@despised (?) seems to be pretty knowledgeable about them

Save up and get a Bambu Lab or something similarly less frustrating.
Buy once, cry once.

KinkyKlown posted...

Save up and get a Bambu Lab or something similarly less frustrating.
Buy once, cry once.

Ah, that is a bit pricey. I googled and it looks like it's $1,500. I suppose I could, but that's a substantial bit right now. That one will take quite a bit of consideration.

What makes that one less frustrating than others though?

So I started by inheriting an Ender 3V2, which I believe in a sale you can get for something like $150, downsides to that one are the fact that you have to completely assemble it yourself and it's going to be prone to levelling issues, and for me it was just constant pain ... but it can slam out some good prints

I just saved up and got a Creality K1 Max, which was literally open the box, run the diagnostic, and start printing.

Honestly I would go in the middle and get a Creality K1, it's got all the same auto bed levelling features, and will save you a lot of pain over one of the build it yourself ones, but will save your wallet comparable to a bambu.

As for models, there is a VAST network of sites providing both free and paid models for printing

Despised posted...

So I started by inheriting an Ender 3V2, which I believe in a sale you can get for something like $150, downsides to that one are the fact that you have to completely assemble it yourself and it's going to be prone to levelling issues, and for me it was just constant pain ... but it can slam out some good prints

I just saved up and got a Creality K1 Max, which was literally open the box, run the diagnostic, and start printing.

Honestly I would go in the middle and get a Creality K1, it's got all the same auto bed levelling features, and will save you a lot of pain over one of the build it yourself ones, but will save your wallet comparable to a bambu.

As for models, there is a VAST network of sites providing both free and paid models for printing

Hm, this one is tempting, but I looked on Amazon and pretty much all the reviews were complaints.

So, I'm still contemplating the possibility of the more expensive one. I spent several hours watching videos about them with mom today. Still undecided

I mean if you go with Bambu you can't go wrong...

I've got about 50 hours printing on my K1 Max so far and its been nothing but a joy

What sorts of things do you print?

I've never seen a single thing 3D printed that didn't look like crap. They need to get the texture smoothed out or something

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/e/eb8677de.jpghttps://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/1/162c6f22.jpg

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/1/162c6f22.jpg

https://streamable.com/4z5cud

Those are so cool. I think I've decided to get one, still considering which would be the best option.

KogaSteelfang posted...

Those are so cool. I think I've decided to get one, still considering which would be the best option.

It's a really really fun hobby, even when I had my Ender and was dealing with all kinds of issues from it I was still having a blast when it was working... (it was given to me for free in a not working state, so I didn't have a true experience with this model).

I'm in the beginning phase of learning how to do 3d modelling and all that on my own